DORZO NA?: DILIP BORKAR KHOIM ANI KITEAK CHUKTA

Borovpi

Dale Luis Menezes, Albertina Almeida, Jason Keith Fernandes, Amita Kanekar, ani R. Benedito Ferrão

Survat

Kaim mhoine fattim Kala Academy-n Romi pustokank porot puroskar divpacho nirnnoy ghetlolean, ani Romi Konknni Rajbhas Andolon ani Moratthi Rajbhasa Andolan eke machier ekttaim zalolea karonnank lagun, Gõychea Nagri lipieyechea pattlavdarank borech tras zaunk lagleat, oxem amkam disun yeta. Nagrichea muttintlean Konknni bhaxechem rajkaronn ani kobzo atam sutton vochunk lagla, hem-i ami polleun ghetlam. Ho lekh ami kherit bhaxen Dilip Borkarachea “Aplech Bhaxecho Fondd Khonnnttat!” (Gulab, Janer 2013) hacher bhasabhas korunk boroitat.

            Dilip Borkar Nagri lipient aplem choddant-chodd borovp korpi veokti. Kala Academy-chea 2013 vorsachea Tiatr spordhent tiatrachea borpavollink vo scripts-ank inama diupachea vavrant, Dilip Borkarak porikxok mhonn vichun kaddlolo. Dilip Borkaran hi sond gheun, Romi lipientlea borpavollicher aple kaim vichar manddunk tharailem. Thoddkeant sangchem mhollear Dilip Borkar hi tiatranchi borpavoll vachun niraxi zata ani apnnem kiteak mhunnon “hi vikti pidda angar oddun ghetli kai,” oso prosn korta.

            Jem Dilip Borkar aplea lekhant amkam sangunk sodta tantunt kaim novem na. Je mud’de to hattallta, te tis-challis vorsam fattim Nagrivadi porgott kortale hem ami somzun gheunk zai. Tedna zo tancho hetu aslo to aiz meren puray zalolo na. Fuddarak kednanch zavcho-i na. Dekun Dilip Borkar jem kitem boroita tem kiteak boroita ani tache fattlean tacho hetu kitem, hem ami bariksannen zanna zaunk zai.

Romi Munis ani Loz

Dilip Borkaracho poilo mud’do mhollear Romi borpavollicho dorzo vo ‘standard’. Nagri fuddareanchea mota pormonnem, Romi borpavollik dorzo na. Ho argument Nagrivadi fattlim tis-challis vorsam savn korit aileat. Romi lipi Purtugez vosnnukponnantlean (zaka Dilip Borkar ‘itihasik karonnam’ mhonnon ul’lekh korta) Gõyant bhitor sorli mhunn ti Gõychi ani Bharotachi nizachi lipi nhoi, oxem Nagrivadi fuddari aiz pasun mandtat. Punn Romi lipi Gõychea xirontoramnim khellta ani dekun hi lipi porkhi mhonn dakhoun divpak Nagrivadi fuddareank Romi lipik ani ti uzar kortolea lokank ‘dorzo na’ oxem sangchem poddta. Tantuntlean Romi monis lojek poddta, tankam aplech bhaxechi loz dista. Dekun Dilip Borkar jednam “...mhoje lagim jim hatborpam asat tim vachpa sarkim nant,” mhonn sobhemazar sangta, tednam to Romi mon’xeak ani kheritponnim tachea Gulab-achea vachpeak lojek ghalta.

            Romi-Nagricho vad bhaxecho ani dhormacho nhoi, ho vad kheritponnim zaticho zaun asa. Hem sot ami kednanch visrunk favo na. Oxem aslolea karonnak lagun, jedna Romi mon’xeak sangtat ki tachea borovpak ‘dorzo na’ mhonn ani to apli man lojen khala  ghalta, tedna ti loz zativadak lagun zata (caste-based humiliation). Nagri fuddari bamonnvadachim adorxam gheun fuddem choltat ani zori tor konnui hea adorxank ani totvank man’ diunk fattim sorta zalear taka Gõychem hok’kachem nagrikponn (citizenship rights) mellona. Dekunuch, Nagrivadi fuddareanchea mota pormonnem, Romi lipi Konknnichi ani Gõychi nizachi lipi nhoi oxem zata. Romi lipik aplem hok’kachem sthan mellonk addkholl yeta. Hakach lagun eka Romi mon’xean aple nizache hok’k magunk zainant. Dekunuch Dilip Borkar oxem mhonnta: “Ani prosn poddlo, he Romivale Romi lipi magtat te hiech Romi lipik kai? He Puroskar ani Inamam magtat te heach Romi sahityak kai? Toxem tor asot zalear he vhodd chuk kortat.”

