PANJIM: Supporters of Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) filled Azad Maidan and clung onto the ground's iron railings on Wednesday afternoon as they pledged they will not rest till the state makes its policy of grant-in-aid to only regional language primary schools its permanent policy.
The massive public meeting also passed a resolution that the government should, henceforth, refuse recognition to private English medium primary schools.
Bus loads of supporters, from Pernem to Canacona, poured into the state capital for the meeting to listen to speakers including Konkani writers Pundalik Naik, N Shivdas and Uday Bhembre. As the speakers took potshots at education minister Atanasio "Babush" Monserrate and other Congress MLAs, the crowd comprising opposition leader Manohar Parrikar, and other opposition MLAs roared in response.
BBSM reiterated its demand that Monserrate resign as minister for attending a public meeting "meant to comment adversely on the present education policy of the government and to demand a change which is in direct contravention of Right To Education Act, 2009".
The gathering waved its hands in approval as the resolutions were passed which said the state should make it mandatory for existing English medium primary schools to teach at least two subjects through Konkani, Marathi or other Indian languages.
The other resolution stated that the government should ban play schools and primary schools with English as medium of instruction and make it mandatory for schools already registered to shift to Indian languages within a given time frame.
Bhembre, speaking of the MLAs that supported the meeting for grants to English medium primary schools, said, "All four MLAs Churchill Alemao, Babush Monserrate, Mickky Pacheco, Jose Philip D'Souza are school drop-outs. This is not all. All of them were in English medium schools."
Bhembre said that parents afraid their children will not be able to compete in the globalized world without primary education in English medium should leave the state.
"To be Goan means to speak the language of the land. It is your identity. Without that it would be difficult to say who is a Goan and who is a Bihari. Let the Diocesan Society tell us, since they say the parents should decide for their children, in which country in the world parents get together on public grounds to decide on the policy for education and school curriculum."
Former Goa Konkani Akademi president Pundalik Naik said the demand for English as medium of instruction shows that Goans are still not independent in thought despite the state's liberation from colonial rule.
"The argument parents are making is that English is essential to earn a living and fill our stomachs. Do countries like France, Germany, China and Japan not have a stomach? In all these countries education is in the mother tongue. So many tiatrists are earning their living today and doing well for themselves by making Konkani tiatrs."
Fr Mouzinho Ataide said it is surprising that on Indian and Goan land people have to fight to protect Indian languages. "We are proud of our language. Let us vow that we will never allow the government to give English schools grants and we will not allow any more English primary schools to open up. The existing English schools are more than enough."
Freedom fighter Naguex Carmali said the demand for English is a conspiracy to "de-culturize" and de-nationalize Goans.
"The fact remains that English is a foreign language. In all other states children are being taught in their regional language. Only in Goa these parents are asking for English primary schools. In 50 years' time, these people will say since they are the only ones studying in English they are not part of India and want to be separated."
Opposition to this say that Marathi is also a foreign language and does not deserve any grants. Konkani is the only official language and mother tongue of Goa and Goans. Protect it and not Marathi said some in the crowd.
Marathi is also a foreign language to Goans, forced on us by thew ghantti traitor MGP clan, the goverment must stop giving aid to marathi medium schools. These old moth*&^%F*&^%rs are still resolute on merging goa with mahastra. being part of india is now a disgrace, all dirty, corrupt to the core, and mostly uncivilised.
ReplyDeleteThese are just a bunch of politicians and not educationists with a vision. Most of them are demented and suffering from Alzheimer's. Going by their reasoning Marathi is the mother tongue of Maharashtra, so it should not receive grants in Goa. If English is a foreign language so too are various professional courses like Allopathic Medicine, electronic engineering, Business management, automobile engineering, etc., etc. Why are these taught throughout India? Travel by donkeys, go to herbal quacks by the roadside when ill, stop wearing shirts,pants and shoes; wear a 'lungi' which is befitting to these morons. All they want is that Goans should be third rated politicians like them or be available on hire for attending meetings.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Fr. Mousinho is concerned, I am ashamed that a priest could openly stoop so low; disgusting. Only persons without integrity can be sycophants. It wont be far when he may even say that catholic religion is also not Indian, and we should ban this religion from Rome.
Parents are not afraid that their children will not be able to compete in a globalized world without primary education in English medium. Parents have said that with English as the medium from primary level onwards, children will be better equipped to compete.
ReplyDeleteTo be Goan means to "speak" the language of the land? There are lots of "Goans", with voting rights, ration cards, houses with water and electricity connection, who speak the language of their land. But NOT the language of Goa, that is KONKANI. What parents want is that their children be TAUGHT at the primary level through the English medium, with grant-in-aid for these schools.
Regarding the question "in which country in the world parents get together on public grounds to decide on the policy for education and school curriculum", the BBSM has given the answer - it is India. They got together at the Azad Maidan (in Panaji - Goa - India) to dictate their decision on the education policy.
Is English a foreign language? It is the state language of some of the States in India. Are they not part of India? Do they ask to be separated? Do they want to secede?
Naguesh Karmali the thief is a stray dog who has turned ungrateful inspite of Goans taking mercy on him and feeding him. Classic case of "biting the hand that feeds".
ReplyDeleteThis raggedly beggar has became insane in old age and is torturing himself by unnecessarily getting involved in issues that are beyond his comprehension due to his limited knowledge and lack of education. He will kick the bucket due to hypertension as a result. The Goa govt should take pity on this stray canine and the general feeling is that it is a perfect case for ''Euthanasia". After all we should treat our pension fighters with respect that they so badly deserve.
A bunch of ignorant illiterates who think all Goans can be fooled all the time.
ReplyDeleteI do hope they know that Supreme Court of India is in India and not in England. So all you illiterate BBSM and other chamchas who spoke for the meeting to the illiterate crowd; READ THIS:-
http://www.lawyersclubindia.com/forum/Don-t-shut-English-medium-schools-says-apex-court-7339.asp
The statement that the 4 MLA`s...Babush,Churchill,Pacheco & Jose Philip D`souza were English school dropouts is pathetic This view is obviously made by Marathi Clowns with no education themselves.
ReplyDeleteWhat they fail to take into consideration is what about their (Pacheco ,Churchill`s etc) Classmates or Schoolmates who have succeeded.
Every language medium has school drop-outs.There are millons & millions of these all around India.In fact the illiterate rate in India is one of the highest in the world.This is a known fact.
The notion that all Goans wish to make a living being Konkani...or for that matter Marathi Tiatrists pure nonsense.
It is quite obvious this comes from an imbecile.
As for Fr Mouzinho Ataide views,this due to him suffering from early stages of "dementia" (Old age madness).
Only a Bloody fool (like the speakers at tis meet)iwill believe that, Konkani will be lost if the medium is in English.
Many Goans have been multi-lingual.