"Medium of instruction demand creating communal divide" screams Page 4 of the Herald (25/3/11). The basis for this claim is a letter sent to the Archbishop of Goa by none other than two catholic priests claiming that the demand for English medium of instruction is creating a rift between the Hindu and the Catholic communities. They seem to derive this conclusion from the fact that all the MLAs present at Azad Maidan and those who addressed the gathering for the rally organised by FORCE belonged to one community. They further contend that through such actions, with the blessings of the Highest Ecclesiastical Authority, day by day a distinct and clear impression is created that the Catholic community is being decultured and denationalised feeling itself out of place in their own land and placing its future in the West. They claim that the medium of instruction is too technical to be decided by show of hands of a mob who have been herded by transport freely provided for something about which they have not elucidated, especially regarding its long term and all round effects. The very first first question that arises is, why has this letter been made public by these priests if their motives are well intentioned?
It is clearly evident as to who is communalising the issue of medium of instruction and at whose behest. What has not been disclosed in the media is that these priests have been flirting with a forum called 'Christian for Devanagiri' which is popularly believed to be constructed and remotely controlled by none other than a casteist-communal political section that masquerades behind a mask of secularism and patriotism. What is even further concealed is their association with a newly formed outfit calling itself "Bharat Bhasha Suraksha Manch" which again has elements known to be fuelling a communal divide in the guise of 'desh premi'. Interestingly, the name of one lay activist who has been allowed to freely flirt around in church circles with the mistaken notion about his secular ideals has also now figured in the list of office-bearers of this forum. This hidden malafide intention of behind the scene casteist-communal politics once again exhibits itself in quite nakedly a fashion. The interesting point to be noted is that no one has opposed konkani as a medium of instruction. All that is being said is that government grants must also be made available to students opting for English as the medium of instruction. The fact is that both Goan Hindu and Christian parents are day by day opting for the child's education in English medium private schools irrespective of caste and economic status. This was glaringly evident when the crowd at the Panjim rally cut across all religions, regions and castes due to which such a huge turn out was witnessed. The claim that just one community attended the rally at Azad maidan is therefore grossly misleading. So what is communal about this action?
The most trusted instrument for community polarisation has once again been employed by these priests on behalf of their casteist-communal mentors. Their contention that since speakers from one community addressed the gathering it has given a communal slant to the issue is most irrrational. What is wrong if the most hypocritical Ram-Rahim-Rebello factor was not adopted by the organisers? From where does this rule arise that any forum raising any rights based issue must have representatives from all faiths and castes in its ranks for it to be classified as a secular inititative? What is even more dangerous is that these priests have acted irresponsibly by publicising a letter addressed to the Archbishop. it appears that their intentions seek to provide fuel for the engines of the fascist forces in the State to trigger off communal unrest. Do they mean to say that the christian community in India is justified to demand their rights only if the Hindus support the cause? They also point out that in the the key note address the use of 'we' and 'they' reflected an abyss of division. But, in't it a fact that there already exists a bitter divison between the devanagiri konkani protoganists and the romi konkani protagonists? Trying to communalise the use of 'we' and 'they' by attributing religious connotations to it is therefore mischievous.
The attempts to communalise the medium of instruction issue exposes a deep-seated casteist-communal agenda that uses religion to polarise the Goan community every time their political interests are threatened. Goans need to realise that their social and political enemy is within this State and not outside. Goans need to realise that it was this very casteist-communal force that fuelled the konkani-marathi controversy with the sole interest of hijacking the konkani movement and blackmailing the christian community into accepting devanagiri script as the official script for konkani. This ugly force which operates behind various masks and is known to employ misguided elements to create confusion within the church ranks is quick to polarise events every time the christian community stands up for its rights. What Goans need to understand is that this ugly concealed force has spread its venomous tentacles within secular forums and even the media for manufacturing consent in their favour. Goans need to understand that the Herald newspaper which has near total readership from the Christian community has been hijacked. The debate on the medium of instruction will be cleverly stage managed by selective publishing of opinions to tilt the balance to appear in favour of the casteist-communal political forces. The sooner this cruel reality is understood by good intentioned Goans from all faiths, the better will it be for the future of Goa. There can be no substitute to utmost caution from the christian community in responding to genuine looking initiatives and choice of associates on forums. Absolute precaution must be exercised not to allow the fox among the chickens. The time has arrived to expose the truth behind Goa's communalism. Prevention is definitely better than cure.
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