Konkani Language and its Survival

Dr G Santhosh Kumar

Cochin University of Science and Technology

Kochi, Kerala, India

K K Subramaniyan (1939-2014)

Konkani language

• Konkani is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by people in Goa and parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala states

• Almost all Konkani settlements outside Goa happened from migrations from 16th century onwards ( 1501 – 1600 )

History of Konkani

• The first line was inscribed circa 981 AD and the second line in 116-17 AD.

The language of these lines is Konkani*

Jain pilgrimage center of Shravanabelagola

*according to Dr. S.B. Kulkarni (former head of Department of Marathi, Nagpur University) & Dr. Jose Pereira (former professor, Fordham University, USA)

First ever printed Indian Language!

• Portughese missionaries established a printing press in Saint Paul's College, Old Goa in 1556

• Konkani enjoys the privilege of possessing the first text printed in any Indian language

• The script used was Roman and not in Devanagari

A History of Konkani Literature: From 1500 to 1992By Manohararāya Saradesāya

Exodus of Konkani people

• Goa Inquisition was most merciless and cruel

Portughese conquest

• Goa was a great and prosperous trading port on the Indian coast

• The Portuguese conquest of Goa occurred in 1510 on behalf of the Portuguese admiral D. Afonso de Albuquerque

• Albuquerque attacked Goa at the invitation of a local chieftain Thimayya, an exciled Hindu

• Albuquerque entered Feb 1510, but succeeded in his second attempt Dec 1510

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_conquest_of_Goa

Konkani speakers into Canara

• Influx happened in three time-lines :• Exodus between 1312 and 1327 when General Malik

Kafur of the Delhi Sultans Alauddin Khilji and Muhammedbin Tughlaq destroyed Govepuri and the Kadambas

• Exodus subsequent to 1470 when the Bahamani kingdom captured Goa, and subsequently in 1492 by Sultan Yusuf Adil Shah of Bijapur

• Hindu exodus due to persecution and proselytisation of Hindus by Portuguese Jesuist and Franciscan missionaries subsequent to 1500

• Hindu, Muslim and Neo-Catholic Christian exodus during the Inquisition ordered by St. Francis Xavier which was established in 1560

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konkani_in_Karnataka_and_Kerala

Konkani Speakers in Cochin

• Konkani speakers are found predominantly in the Cochin and Ernakulam Alapuzha, Kollam districts of Kerala

• The migration of GSBs to Kerala were mainly in two phases - in the 13th century (the exodus of 1294 AD) and subsequently in the 16th century (1522 AD)

• There are pieces of evidence to prove that stray members of the Saraswat community had their settlement in Cochin since the early part of 13th century A.D

• Saraswats were already there when Vasco da Gama arrived Calicut in 1498 AD

http://www.gsbkerala.com/gsbhistory.htm#exodus

Konkanis in Cochin

Hortus Malabaricus

• 1678-1693

• Konkani Speaking Physicians contributed

• Konkani names of Plants are mentioned

Ranga Botto, Vinaique Pandito and Apu Botto

Konkan

• Same story of birth of Kerala!!

• Konkan is divided into three states

– Maharashtra ( Konkan Region)

– Goa

– Karnataka ( North Canara )

• Each group claim the language Konkani as their own

Konkani Dialects

• People of Ratnagiri origin and KonkanBrahmins speak Chitpawani that is influenced by Marathi

• People of Konkan speak Malavani and Goansspeak Gomantaki

• Muslim Konkanis (converted due to Tipu) speak a mixture of Urdu in parts of Mysore, Coorg, and Srirangapattanam

• To write Konkani, Kannada, Nagari, Roman, Arabic, and Malayalam scripts are used

• Portughese recorded earlier works in konkaniin Roman Script

• Controversy with Marati

• Konkanis of Karnataka use Kannada script

• Konkanis of Kerala are confused on which script to use!

One language in Many Scripts!

http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/konkani/konkani.htm

Revival of Konkani as a language

• It is belived that earlier works

of Konkani were destroyed

• Revitalising of Konkani by

Goembab

• Written 7 books in the

Latin script and 22 in Devanagiri.

This included short stories, dramas novels, poetry, essays, linguistics, philosophy & history

• Honoured as Konkani Person of the Millennium

Shenoi Goembab(23 June 1877 – 9 April 1946)

Official Language

• Goa got freedom in 1961

• Included in 8th Schedule of Constitution of India in 1992 ( 71st amenmend)

• Govt. has the responsibility to develop

Kudumbi Community

• Known as Mooppans, Kunbis , Konkana sudras

• Speak purest form of Konkani similar to those of remote villages of Goa

• Isolated living might have caused this?

• Learned local language for daily living

Organizations

– Has 126 konkani organizations from 13 countries

– The Konkan Daiz Yatra is the oldest Konkani organisation

– Vishwa Konkani Parishad - 2005

– Jagotik Konkani Songhatan (Global Konkani Organization) – 2011

How to revive our language

• Konkani speaking people are spread all over India; awareness about all groups and their culture

• A repository for - An archival of culture

• Spreading of the language to youngsters

• Research

• Identify the persons who have contributed and honor them

Congratulations!

• Padmasree Narayana Purushothama Mallaya

– 2015 Padma Award for Literature and Education

founder of Konkani BhashaPrachar Sabha and recipient of many honors

Is always at the forefront of movement to strengthen Konkani language and culture

Thanks!san@cusat.ac.in