Konkani Language and its Survival

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 1992
By 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 Muhammed
bin 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 Konkan
Brahmins speak Chitpawani that is influenced
by Marathi
• People of Konkan speak Malavani and Goans
speak Gomantaki
• Muslim Konkanis (converted due to Tipu)
speak a mixture of Urdu in parts of Mysore,
Coorg, and Srirangapattanam
One language in Many Scripts!
• To write Konkani, Kannada, Nagari, Roman,
Arabic, and Malayalam scripts are used
• Portughese recorded earlier works in konkani
in Roman Script
• Controversy with Marati
• Konkanis of Karnataka use Kannada script
• Konkanis of Kerala are confused on which
script to use!
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
Shenoi Goembab
Latin script and 22 in Devanagiri.
(23 June 1877 – 9 April 1946)
This included short stories, dramas novels, poetry,
essays, linguistics, philosophy & history
• Honoured as Konkani Person of the Millennium
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 Bhasha
Prachar Sabha and recipient of
many honors
Is always at the forefront of movement to strengthen
Konkani language and culture
Thanks!
[email protected]