panaji the identity of a goan depends entirely on konkani opined a group of panelists at the fifth edition of the goa arts and literary festival galf speaking during a session entitled konkani the politics of language they stated that the growth of the states mother tongue has long been stunted by politicization and that although the language is currently being revived progress is slow the panel comprised poet melvyn rodrigues from mangaluru journalist sandesh prabhudesai and konkani writer vincy quadros both from goa the session was moderated by jose lourenco at the international centre goa on friday deliberating on the stepmotherly treatment meted out to konkani despite it being the official language of goa prabhudesai remarked that it was given official language status in 1987 with a clause that marathi would be used for official purposes till today nobody knows what this means and neither instruction has been followed only english is used prabhudesai said discussions subsequently ensued about how 10 of the 12 goan ministers took their oath of office in marathi remarks were also made about how mobile commerce is conducted either in marathi or english but never in konkani lourenco went on to highlight the goan habit of speaking with nongoan vendors in hindi and not in konkani had goans spoken to nongoans in konkani even they would have learnt the language and strengthened it he said melvyn rodrigues recalled his time in dubai when he and other writers organized konkani cultural programmes that were patronized by a large number of konkani enthusiasts if someone takes the initiative to promote konkani people patronize he said on his part prabhudesai said that with the inclusion of konkani in the 8th schedule of the indian constitution it is the legal obligation of the government to develop the language he maintained that konkani will flourish when like english it attains the status of a language of survival and livelihood