Romi Konkani protagonists take cognisance of Konkani writer's remarks

Romi protagonists take cognisance of remarks by Konkani writer
HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, DEC 17, 2008

The Romi lipi protagonists seem to have taken strong cognisance of comments made by writer Pundalik Naik in Margao warning Chief Minister not to amend the Official Language Act that would facilitate equal status to the former script. Naik had made the comments at a function organised to felicitate Jnanpith award winner Ravindra Kelekar.Vincy Quadros, Working President of the first Konknni (Romi Lipi) Sahitya Sammelan organised by the Dalgado Konknni Akademi, said, “We have taken cognizance of the statement which could be his personal one. But this statement would be surely deliberated at the sammelan.”

Executive member DKA Tomazinho Cardozo said they believed in both scripts and protagonists of both were friends, but in the present situation Romi had no say.

Earlier, Quadros announced the programme of the first sammelan (convention) to be organized by DKA on December 20 and 21 at Pai Tiatrist Joao Agostinho Nagar, Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. The convention would be inaugurated by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on December 20 at 4 pm, he informed.He said the convention would form a common platform to writers in Romi, tiatrists, priests and others to share their concerns and strengthen the Romi lipi (Konkani in Roman script) movement. Quadros said 1,500 members of the Konknni Bhasha Mandal have been extended invitation and we hope at least 300 of these would attend. He said Pundalik Naik was given invitation, but he won’t be available during the time as he would be out of station, he added. The two-day convention would see sessions on literature, tiatr by Prince Jacob, felicitation of eminent Konknni personalities, release of a special souvenir highlighting the first-ever Konknni convention on literature in Romi script.

Director of Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendra Fr Pratap Naik would deliver the key note address on the first day. On the second day Tomazinho Cardozo will chair a session on the topic ‘Progress of Konknni literature in Roman script’.