Konkani – Goa Government pushes use of language

If thing work the way the Goan Government wants to, the Konkani language could soon be used by the State Government in its day to day functioning.

Starting off with Konkani being used to file FIRs (First Information Reports) in Goan police stations. Presently these are being filled in English and to some extent in Marathi. The ultimate aim is obviously to start using Konkani in all other structures of the government.

This move was long seen to be coming, as the implementation of the Konkani language in schools has ensured that Konkani is now read and written by the vast majority in Goa.

However it should be noted that steps like these have to be taken with caution and a detailed study done on the impact of such a move. Official documentation is not something that should be played around with and enforcing people to use a certain language can cause long term consequences. Imagine an FIR filed in Konkani by a person who might not have the relevant knowledge of the language, either because he/she is well versed in an other language or does not know the Konkani language in the first place. This document is afterall an important one and will be used all the way up to the enforcement of law by the Judicial system.

Though the step is a move in the right direction (and well supported by the author), the ‘convenience to the common man’ debate might end up causing him the most inconvenience.

Konkani To German Translation

There are quite a few sites that do konkani to english translations online (and viceversa). Here is the first attempt to do that with the German language.
Having Konkani to German translation would open up the language to a whole new set of countries that use German as their primary/secondary language. These would include Germany, Switzerland and Austria among others.

A small step for the language in making it available to locations henceforth it was not accessible, due to linguistic barriers.

Well if you are a fan of the German language, I bet you will thoroughly enjoy this one (this is the best you can get till Google adds Konkani to its translate program, which I assume would be a few decades away, at the least):

Konkani To German Word Lists

Mr Mallya to the rescue again – This time its Gandhi’s Personal Belongings

Gandhi’s personal belongings slowly disappear from India over a period of few decades. No one cares or tracks their movements. The Gandhi family themselves are believed to have given away these things to loads of people over the decades.

Then the auction happens, and all of a sudden the whole country is jumping up and down. All sorts of accusations on why the auction is illegal etc spring up. Obviously the legal process in the States did not seem to think so. Just talk and no actions are at best what the national government was upto.

The whole controversy meant that the items were now more in demand then they would have been without the governments involvement. Everyone now wanted a piece of the cake. In a few days, the items value had shot 4-5 times over their reserve price.

Enter Vijay Mallya. Silently enters the auction via an agent. Secret till the last day. Wins the auction. Gets the belongings back to India. Problem found, problem solved.

What Mallya is good at, is play the game on the opponents turf, with the opponents rules and then excel at it. Instead of all this all-talk-no-actual-result, he gets what was needed at the moment. Get the job done, and done well. Congratulations Sir. The country owes you one for this.

Baby Talk in Konkani Language – A wonderful insight

What we dont realise sometimes is that each language has it own ‘baby talk’ so to speak. When a baby grows up, it encounters not only adults talking to it in a certain language, but also tends to be bombarded with a type of slang that people tend to throw at kids, that they would not normally use in normal circumstances. Quite confusing it must be for the baby to understand the subtle difference among the two.

Things like ‘abbu jalle’, which in baby konkani means ‘get hurt’ is one such example. Various such examples can be found. Infact it would be interesting if one could document all such ‘baby slangs’ that are in vogue. In all probabilities these words are in usage for hunderds of years and never really make it into a formal dictionary. But know the words, we all do.

One such beautiful attempt to document the same has been done at the below location. Hope you really enjoy it, and use it with your kids.

Konkani Baby Slang

Reactions to Shri Ravindra Kelekar’s Jnanpith Award

This post will include reactions and congratulations to Shri Kelekar on winning the prestigious award. If you want to congratulate Shri Kelekar, or if you know him personally and want to share your thoughts, do feel free to do so in the comments below:

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Reaction from eminent Konkani writer Dr S M Tadkodkar:

