It is well known that in the field of linguistics, from the gallery of the most famous dead Goans, the unique personality of the linguist, Sebastiao Rodolfo Dalgado, professor of language and Sanskrit literature at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Lisbon, devoted a large part of his life to studying several languages, especially Indo-R. Konkanani, his mother tongue, which the first Portuguese called Canarim.
Despite going through all the turmoil, and has continued for centuries, kônkânnií has become one of the most relevant identifying marks of Goan identity, recognized only as the official language of the state of Goa. Since the 20th century. In August 1992, that is, against all the legitimate aspirations and expectations of the Goans who practiced their mother tongue, more than three decades after the end of Portuguese sovereignty in the former Portuguese state of India.
Afonso de Albuquerque, conqueror of Goa on 25 November 1510, was clearly aware from the outset that the spread of the Portuguese language in the region was essential to the unification of his domain.
In order to achieve this goal and fulfill his illustrious dream of mixing conquerors and conquerors, in addition to the mixed marriages performed under his auspices, he took the first step towards propagating the Portuguese in the East by offering a married man. Including teaching Portuguese reading and writing to over a hundred natives.
Proud of the results achieved, he happily communicated with King Manuel I that the young Goans had learned wisely and quickly.
However, it was a cyclopian task for the natives to abandon their mother tongue and embrace Portuguese which was not within the reach of a small number of conquerors, due to lack of technical means, reluctance of a section of jealous Portuguese. As opposed to their plan and, above all, because kônkânnií, both spoken and written, is a rich and complete language, with a well-pronounced grammar and, according to its experts, able to work with all sorts of subjects.
To make matters worse, as an additional inconvenience to Portuguese interests, it was found that the local language was deeply ingrained in the population, which made the task of replacing kônkânií with Portuguese extremely difficult.
One hundred and seventy-four years after the conquest, Portugal found a lack of human resources “for arms and defense of this land” (27 June 1684 at Alvara, Joachim Heliodoro da Cunha Rivara, Encio Historico da Lingua Konkani, Nova-Goa, Imprensa Nacional, 1858). 256), and how the principle of mixed marriage, as suggested by Afonso de Albuquerque, “excludes those who will rule” (Idem) and the consequent loss of good Portuguese governance, d. Francisco de Tavora, Count of Alvarez, Viceroy and Captain General of India, by the aforesaid charter, decided to reactivate that erroneous process by selecting widows to marry the metropolitan, as many of them, though very young, had tradition and strength. They remain in that state due to family pressure.
However, in his shamelessness, he came to believe that he could force all Goans and all nations to abandon their mother tongue and Portuguese through common law and obedience to their wishes, – “no less convenient for their natives than to use their natural language.” Cancels, and everyone applies themselves to speaking Portuguese, which closes the difficulties, which at the same time is considered to be their mother tongue and speaking Portuguese so that it does not happen. Understandably; Teaching and instructing about secrets “(Idem, pp. 256-257) – through threats and severe and permanent punishments” to the Crown under the punishment of confiscation of their property, and deprivation of all honor and priority of their public servants, but at no time. They did not admit much to them “(Idem, 257).
D. Francisco de Tavora was also convinced that in just three years he would achieve this goal: They will all generally speak Portuguese and only use it
Their transactions and agreements which they make on our land, and somehow from the language of the land, show the severity of the judgment and punishment against them “(Idem, p. 258).
Not only was this irrational and irrational resolution executed, it was predictable, but in 1745 Archbishop D. Was followed by the French. Lourenço de Santa Maria de Melo, who had an irrational idea of wanting to stop the wedding celebration for those who did not know Portuguese, gave the Brahmins and Chardos six months to learn it and the other castes a year (António de Noronha, Os Indus de Goa and Portuguese). Republic, Nova Goa, Imprensa Nacional, 1922, p. 79). This is Viceroy D. Considering Francisco de Tavora’s charter as invalid, he had to quickly reverse his decision.
Indeed, for many centuries, many Portuguese rulers and religious authorities, in their futile ability to impose unenforceable changes, lacked determination and the power to execute them, under the threat of unjust punishment.
Although there was no strict educational policy to teach Portuguese to all Goans, and despite the efforts of some leaders, especially after the 1950s, the last Governor-General, Manuel Vasalo e Silva, spoke mainly Portuguese. By the urban elite, villages without branches and scattered villages were not able to penetrate.
On December 18, 1961, with the defeat of the former conquerors by the arms of the Indian Union, all signs of Portuguese presence in Goa, namely language, began to represent a serious obstacle to the rapid assimilation and unification of the Goans. Within the newly established discipline. So the first reaction of the newly established power and especially the freedom fighters, to implement measures to try to remove the traces of the presence of the colonists.
Indifferent to this political trend, the economic compass has gradually discovered new avenues and the tourism industry has gained strength, which has become one of the important factors in the development of Goa.
Foreign tours and thousands of tourists from the rest of India, who, above all, are looking for indomitable signs of Portuguese presence.
Goa has dealt a heavy blow to the aspirations of those who wanted to see the evidence of Portugal’s history evaporate in that eastern land.
With the restoration of diplomatic relations between Portugal and India, the exchange of visits of the concerned Prime Ministers and the presence of the President of the Portuguese Republic in Goa, India is making good use of this window of opportunity now that it has a prosperous economy, sustainable expansion and new commercial space.
Thus, due to changes in the political and geopolitical situation, the Portuguese became an obstacle to becoming a necessity, as Indian leaders assumed, in order to grow and expand trade with Portugal and Brazil and to launch new bridges. In the emerging markets of Angola, Mozambique and other Portuguese-speaking countries, anyone who mastered the Camos language was left open to do business in those states. Therefore, it is not surprising that the promotion of Portuguese language in Goa is a reality and Goan youth want to learn that language, because they know that, with the addition of this language, they can be successful in different countries of the world.
Based on the peaceful and uncontrolled invasion of the population from the rest of India in search of the declared Eldorado, in just sixty years with the dynamics of the Goan economy, its population has more than doubled.
Today, the Goa resident feels nostalgia and deep sorrow when he addresses many pedestrians, shopkeepers and waiters in Kankani, and they look at him in amazement at the slightest idea of the language of conversation.
Although there are still purists in Goa who speak Kankani, English, Marathi, Hindi, Portuguese or Gujarati without relying on other languages, it is common to find the most suitable words to mix and express these common languages in routine conversation. Transient thoughts.
It is an authentic symphony of languages that dominates the Goan language exclusively, especially in urban centers and their perimeters.
In the case of the Lusitanian language, I think, like the other defenders of the Konkani language, we can be confident, because if the Portuguese could not assert themselves for more than four hundred and fifty years of their domination of Goa, it would not happen. Now Kankani will be impressed by its teaching in some universities and some public and private schools.
We live in a globalized world, having polygons only brings benefits, not harms. The Portuguese can and should cultivate in Goa, never against Kankanni but in spite of Kankanni, because both are part of Goa’s identity, obviously, with the abysmal dominance of Kankanni.
Historical
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