Mangalore Diocese News

Media Release

Mangaluru, Oct 9, 2016 : "Due to the rise in English medium schools, the Konkani might have to switch to the Roman script from the Kannada script and this might be the language's future" said Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the bishop of Mangalore diocese.

He was addressing the gathered at Don Bosco hall on Sunday October 9, after inaugurating the decennial celebration of the Konkani Prachar Sanchalan in traditional style.

"We all Konkani speaking people have the responsibility of preserving our mother tongue. Today due to the rise in English medium schools, children are not showing interest to learn Konkani as it is taught in Kannada script. In this context if Konkani has to be preserved, then it may have to be taught in Roman script which will enable the children to learn Konkani with the changing world," Bishop said.

"Roy Castelino, along with his team, has put his heart and soul in the movement of Konkani in schools. He took the opposition he faced as a challenge. If Konkani has reached to this level in schools and colleges, it is because of him." Bishop opined.

"Today only few colleges run by Catholics teach Konkani. I call upon every college run by the Catholics to teach Konkani and preserve the language." Bishop concluded.

The founder president of the Sanchalan and the president of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya academy, Roy Castelino pointed out that it was Dr Aloysius who supported the Sanchalan during the initial days when the heads of Catholic institutions declined to teach Konkani in schools. "Those were the days when the state government had just granted us the permission to include Konkani in the school curriculum. There were no funds, no Konkani teachers and translators. At this juncture, the then Karnataka Konkani Sahitya academy president Eric Ozario told us that we have form an organization for this,”

"Initially we thought it was easy but as the days passed, the work started getting tougher. Our requests to introduce Konkani in schools were thrown into the dustbin by the heads of institutes and at this moment we approached the bishop. He rendered his whole hearted support stating he would do everything possible from his side. Hence in 2006 about 1500 students agreed to learn Konkani. But the next year this number was reduced to 400 and we were worried. Now about 75 schools in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts teach Konkani to about 1500 students and in Uttara Kannada about 400 students will be studying Konkani."

Every year we spend around Rs 12 lacs for the Abhiyan and incentives to the Konkani teachers as the government does not give additional incentives to them. We have taken the loans but still the work continues. It is all to save the integrity and uniqueness of our mother tongue. Still many people in our community question our work." Roy added.

MLA of Mangaluru South constituency JR Lobo who was present during the inauguration honoured Dr Aloysius D’Souza on behalf of Sanchalan for his support for Konkani in liturgy and schools.

The legendary Goan dramatist Prince Jacob was also honoured at the occasion along with the students of the first batch of MA Konkani from university evening college.

President of the Sanchalan Lawrence D'souza welcomed all while committee member Fr Alwyn Serrao rendered vote of thanks.

Vithori Karkal compered the programme and secretary of Sanchalan James D’Souza presented the report of the ten years of activities of Sanchalan.

The 338th show of the Prince Jacob's Goan Tiatr (Play) 'Padri' was held after the formal function.