JKS to conduct national seminar to address Konkani script issue

JKS to conduct national seminar to address Konkani script issue

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Mar 6, 2012: Addressing reporters at a press conference held at Press Club on March 6 Tuesday, Eric Ozario, the general secretary of the Jagotik Konkani Songhotton (JKS), said that the JKS will organize a national seminar on scripts and languages of modern India with special reference to Konkani.

Experts from Delhi, Goa, and other parts of India, who have researched the subject, will participate in this event, he added. 

Mr. Ozario further stated that the JKS, which comprises 126 Konkani associations from 13 countries, makes earnest efforts to facilitate intellectual discussion with inputs outside Konkani so that it can find democratic and scientific solutions to problems. 

Dr. Valerian Rodrigues, the head of the Center for Political Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi will chair the seminar, which will commence at 3:00 p.m. on March 10 Saturday and will conclude on March 11 Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
Mr. Ozario also said that Dr. Anvita Abbi, the professor of linguistics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; Dr. Alok Rai, the professor of English at Delhi University; Dr. Asha Sarangi, professor of political studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; Dr. Madhavi Sardessai, the professor of Konkani, University of Goa; and Dr. Prathap Naik, the linguist and researcher of Goa, will be the resource persons. 

Speaking about the script controversy that has been hindering the Konkani movement from several decades, he said that no one has tried to resolve the issue in spite of the damage it has caused to Konkani unity and the development of Konkani literature.