            Dilip Borkaracho lekh vachlea uprant ami somzun gheunk zai, ki Nagrichim voklam lavun to Romi lipientle sonvskrutik pikavollicher aple vichar manddta mhunnon. Zoxem Bardezant vochun Kankonncho ganv sodop chukichem, toxench Nagrichea mapant ami Romichi udorgot mezop, hem-ui titlench chukichem. Romi ani Nagri veglli vortouta. Dilip Borkarachem oxir mon hatunt disun yeta.

Romi ani Moratthicho Ekchar

Kaim mhoine fattim jednam Pri. Pratap Naik-an Moratthivadeancho tenko gheunk pavl marlem tednam her Romivadi ani Nagrivadi thottakle. Ho ekvott chodd korun Nagri lipik ani fuddareank tras korpi zaun asa. Dilip Borkar jedna Romi ani Moratthichem sthan Rajbhas kaideant kitlem ani koxem aschem hacher bhasabhas korta, tedna to Nagrivadi fuddareanchi ek vhodd bhirant veokt korta. Tor bhaxechea rajkaronnachi poristhiti oxi asa: Nagri lipicho xek fattlea 25 vorsam savn cholot aila dekun Hindu bahujan ani Kristanv lok eka-mekacho adar gheunk xokonasle. Kristanv lokank Moratthichi bhirant dakhoun tankam Nagri lipiechea tabeant dovortale. Dekun Nagrivada add virud’dh korunk borench kottin zatalem.

            Hindu bahujan somaz zor tor Moratthi vatten asa, tachem karonn mhollear te adinch savn zanna asle ki Nagri Konknni mhollear tancher bamonnvadachem vojem zavn asa mhonn. Hatunt Hindu bahujan chidd’ddun vetole mhonn tankam bhes borem khobor aslem. Dilip Borkarak Kristanv ani Hindu bahujan somaz Nagrichea muttint urlolo zai, ani hakach lagun to mhonnta, “Hea lokam fattlean aiz Moratthi, Moratthi korpi lok nant. Tankam sot kollun ailam dekun Moratthi rajbhas korun Gõycho faido nam ani ti zali nam zalear Moratthichem luksann nam mhonnpachem uktem zalam. Ten’nam hem mel’lem moddem ustun kaddunk konnak xanneponn disonam. Tech pasot he konn je Moratthi rajbhas zai mhonnot xempddi boddoitat tankam aplem hem pixeponn mukhar vhorunk dusrea pixeancho adhar zai.”

            Dilip Borkar Moratthik ani Romi Konknnik ‘maim-bhas’ vo ‘avoy-bhas’ hea nodrentlean polleta. Oxem kelear Dilip Borkara vangddach ami-i chuktanv karonn, amchea jivitant amkam don vo tin bhasancho upeog korcho poddta. ‘Avoy/Maim-bhas’ mhollear amkam fokot ekuch bhaxechi puja korunk poddta. Atanchea sonvsarant hem xokeo na. Tor, Gõycho Hindu bahujan somaz Moratthichi magnni zori Konknni bhaxent korta zalear hatunt hanspa sarkhem kainch na. Hindu bahujan somaz zorui ghorant ani ganvant Konknni uloita, tor dhormik ani sonvskrutik karyavollimni Moratthicho upeog korta. Serkari nokreo melloun ghevpant tankam Moratthi bhas upkarta. Hindu bahujan somaz zor tor Moratthi uzar korta zalear taka veglloch orth asa, ani ho orth ‘Avoy/Maim-bhas’ gheun somzunk proyotn kelo zalear ami nirfoll zatoleanv.

