Purpose of a language is to build bridges, not wall: Konkani writer Vishnu Surya Wagh

MANGALORE : Konkani, which does not have a script, is the ' language of life' and the purpose of one was to build bridges and not walls, according to eminent Konkani writer and poet Vishnu Surya Wagh.

Inaugurating the Jagotik Konknni Songhotton (Global Konkani Conclave), held in association with Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy here yesterday, he said only those who had vision to see beyond the present times could make the future.

With the aim of chalking out a road map for the future of Konkani, he said there should be a dictionary of Konkani words from different states. "Like rivers meet the ocean, Konkani people residing in different states have to come together," Wagh said.

Konkani was being sidelined in modern times with the use of English, Wagh, an MLA representing St Andre constituency of Goa, said.

Jagotik Konknni Songhotton president Tomazinho Cardozo welcomed the guests and the gathering.Vasant Shetty,columnist and Kannada language activist presented a paper on the importance of language planning in the context of globalisation. Andre Rafael Fernandes, Associate Professor, Goa University and Konkani researcher, presented a paper on 'Need for language planning in Konkani'.