Rejoice! Rejoice!! Rejoice!!!
Let entire world know that our maayabhaas i. e. the Konkani, the sweetest language of the world, has received the most prestigious Jnyanpeetth Award from India for the year 2006!!!
All the ardent Konkani lovers! Rejoice! Rejoice!! Rejoice!!!
Advert this news of the century to birds and bees for they will tell all species of flowers and fruits. Communicate this great news to wind, lest mountains would not remain unknown, announce this news to all the directions lest nook and corner can exhibit their joy…
Padma Bhushann Ravindra Rajaram Kelekar (7-3-1925) has been declared as the most honorable receipient of 42nd Jnyanpeetth Award. This is the first time that the Konkani language has ben adored by the Jnyanpeetth Award.
All the ardent Konkani lovers living in diaspora, Rejoice! Rejoice!! Rejoice!!!
Watch!! God is showering petals of selected flowers full of blessings dipped in honey on the Konkani language of passionate, learned and cultured speakers!
Life is so beautiful, and serene, and judicious for Konakani has received its due place in the heart of rushees and munees (hermits) of the graet Indian culture.Oh! my God, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
All the Konkani lovers! Rejoice! Rejoice!! Rejoice!!!
- Dr. S. M. Tadkodkar,

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Shri Ravindra Kelekar – Jnanpith Award – And what it really means?

Shri Ravindra Kelekar has been bestowed the Jnanpith Award for 2006 in November 2008. This event marks an important time for the Konkani Language.

Inspite of Konkani being recognised as an official language by the Indian Constitution, the Jnanpith Award had been elusive to the Konkani authors of this age. However Shri Kelekar has finally managed to break that jinx. The elusiveness of the award has ofcourse nothing to do with the standard of konkani literature that is abound today (or is it not?). Ofcourse when we compare the amount and standard of Konkani literature compared to say the other great languages of India, like Kannada and Hindi, there is a real lot to catch up there.

However, what this one event has achieved is great. It now moves Konkani into the bigger league. Its a sort of silent promotion so to say. This event has been a shot in the arms for the existing Konkani authors. Most of them young and ambitious. They now know that the sky is the limit for them.

I hereby take great pleasure to congratulate Shri Ravindra Kelekar again.

Konkani Literature – An Article

The Sahitya Academy in India is one place where the great literary minds of today meet and share their thoughts.

Dr S M Tadkodkar, a prolific author himself, has presented a research paper to the Sahitya Academy in October 2008. Its a brilliant paper that details the state of ‘Konkani Literature’ as it exists today, ofcourse drawing from the history as well. It is worthwhile also to note that Shri Ravindra Kelekar, has been bestowed the prestigious Jyanpith Award. The award for Indian authors is as (or more) prestigious than the Nobel Prize for the literature.

Dr Tadkodkar’s thoughts in the article are expressed in the most simplest of ways possible. Hence making it a brilliant read even for the uninitiated into the Konkani Literary field.

You can enjoy the article at the below location:

Konkani Literature Today – A Research Paper

Ambe Sassam – A Konkani Salad

Eskay is back with a new article.

This time its on ’Ambe Sassam’, a sort of mango in coconut sauce salad/curry. This food is quite unique to the ‘Amchigele’ or the ‘Konkani Speakers’.

This article can be found at the below location:

Ambe Saasam – A True Konkani Salad

Konkani Cuisine – An Introduction

A good article which introduces the layman to the concept of ‘Konkani Cuisine’.

From Daali Thoi to Bibbe Upkari, and the importance that the Konkani people seem to give to their food are covered in this article.

This wonderful article has been written by Eskay, who is fanatical about Konkani food.

This article can be found at the below location:

Konkani Cuisine – An Introduction

Learn Konkani Language Online

The best way to learn a new language, is to use word lists that have words from a specific category.

This makes it easier to learn new words, as they are all related.

I have found this set of wonderfully categorised Konkani words. There are around 50 categories, ranging from ‘Food & Drink’ to ‘Slang Used With a Baby’. (The latter being especially useful if you have kids of your own)

Ofcourse there are other lists like ‘Kitchen Utensils’ and ‘Home Furnishing’ !!!!

Hope you enjoy learning the Konkani Language.

Location:
Konkani Dictionary Page

(Scroll down on this page to find the categorised Konkani word list)