Culture and Language A noteworthy event for the wider Goan diaspora was the third International Goan Convention comanied at the Kala Academy by World Wide Goans in Panjim on December 29. At the convention most of the speakers residing in Goa continued the refrain that the expats need to maintain their links with their native culture and mothertongue. In this connection, Goans coming from various places in the world often tell us that they manage to comanise some sort of cultural events or tiatr on festive occasions in places they live. Goan tiatrists too go all the way to the Gulf countries to hold special performances for Goans out there. Some of the Konkani publications too reach there. They even prefer Goan food as and when it is available. The NRI Goans were not in a sufficiently large number to voice their difficulties and explain why they have not been able to maintain the culture and mothertongue in the measure that some Goans at home would desire they should do. The NRIs listened patiently but when the time came to discuss what the newly set up NRI Facilitation Centre could do for NRI Goans, they availed of the opportunity to make a note of the unfavourable environment prevailing here and which prevents them from investing in Goa. The resident Goans largely had to put up with the sermonizing about the language and culture aspects. Few would be able to explain how we, who live here, help protect our language and culture, beyond paying mere lip service. Well, the Catholic section at least has been keeping Goan traditions alive to some extent by reading, praying and singing in Konkani at every church in every village if not every day at least on every Sunday. The majority of the Konkani publications and literature pouring out in Goa is generally by virtue of being patronised by the Catholic community. A lot of the Konkani literature is of a religious nature and is published by the Diocese continuously. The roman script section of Konkani lovers does not rely on the government to finance or sponsor their literature. Whenever it is possible, Goans make it a point to sing the local mando, and there are at least three wellknown mando festivals comanised in Goa every year. There is a thriving Konkani commercial stage in Goa and it performs come rain or sunshine thoughout the year except during the period of Lent. Moreover, the Kala Academy has been comanising tiatr competitions every year in which several theatre groups participate. Moreover, it is quite satisfying to note that several of the tiatrs this year were directed by Hindu directors. Since all of us do not belong to a particular faith or do not go to watch the tiatr, it's quite natural that all of us are not really aware of how Konkani manages to thrive despite urbanization, westernization and other strong influences. It all happens in the roman script. Of course, the Konkani in the roman script may not necessarily be of a high literary standard but its level is in keeping with the taste and temperament of the common man. There are very few people producing literature of good standard in Konkani even in the Devanagri script. Few people, however, read such 'good' literature. Konkani's predicament has always been unique. Those who are accustomed to the devanagri script look down on the language and those who long to read it find the script difficult. As for culture, time and again we find it a suitable term to underline Goanity. If we were to swear by ethnic Goan culture, we would perhaps have to discard not only our westernised ways but several other things. Our real culture would lead us back to the old days and its antiquated lifestyle...food habits, living, dress mode, etc. Would some of the protagonists of the elusive 'culture' give us a lead, show us the way how to go about it? Joel D'Souza |