            Toxench, Dilip Borkar mhonnta Hindu lok Moratthichea nanvan “dhondo” kortat, zalear Romivaleancho “[d]hondo cholta Inglezichea naddear.” Romi ani Moratthichi hok’kachi magnni durust korunk Dilip Borkar porot ‘loz’ hea hatiaracho vapor korta. Kristanv lok Inglez disallim chodd vachta hache voilean Dilip Borkarak “Romi Konknnink kitlo tenko asa ani tichi lokak kitli goroz asa tem gomun yeta.” Atam hanga loz koxe toren Dilip Borkar rigoita? To mhonnta, “Romichea nanvan arodd marpi sogle aplea bhurgeank Inglez xikoitat, tanche lagim Inglez katortat ani aplea ghorant sokall fuddem Inglez disallim haddtat. Vachunk konnak yeta ho prosn mhotvacho nhoi. Inglez bhas mon’xak status dita.”

Nagri lipichem ekuch disallem Sunaparant, khoinchea-i Romi vo Moratthi masik-disallea pasun komi khopta. Sunaparant fokot muttbhor lok vachta, zalear Nagrik Gõykarancho kitlo tenko asa oxem ami somzun gheupachem? Aplea bhurgeank kosli bhas vo bhaso xikouncheo ani tanche lagim kosle bhaxent ulounchem tem lok apleak zai te bhaxen korta. Ani ho lokancho odhikar zaun asa. Aiz Konknni zalear faleam Inglez ani porvam Purtugez, hatunt vaitt kainch na. Karonn, khoinchi bhas kednam ulouchi/borounchi ho soimik nhoi punn somajik poryai (choice) zaun asa. Konnak tor vachunk yena zalear to munis koslem-i khobram-potr viktem gheuncho na, vachunk yeta mhunnonuch to tem potr viktem gheta. Romi lipiechi magnni kelear her lipio ani bhaso ulounk, borounk, ani xikunk koslich addkholl nasta ani ami oslea ‘multi-lingual practices’-ank protsahon diunk chintpachi goroz asa. Nagrichea nanvan “arodd” marpi zaite fuddari tanchea natrank ani burgeank Inglezintlean xikoitat ani uloitat. Zaitea Gõychea lokank Inglez pottachi bhas zaun asa. Bhas hi pottak lagun upkarta hem Dilip Borkar kaim zageamni manun gheta, punn hea sotachem mhotv to somzun ghena. Anink ek gorjechi khobor mhollear, jedna lok aple bhaxek serkari manyotai magtat tednam tem fokot sonvskrutik nodrentlean vo avoy/maim-bhas tigoun dovrunk itleach karonnak lagon nhoi. Serkari sirvis, zomin hea oslea moladik vostuncho faido gheunk ap-apli bhas serkaran manun ghetli zalear khub sovlotio mellunk xoktat. Hantuntlean, rajki mollar boll ani zutt’tti (power) ek somuday zoddunk xokta, hem-ui ami visrunk favo na. Heo osleo gozali Dilip Borkar amkam sangona.

            Romi pattlavdaranchem mukhel magnnem asa tem mhollear, Romi lipiek Rajbhas Kaideant manachem sthan melloun divpachem. Tor hakach lagun Romi lipiek jedna Gõycho lok hok’k magta tedna Dilip Borkarachea mota pormonnem tem “pixeponn” ani osle lok pixe thartat. Romi lipiek Rajbhas Kaideant sthan divchem nhoi karonn “Gõyant Romi Konknni mhonn kherit bhas” na, oxem Dilip Borkarak dista. Hea dhoronnacher Dilip Borkar bariksannen vichar ani obheas korina. Romi Konknni fokot bhas-xastrachea (linguistics) nodrentleanuch nhoi, punn somajik, sonvskrutik, ani rajki nodrentlean veglli zaun asa. Khoreponnim ‘Konknni’ hi bhas Romi lipientleanuch upzolea, jivi urlea, ani aiz meren ful’lea. Mud’deachi dusri bazu mhollear, Nagri lipientli Konknni hi addechi rochna (artificial invention), Bomaim xarant 19vea xekddeant rochloli ani ji atam somest Gõykaranchea gollent ghalunk proyotn kortat.

