In Goa, the conversation around the Konkani language is often overshadowed by a heated debate over scripts—specifically, the Nagri (Devanagari) and Romi (Roman) scripts. This scripto-centric thinking—where the script takes precedence over the language itself—has trapped Konkani in a divisive struggle, preventing Goans from fully embracing their linguistic heritage. Language, at its core, is not defined by a script; scripts are merely tools, technologies humans invent or borrow to record spoken words. Yet, in Goa, the preference for one script over another has created an uneven playing field, with proponents of Nagri pushing it as the dominant choice, while the government navigates a complex history tied to Nehru’s 1962 decision on the medium of instruction. The solution lies in de-scripting
—a shift away from script-centric priorities toward a focus on the language itself. This article explores how de-scripting can liberate Konkani and allow Goa to embrace it fully.
The Scripto-Centric Trap in Goa
Konkani, the soul of Goan identity, is caught in a tug-of-war between two scripts. The Nagri script, rooted in Devanagari and shared with languages like Marathi, is often favored by official institutions and its proponents, who see it as a marker of cultural legitimacy. Meanwhile, the Romi script, based on the Roman alphabet, has historical significance among certain communities, particularly those influenced by Portuguese rule. The government, adhering to the belief that the medium of instruction was settled by Nehru in 1962, has largely endorsed Nagri. However, it has also opened a backdoor by supporting the Dalgad Konkani Academy, it to promote Konkani education in the Romi script. This duality highlights the tension: scripto-centric thinking privileges one script—Nagri—while sidelining others, even as alternatives like Marathi, widely available in Goa, draw people away from Konkani altogether.
This focus on scripts obscures a fundamental truth: language is not reducible to the tools we use to write it. Writing is an invention, a secondary layer atop the living essence of speech, meaning, and culture. By fixating on whether Konkani should be written in Nagri or Romi, we risk losing sight of the language itself, allowing script-based loyalties to fracture its unity.
What Is De-Scripting?
De-scripting is the act of decoupling a language from its dependence on a specific script, recognizing that scripts are not the essence of communication but rather its facilitators. It’s a call to re-center our attention on Konkani as a spoken language—its sounds, grammar, idioms, and stories—rather than on how it is transcribed. De-scripting doesn’t reject scripts outright; instead, it levels the playing field, refusing to privilege one over another. In the context of Goa, it means moving beyond the Nagri-Romi divide to embrace Konkani in its entirety, free from the constraints of scripto-centric thinking.
This approach challenges the notion that a language’s legitimacy hinges on a single writing system. Teaching in dual scripts—or even multiple scripts—doesn’t destroy a language; it enriches it, offering flexibility and inclusivity. By de-scripting, we acknowledge that Konkani belongs to all Goans, not just those aligned with a particular script. May be we need to ask for teaching Konkani in dual scripts .
How De-Scripting Can Help Goa Embrace Konkani
De-scripting offers a practical and philosophical path to revitalizing Konkani. Here’s how it can work:
1. Prioritizing the Spoken Language
Education could begin with Konkani as a spoken language, focusing on oral fluency before introducing writing systems. This approach builds a foundation in the language’s rhythms and vocabulary, fostering a connection to Konkani that isn’t tied to script preferences. Children would learn to speak and think in Konkani first, uniting them through the language itself rather than dividing them by script.
2. Introducing Multiple(Dual) Scripts as Options
Once oral proficiency is established, students could be introduced to both Nagri and Romi—and potentially other scripts historically linked to Konkani, like Kannada or Perso-Arabic—as tools for writing. Learners could choose the script that resonates with their background or needs, or even learn dual scripts in Goa , reflecting the language’s diversely rich heritage. This flexibility ensures that no single script dominates, dismantling the hierarchy that scripto-centric thinking perpetuates.
3. Countering External Pressures
The availability of Marathi, often written in Devanagari and supported by a robust educational framework, has lured many Goans away from Konkani. Nagri proponents, leveraging this overlap, force their script on Konkani speakers, arguing it aligns with regional or nationalist norms. De-scripting neutralizes this pressure by making Konkani accessible at least in dual forms, reducing the incentive to abandon it for Marath or other third language i.
4. Fostering Inclusivity
Script preferences in Goa are often tied to religious, caste, or political identities—Romi to Christian communities, Nagri to Hindu ones. By de-emphasizing scripts, we remove these divisive markers, inviting all Goans to reclaim Konkani as a shared legacy. Teaching in dual scripts, as supported by initiatives like the Dalgad Konkani Academy, proves that linguistic diversity need not fracture a language but can strengthen its reach.
Cultural and Political Liberation
The benefits of de-scripting extend beyond the classroom. Culturally, it honors Konkani’s rich history, which predates and transcends any single script. Politically, it diffuses the tensions fueled by script-based advocacy, offering a compromise that doesn’t force a winner-takes-all outcome. It also aligns with global movements to preserve endangered languages, where oral traditions often take precedence over standardized writing systems. By embracing de-scripting, Goa can position Konkani as a vibrant, living language, not a relic of bureaucratic or ideological battles.
A Konkani for All
Konkani’s future lies not in choosing between Nagri and Romi but in rising above the script debate altogether. De-scripting frees us from the trap of scripto-centric thinking, allowing us to focus on what truly matters: the language itself. By prioritizing spoken Konkani, offering multiple scripts as tools, and fostering inclusivity, we can ensure that every Goan—regardless of background—feels ownership over this linguistic treasure. The government’s backdoor support for Romi through the invitation to Dalgad Konkani Academy to open schools for Romi Konkani is a step in the right direction, but de-scripting takes us further, promising a Konkani that is fully embraced, not as a scripted artifact, but as the voice of a united people. Let us move beyond scripts and into the heart of Konkani—where its true power resides.
