Church Credited for Sustaining Roman Script Konkani at Award Ceremony in Goa

Goa, Jan 27, 2026: The pivotal role played by priests and religious in preserving and promoting Konkani in the Roman script was strongly lauded by Fausto V. Da Costa, Editor of the veteran and influential Konkani monthly GULAB, at the 27th Annual Award Presentation Ceremony of the Jesuit Institute – Thomas Stephens Konkani Kendra, held at Porvorim on January 26.

Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, Da Costa called upon senior writers and scholars, he urged them to mentor and accompany the younger generation. “Do not give fish to them to eat; teach them to catch it,” he remarked, emphasising that Konkani can thrive only when young writers are guided and supported. He also reminded the awardees that recognition brings responsibility. “Awards are a receipt for your interest and contribution to Konkani; they appeal to you to work tirelessly for its cause,” he said.

He further underlined that Konkani is inseparable from the identity of its people. “We need to be proud of our language because Konkani is our identity,” he said, while noting that the field of Konkani continues to face several challenges, particularly an acute shortage of committed human resources.

Reflecting on the award recipients, Da Costa noted that four of the six awardees were priests and religious, including two members of the Society of Pilar and two diocesan priests. Highlighting the Church’s decisive historical role, he stated, “If Konkani in the Roman script continues in Goa, the first credit goes to the Church.”

He observed that the contribution of priests and religious to Konkani has grown remarkably over the years and attributed this to the discipline and formation imparted in seminaries. “Disciplined life is essential for a writer,” he said. Drawing a comparison, he noted that during the time of the late Fr. Freddy J. Da Costa as editor of GULAB, there were relatively few priests and religious writing in Konkani. Today, he said, nearly 80 per cent of GULAB’s contributors are priests and religious, or those formerly in priestly formation.

Da Costa also expressed concern over the lack of systematic documentation of the history of Konkani literature in the Roman script, cautioning that without proper records, history risks being written selectively. Tracing the Church’s contribution across generations, he recalled the seminal role played by Fr. Thomas Stephens SJ, Msgr Sebastião Dalgado, Cardinal Valerian Gracias, Fr. Antonio Pereira SJ, Fr. Moreno de Souza SJ, Fr. Freddy J. Da Costa, and contemporary priest-writers up to Fr. Myron Barreto and Fr. Luis Gomes.

Referring to Cardinal Valerian Gracias as a model of commitment, Da Costa said that although the Cardinal was born outside Goa, he deeply valued his mother tongue. He introduced Konkani in the Archdiocese of Bombay, published a Konkani weekly, encouraged tiatr performances in parish halls, and actively supported Konkani cultural expression through pastoral initiatives.

Appealing for serious academic engagement, Da Costa called for the history of Konkani in the Roman script—especially the contribution of priests through literature, parish initiatives, and tiatr—to be properly documented as an integral part of Konkani’s cultural and ecclesial heritage.

The Antonio Pereira Konknni Puroskar 2026 was conferred on Br. Eusebio Miranda SFX, Editor of Vauraddeancho Ixtt. Edwin Fernandes received the Dr Jack Sequeira Konknni Puroskar. The Maria Afonso Konknni Puroskar was awarded to Fr. Milagres Dias. Tancia Pires received the Valerio Konknni Puroskar. The Fr. Casmiro D’Melo Konknni Puroskar was conferred on Fr. Gabriel Coutinho, while the Martyr Floriano Vaz Konknni Puroskar was awarded to Fr. Eusebio Gomes SFX.

Scholarships were awarded to students who secured the highest marks in Konkani in various categories.

By Br. Malvino Alfonso OCD

Image credits: Br. Fean Almeida S.J.