            Rajki jivitant don vo tin veg-veglle gott (groups), eke machier ekttaim yevop, hi atanchea kallachi novidade nhoi. Medium of Instruction vadachea vellar Nagri borovpeamni Moratthivadeancho sohokar ghetlolo. Moratthivadi ani Nagrivadi ekech machier dislole. Tor aiz zori ami Romivadeank ani Moratthivadeank ekech machier polletanv zalear amkam koslench ojeap disonk favo na. Voilean ami choturponnan ani huxearkayen hea ekvottacho upeog korunk zai. Amkam Romi Konknni Rajbhas Andolon ani Moratthi Rajbhasa Andolan hea ekvottant soglem sarkem asa, oxem mhonnonk naka.  Moratthi zomeamni zaito zativad asa. Hindu bahujan ani unch-zaticho Hindu hea fuddem ek machier ekttaim yeunk xokta. Torui astanam hea  ‘alliance’-acho faido Romi lokanim koso gheunk zata, Nagricho xek ani hukumxay koxe toren foddun uddounk zata, tem chintunk vachpeank ami suchoitanv.

Ek Lipi, Ek Bhas, Ek Somaz?

Romi borovpeank ani Romi mon’xeank tanchea borpavollichea dorjeachea nanvan lojek ghalunk Dilip Borkaracho sogleant mukhel hetu asa to Rajbhas Kaideant kosloch bodol na zavpant. Dekun to aplea lekhant oxem-i manun gheta: “Tori legit Romi lipintlean zannim Konknni tigoun dovorli tea lokancho ankddo khub vhoddlo asa. Tancheach naddear ami Konknnichim khub xim zoitam hatall’lim.” Punn Dilip Borkar itlench mhunnon ogi ravona ani fuddem mhonnta, “Punn tancho tenko Konknni bhaxek aslo. Nagri vo Romi lipik naslo.”

            Hea Rajbhas Kaideant tor bodol zalo na zalear Nagrivadachem ‘Ek Lipi, Ek Bhas, Ek Somaz’ hea chintpak boll mellta. Hem chintop Konknnicho ani Gõycho ekvott haddunk sodta. Zalear oslea chintpant vaitt kitem asa? Ami hea oslea chintpa pasun pois ravunk zai karonn hea chintpant fokot ekech toreche bhaxek, bolik, ani lipiek suvat asa. Hea chintpant vividhtayek kosloch zago na. Fuddem, jedna ‘ek bhas...ek somaz’ oxem konnui udgarta, zalear tacho orth, zanna zaun vo nennarponnan, sogleanim Hindu dhormachea ani sonvskrutichea khala yeunchem oso zata. Amkam hanga Dilip Borkar sogle Kristanv Hindu zanvche oxem mhonnta mhonn ami sangunk sodinant. Punn jedna to “...ek bhas mukhar vhortolo zalear soglleant adim bhaxecher kherit bhor divpachi goroz asa, lipicher nhoi. Punn amchem chol’lam tem rajkaronn bhaxechea nanvan ani lipichea nanvan. Haka lagun amchi Konknni bhas marun uddoitole ani amche modem Gõykar mhunn zo ekchar aslo taka ver vochun dhormik futt poddpachi bhirant upraslia,” oxem mhonnta tedna to Hindu sonvskrutichea khal ekttaim yevop, hea totvak, eke bhaxen, bollixtt korta.

