Speech by Her Excellency the President of India Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil on the Vishva Konkani Ekta Divas

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very happy to participate in the Vishva Konkani Ekta Divas, which is a part of a series of events during the 25 day First World Konkani Cultural Convention, being held to showcase the splendor, heritage and the traditions of the Konkani people, as well as to forge unity among the various religious, regional and dialectal denominations of Konkani. I congratulate the Konkani organizations from around the world, especially Mandd Sobhann for their contribution in organizing these events.

India is a country of more than one billion people. One out of every six human beings in the world lives in India. Moreover, India is a country with an enormous plurality in language, religion, culture and ethnicity. 22 Indian languages are listed in our Constitution and more than 1,600 dialects are spoken in India. Every religion has its followers in India. From the mountains of Kashmir to the waters of Kanyakumari, and from the deserts of Rajasthan to the forests of the North-East, Indians celebrate their varied cultures and festivals, and most importantly, they collectively give India a uniquely rich mosaic which blends into a nation. Today, we have gathered here to celebrate the contribution of the Konkani people.

The Konkani people who have always been peace-loving, have a rich and traditional culture. Its over 50 lakh people reside along the western coastline of India, on a stretch of land called the 'Konkan Patti', extending from Maharashtra through Goa and Karnataka to Kerala. Hard working and enterprising, they participated actively in the national freedom movement and, after independence contributed immensely to the political, economic and social life of the country. They form one of the most diverse denominations of India, with many community identities and include Hindus, Christians and Muslims. Yet, they are bound by the common Konkani language.

The Konkani language is included in the 8th Schedule of our Constitution. Acknowledged to be one of our old languages - a Konkani dictionary was published in 1567; it has at least two dozen different and distinct dialects befitting any living language. It changes words, tones, pronunciations and accent as it adapts to different parts, and adds popular Kannada, Marathi and Malayalam words to its vocabulary. I complement all those who have contributed to the enrichment of the Konkani language and to modernize it. The colour and flavour of a language finds in its literature, a platform to express ideas and thoughts, thus giving to a language an emotional appeal and a moral and social standing. I encourage measures to promote Konkani literature. But, also remember that literature has a social responsibility. It can have an inspirational influence when it highlights issues which make our youth conscious about the values nurtured continuously by our civilization and in this context, making them aware of their responsibility in upholding this rich heritage. Literature can be an instrument of bringing harmony to society and strengthening national unity. I hope that Konkani writers can contribute to the national integration process, as well as to eradicate social evils, by creating awareness amongst the people through their writings.

As an enlightened community, the Konkani people were among the first to recognize the importance of education. They set up schools and educational institutions, a good many of these institutions are more than 100 years old. Education is, undoubtedly, the most potent instrument for empowering a population. It enables people to fashion their own destiny and to contribute to the shaping of societies and nations. The role of education in today's knowledge based and technology driven world has immensely increased and, therefore, education must continue to receive high priority to meet the challenges of the future.

Our achievements and experiences have indeed, brought the nation to a definitional stage, where the promise of a bright future as a developed and progressive nation is for us to claim, as we all work together with conviction and commitment. We have to weld the entire nation into a strong, unassailable unity. Pursuing a growth path that is inclusive, is essential to bring overall progress and prosperity in the country. For any nation to become great, its people need to be disciplined and to wok with commitment and dedication, seeking to excel. We must follow a pattern of behaviour, in which every individual must act responsibly and where differences are addressed in a constructive and accommodative manner. This will build harmony and tolerance, so very essential for a nation as vast and as varied as ours. Secularism, our constitutionally chosen path, entails respect for all religions. Its place in our national life is unalterable. India is a land where followers of different religions have lived together for centuries. Our tradition of living in accord with each other must continue to form an integral part of the rhythm of life that makes our nation strong and united. We also have a commitment to work for a nation where all its citizens have an opportunity to grow and prosper.

Unity in diversity or   and harmony are the essential features of the country. Konkani language and its people represent the essence of India and its identity. I would urge the Konkani people to take steps to continue to forge cohesiveness and unity within the community, so that its language and culture can flourish and prosper. Towards this goal, The First World Konkani Cultural Convention is a great step. I am also told that Konkani cuisine is excellent, delicious and healthy. I hope that this aspect is also preserved. With these words, I congratulate the organizers for bringing together the Konkani people on the occasion of Vishva Konkani Ekta Divas.