Mangalore: Konkani Script Controversy - JKS to Hold Seminar on Mar 10, 11
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Mar 6: At a time when the controversy over script for Konkani is weighing on its literature, Jagotik Konkani Songhotton (JKS -Global Konkani Organization) is making an earnest effort to facilitate an intellectual discussion by organizing a national seminar on ‘Scripts and Languages of Modern India, with Special Reference to Konkani’ at Kalaangann on March 10 and 11.
This was informed by Eric Ozario, general secretary, JKS at a press conference held here on Tuesday March 6.
Ozario said that the need for a seminar arose as no serious or genuine efforts were made earlier to resolve the script controversy, despite the fact that the controversy had hindered the development of Konkani literature and affected the unity of the Konkani people.
"So far, attempts were made to tackle the issue only at an emotional level," he said, "Though we have respect for a variety of scripts that are used for writing Konkani, an additional clause included in the Goan Act prioritized Devanagari script which divided the Konkani speaking people," he pointed out and said that the discussion will enlighten the people more on this.
"At the seminar, intellectual discussion will include inputs from sources outside Konkani, so that a demographic solution could be found on scientific basis. Experts from Delhi, Goa, and other parts of the country who have researched on the subject will present papers which will again be discussed," he said.
Dr Valerian Rodrigues, head of the centre for political studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi will chair the seminar.
The national seminar will begin at 3 pm on Saturday March 10 and will conclude on Sunday March 11 at 5 pm. The seminar is open to all.
JKS comprises 126 Konkani organizations from 13 countries across the world.
M S Kamath, member, Bangalore, M A Rehman, member, Bhatkal, Stany Alvares, president, Mandd Sobhann among others were present at the press meet.