            Ek Lipi, Ek Bhas...ani Ek Dhorm, hea totvak zori ami dhorun vetanv zalear, Romichea boreponna vixim amchem kitlem-i mon borem asum, tem kednanch lipivad kobar korunk pavchena. Dilip Borkarak dista ki Romi borovpeank tanchea odhikaram pasun pois konnech dovorche nhoi mhunn. Torui astanam matxe fuddem to him utram boroita: “Punn zô meren Gõyant Moratthi [ani] Romi asat tankam...favo tio gozali diunk zai, soddun rajbhaxecho patt.” Romi borovpeank ani lokank tanche odhikar diupant zori Dilip Borkarak kainch oddchonn na zalear Rajbhas Kaido bodolchoch poddtolo, karann Romi pattlavdarank poilem mukhelponnan zai tem mhollear Romi lipiek Rajbhas Kaideant manachi suvat. Romi lipiek man zai, dan naka. Rajbhas Kaideant Romi lipiecho aspav ani borpavollik inamam him Romi borovpeanche ani lokanche hok’k, je Nagrivadi aplea tabeant korun asat. Dekun Dilip Borkar oxem mhunnonk xokta: “Tech pasot mhaka fokot Romintlean borovpiank kherit puroskar divop man’ya nam. Zaka jie lipint boroin dista tannem tie lipint boroum di. Ti lipi Nagri asum, Romi asum, Molyallom vo Kon’nodd asum. Punn puroskaracho vichear Konknni mhunn zauncho. Tantuntlea puroskarak man astolo.” Oxem asa zalear, fattlea 25 odik vorsam Nagri borovpeanim, Romi kuxik dovrun, apleach bhitor puroskar vo awards vanttun khale taka ami kitem mhonnpachem? Taka koslo man asa? Dilip Borkaran hacher vichar korcho.

Xevott

Dilip Borkarachea hea lekhant khupuch guspagonddoll asa. Ho lekh tannem Konknnichea hitak lagon boroilolo na, punn bamonnvadachim totvam Romi ani Konknni mogianchea golleant ghalunk boroila. Romi lipient ani bhov korun tiatrank ani tiatristank lagon Konknni jivi urlea. Konknni bhaxecho pormoll kantarantlean sonvsarantlea chearui vattamnim posorla. Haka lagon Dilip Borkar jedna tiatr boroitoleanchim fokannam korta, tanchea borpavollik unnak lekta tedna to fokot tea borovpeanchinch fokannam korina punn somest Romi vapuddtolea lokank to hansta. Romi mon’xean ek ghott motint dhorchem: tankam Nagri lipientlea addechea sahityachi goroz na, nam mhunn tankam Nagri fuddareanchi koslich goroz asa. Romi lipiek ani Romi uzar kortolea mon’xean Gõychea sonvskrutik mollar aplem kherit sthan toyar korunk zai. Romi bhaxecho zago ani chaltea jivitant koslo upeog ascho hacher gombhirtayen niyall korunk zai. Nagri lipiechea khal ekvott zoddunk gele zalear Romi lipiechem ani Romi mon’xeachem khaxeleponn noxtt zatolem. Hem sot ami visrunk favo na.

(Ho lekh uzvaddak aila, Gulab, Febrer 2014, panam 3, 4, ani 53)

ROMI ANI NAGRI: MENDDREAM MODEM LANDDGEANK KOXE PORIM PARKHUN GHEVCHE

borovpi Jason Keith Fernandes ani Dale Luis Menezes

 

Romi lipientlea sahityak Kala Academy-che puroskar favo korche, oslea vidhanak halinchea disamni khub tenko mellunk lagla. Hi bori gozal oxem ami mandtat. Punn oslim vidhanam ami bariksannen niyallpachi goroz asa. Amcho Avaz-acher uzvaddak ailolo Prabhakar Timble-cho lekh “Romi Lipi, Puroskar ani Virodh” (12 Otubr 2013) hacho ami chodd korun ul’lekh kortanv.

Romi lipient boroilolea sahityak puroskar divpacho Kala Academy-chea nirnnoyak Timble aplo tenko dita-so dista, tori Romi lipiek Rajbhas Kaideant manachem sthan dilear nagri lipiechem sthan haltolem – hi bhirant tachea lekhachea eka bhagant disun yeta: “Raj’jea bhas Gõyant mandun ghetlea ti Devnagri. Zannar ani uzvaddit monachea sogllea somazantlea fuddareanchea teagank lagon ho vixoy suttlolo asa.” Bariksannen ami zori pollelem tor Romi lipientlea pattlavdarank Romi lipi Rajbhas Kaideant zai, tankam aple lipiek man zai. Romi lipient boroilolea sahityak puroskar, ho mud’do kednanch mullavo asonk na.

Romi lipientli Konknni bhov adli Konknni ani tantunt Konknni sonvskrutayecho pormoll asa. Punn jea disa Rajbhas Kaido ‘pass’ zalo tea disachean  Romi lipiecher onit zait asa ani Romi lipiek chidd’dun dovorpache proitn chaluch asat. Nagri lipient boroiloli Konknni zori-i ami rajbhas mhunn mandun ghetat tori Gõyant, Morattikui Rajbhas Kaideant zago mell’lloun dila dekhun Gõyant don rajbhaso nirmann zaleat. Hea pasot Nagri Konknnink ‘official’ zago mell’lla ho mud’do azun pasun ‘settled’ zal’lo na. Khoreponnim, jem chitr Timble amkam dakhoita tem ostitvant asa oxem ami mhonnonk xekonant. Choddan-chodd Bahujan Somazantle vangddi  Nagri Konknnik mandun ghenant karonn Nagri Konknni mhollear ek bamonnvadachem hatiyar ani tem gheun tancher vhoddponnan raj cholovpacho ek proyotn zaun asa, oxem tankam dista. Bahujan Somazantle vavurpi Romi Konknni hich khori Konknni mhonn ghoddiye svikarit, punn Nagri Konknnik mat te kednanch svikarchenant.

Nagri lipiechem sthan asa toxench urche khatir aplea lekhant Timble, huxarkayecho vapor korun, kaim mud’de ghusoyta. Je vichar Timble porgott korta tosleach vichara bhonvtonnim khub pavtti Nagri ani Moratti vavurpi ekttaim zaun Romi lipiechea pattlavdaranche virud’dh ube ravleat ani ravtat. Timble amkam sagunk sodta ki Nagri Konknnik Rajbhas korpachea vavrant “zannar ani uzvaddit monachea...fuddareanche[m]” yogdan asa mhonn. Hacho orth oso zata ki Romi lipieche patlavdar he zannar ani uzvaddit monis nhoi mhunnon, ani te dusvas ghalunk ani ekvott ibaddunk fuddem sorleat mhunnon. Punn Konknnint ekvott ani ekchar kednanch naslolo karonn Nagrivadeamni her lipientlea Konknnicher dhapnnem dovorlolem asa. Hachi govai mhollear: Poilem, Kala Academy ani Goa Konkani Akademi heo sonvstha Romintlem sahitya puroskaram khatir svikar korinasleo. Dusrem, tiatr ani romansik dorzo na mhunn hinnsavpacho Nagrivadeamcho vavr.

Timble aplea lekhant fuddem sangta ki Romi lipi ek “itihasacho opsoeg” vo akxident zaun asa mhunn. Osleach dhoronnank lagun, jim raxttravadi itihasantlean upzotat, Romi lipiek koddek dovorlea oxem mhollear otitay zavchina. Him oslim dhoronnam khub bhirankull zaunk xoktat kiteak tancho orth oso zata ki Konknni bhaxechea ani sonvskrutechea udorgotichea rosteachi vatt poilinch savn toyar kelolich asli. Dusrem, Purtugez vosnnukponn chukun zalem ani taka itihasant fokot chukun zago mell’llo. Oslench chintop tor ami fuddem vhorot zalear, Timble-chea vicharantlean, Kristanv dhorm ani tea kallar zalolim dhormantoram itihasik opghat zatat?

Timble ghoddiye sangunk sodta ki ami he osle itihasik opghat somzun ghevunk zay mhunnon punn osleach vicharantlean Romi Konknniche sonvskrutayek Gõychi khori sonvskrutay mhunn mandun ghevunk addkholli haddloleo amkam disti poddtat. Gõycho sorkar zori Purtugez vosnnuponnachea kallantlean suru zal’leo kaim sonvskrutayeo svikarun gheta, tori teo nem’ nhoi punn advad (exceptions) mhunnon svikarleleo amkam disti poddtat. Ani haka lagon raxttr-somudayechea nodrentlean Katolik mhollear bhaile/videshantle (foreigners) mhunnon somoz zata. Timble aplo lekh sompoiche poilim boroita: “‘Ek bhas, ek lipi, ek somaz’ hem sopon vaitt nhoi. Punn hem ideal sopon sakar zavpacho azun vell pavonk na.” Nagrichea her pattlavdaram porim, Timble-i sotman’ta ki veglleponn ek addkholl zaun asa ani tem pusun udounk zai mhunnon. Hantuntlean amcheamni niyallunk zata ki Timblechea oslea sopnant soglle Hinduch astole mhunnon.

Timblecho lekh chotrayen vachlea uprant tantuntlean Romi lipientle Konknnicho hok’k ani Rajbhas Kaideant ‘official’ zago hea vixim jeo magnneo asat teo vollkhun gheupacho proitn kelolo disti poddonam. Bhaxeche podvechi (linguistic power) tagddi Moratti ani Romi Konknniche vatten halchi nhoi mhunnon Timblecho ho lekh borovpa fattlo hetu zaun asa. Eke vatten Romi Konknni fattlean tiche visvaxi pattlavdar sodankal urben ube asat, zalear dusre vatten Nagri Konknnik oslo tenko mell’lolo amkam matui disti poddona. Hachem karonn mhollear Nagri Konknni hi ek addechi (artificial) rochna ani he rochnnen Romi Konknnik ani Bahujan Somazak chidd’dun uddoila. 

(Ho lekh Amcho Avaz-acher uzvaddak aila, tarik: 16 Novembr, 2013)

For the English version of this article see here. 

THE BATTLE OF THE KONKANIS: SEPARATING WOLVES FROM THE LAMBS

by Jason Keith Fernandes and Dale Luis Menezes

Context:

In 1987 subsequent to mass demonstrations composed overwhelmingly of bahujan Catholics the legislature of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu recognised Konkani in the Nagari script as the official language of Goa. This recognition of script was used to privilege a brahmanical project of fixing the identity of Konkani in the Nagari script alone, sidelining in this process the more vibrant and older tradition of writing Konkani in the Roman script, and its largely Catholic users. Consequently, a movement for the official recognition of Konkani in the Roman script emerged as a result of a systematic campaign of suppression of cultural and literary productions in the Roman script. More recently, with the Kala Academy,the premier state-supported cultural body announcing awards for literature in the Roman script, it is being maintained by some that the Roman script may in fact destabilize the status-quo that favours the Nagari script (and therefore brahmanical hegemony), leading to a number of persons coming out seemingly making concessions to the Roman script. One such overture was made by Prabhakar Timble in The Navhind Times, Goa. Timble is a legal expert as well as the former State Election Commissioner of Goa.

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The recent statements of support in favour of the continuation of awards reinstituted by the Kala Academy for literary works in Roman script will possibly bring good cheer for the votaries of this script. However, it is important that these statements of support be examined for their logic, rather than the superficial support they seem to offer. In proposing this course of action, reference is particularly being made to the opinion piece, “Promoting Konkani Language Culture” by Prabhakar Timble in The Navhind Times dated 15 October, 2013.

While Timble seems to be supporting the recent decision of the Kala Academy to offer literary works in the Roman script to obtain awards, his real fear is that the status quo as regards the place of Konkani in the Nagari script will be upset if the demands of the Roman script activists is allowed to go further. This fear is clearly evident in his statement: “The official language accepted in Goa is Konkani in ‘Devanagiri’ script. This is a settled issue because of the sacrifice and enlightened minds of the leaders of all communities.” Indeed, the core of the demand of the Roman script is not that literary works in the Roman script get awards, but rather that Konkani in the Roman script be given its legitimate place in the Official Language Act (OLA). This demand has been made because even though this form of Konkani is an older version of Konkani, and continues a vibrant production of Konkani culture, it has been subjected to all kinds of abuse and suppression in the years since the OLA was enacted. Further, while Konkani alone may be recognised as the official language of the state, the fact is that the operation of the Act continues to give official language status to Marathi.  This has resultedin Goa having two official languages, de facto. The issue of the status of official language being awarded in favour of Konkani in the Nagari script is, therefore, by no means “settled”. Indeed, contrary to Timble’s suggestions, there are very large numbers of members of the bahujan samaj who refuse to acknowledge Nagari Konkani as a legitimate Goan language because they see it as a ploy to ensure brahmanical supremacy in Goa. Consequently, the lone Nagari Konkani newspaper that exists has one of the lowest figures of circulation, lower than Konkani newspapers in the Roman script, and many times lower than Marathi language newspapers. These bahujan samaj activists would possibly accept Romi Konkani as an authentic language, but continue to refuse to accept the Nagri version. It is in recognition of this reality of the operation of the OLA, and to ensure that Konkani in the Roman script also enjoys the status that these two other languages enjoy, that the activists for the Roman script have been agitating right from the days that the OLA came into effect.

Timble inserts a number of subtle arguments to ensure the exclusive privilege that Nagari Konkani activists seek to retain. Indeed, it is around such arguments that the votaries of both Marathi and Nagari Konkani have often ganged up against the proponents of Konkani in the Roman script. The first of these arguments is to suggest, as evidenced above, that the decision in favour of Nagari alone was made by “enlightened minds”. The suggestion, therefore, is that those who challenge this supremacy of Nagari are unenlightened “fanatics” who seek to sow the seeds of division. The problem, however, is, as Timble himself recognises, that the division already exists, perpetuated in large part by the suppression of non-Nagari Konkani by the votaries of Konkani in the Nagari script. This suppression involved state supported institutions like the Kala Academy and the Goa Konkani Akademi refusing to consider works written in the Roman script for state awards, the systematic disparagement of productions in the Roman script like the tiatr (a form of drama) and romans (novels or novellas) as lacking in standard. It needs to be recognised that the grant of awards is often not merely the establishment of a standard, but also a way for the state to extend financial support to the arts.

The other argument that Timble throws up, and one that must be subjected to greater scrutiny, is his suggestion that the “Romi script is an accident of history”. It was this very suggestion that formed the basis of excluding the Roman script from the OLA. The implications of this argument are extremely dangerous since it suggests that the people who spoke the Konkani language had a certain trajectory of cultural development already chalked when its fulfilment was interrupted. The interruption implied is clearly: the arrival of the Portuguese and the establishment of theirrule in the subcontinent. If the arrival of the Portuguese is seen as the cause for this accident of history, then surely there are a number of other accidents that occurred. The most crucial of these is the conversion of a sizable portion of the Goan population to Christianity. Must this Christianity also be seen as an accident of history because its growth coincides with Portuguese rule? Timble may well suggest that this “accident” be accepted and understood, but it is because these historical facts are seen as accidents that the Roman script and its cultural productions have been consistently deprived their rightful place in officially recognised Goan culture. Even if the state celebrates aspects of Goan culture that result from Portuguese intervention in local society, these are seen as exceptions rather than the rule. Herein lies the problem where Catholics are regarded as outsiders and foreigners to the acceptable national community, and any assertion of their difference is construed as being unacceptable. This intolerance of difference is amply evident in Timble’s suggestion that “‘One language, One Script, One community’ is not a wrong dream. But, it is an ideal paradise whose time has still not arrived.” Like the other votaries of the hegemony of the Nagari script, Timble too clearly believes that difference is a problem that must ideally be erased. By this logic, one can imagine that in Timble’s paradise all persons will be Hindu as well.

In conclusion, the statements of support by persons such as Timble should be read with caution. These statements do not recognise the legitimacy of Konkani in the Roman script, nor the demand that the Roman script be given an official place in the OLA. The sole purpose of Timble’s statement of support is to ensure that the delicate balance of linguistic power that currently exists in favour of both Nagari Konkani and Marathi is not tilted towards Marathi and Konkani in the Roman script. The fact is that while Konkani in the Roman script continues to be patronised by its loyal supporters in Goa, Konkani in the Nagari script has failed to achieve this position largely because it is an artificial creation that has sought to suppress Konkani in the Roman script, and has failed to achieve the trust of the Hindu bahujan who continue to use Marathi as a weapon against this particular Konkani.

(This response was first published on roundtableindia.co.in, on 28 October, 2013) 

To read the same article in Konkani, see here.