Languages and Literature of Goa | Goa State PSC (GPSC) Preparation - GPSC (Goa) PDF Download

Goa Literature

• Goa’s literature is as enchanting as the region itself.
• Goa, a small state in India, was previously under Portuguese rule.
• This colony was notable for being the first place in Asia to have a printing press installed in 1550.
• The Portuguese were meticulous about record-keeping.
• After more than two centuries of rule, the cultures, traditions, and languages blended to form the unique amalgamation of Goan society.
• Goa faced challenges like language barriers and censorship.
• People had to adapt to writing in languages with European origins.
• Historically, Goans wrote in 13 languages, with English being predominant, and Portuguese, Marathi, and Konkani also widely used.
• Currently, Goans speak and read in various languages, with English being the most influential, and Konkani being the official language. Marathi is also widely accepted and used.
• Some scholars believe that Goan writing in English dates back to the early nineteenth century.
• During that period, there were significant migrations for better employment opportunities in British colonies.
• Contributions to Portuguese literature in Goa have come from all over India and Europe over the years.

The language

• The Goa, Daman and Diu Official Language Act, 1987 designates Konkani in the Devanagari script as the sole official language of Goa, but allows Marathi to be used for official purposes.
• The government replies in Marathi to correspondence received in Marathi.
• Sanskrit was used as the official language in Goa and throughout Konkan for many centuries before Konkani evolved.
• It was once believed that there was little evidence of Konkani literature before the arrival of Christian missionaries, a belief that has since been disputed.
• Thomas Stephens, an Englishman and early Jesuit missionary scholar, is credited with writing the first book in Konkani. His major work is the "Krista Purana" or "The Story of Christ," written in the style of Hindu folklore. He also wrote "Doutrina Cristao," a compendium of Christian doctrines in Konkani.
• The late Pissurlencar and others believed that the Konkani works discovered at Braga were translations from Marathi for the use of Christian missionaries.
• The missionaries studied both Marathi and Konkani texts and likely did not need the Konkani translations for their own use. Thus, these translations were probably meant for common people who could not read the originals.
• There is evidence that the clergy promoted Portuguese and attempted to destroy Konkani in the seventeenth century to aid in converting more people to Christianity.
• Despite these efforts, until 1961, only 5% of the population spoke Portuguese, primarily in administration and commerce.
• The dream of Konkani becoming the state language was realized only after liberation and statehood.

Goan writers

Silviano C. Barbosa (English)

• Principal forms: prose fiction
• Notable work: The Sixth Night, a Canadian/Goan romance novel that transitions from life in Portuguese Goa in the 1950s to Toronto, Canada.

Antonio (J. Anthony) Gomes (English)

• Principal forms: prose fiction and poetry
• Notable works:
  • Poetry: Visions from Grymes Hill
  • Novel: The Sting of Peppercorns, published by Goa 1556
  • Poetry collection: Mirrored Reflection, published by Goa 1556 & Fundacao Oriente, 2013.

Carmo D’Souza (English)

• Principal forms: prose fiction
• Notable works:
  • Angela’s Goan Identity
  • Portugal In Search of Identity and other books
• Contributions: D’Souza has traced indigenous imagery and the impact of Portuguese on Goan writing in his lectures.

Jessica Faleiro (1976, English)

• Principal forms: fiction, poetry, essays
• Notable work: Afterlife: Ghost Stories from Goa
• Other contributions: Published non-fiction, short stories, and poetry in various print and online platforms including Asia Literary Review, Forbes, Mascara Literary Review, Joao Roque Literary Review, IndiaCurrents, Kitaab, Muse India, and Indian Quarterly.

Other Writers

• Maria Elsa da Rocha (1924-2007)
  • Language: Portuguese
  • Principal forms: short stories, poetry
• Alberto de Meneses Rodrigues (1904-1971)
  • Language: Portuguese
  • Principal forms: prose fiction
• Augusto do Rosário Rodrigues (1910-1999)
  • Language: Portuguese
  • Principal forms: short stories, poetry
• Abhay Sardesai
  • Principal forms: poetry, translation
• Manohar Sardesai
  • Language: Portuguese
  • Principal form: poetry

Overview of the 2nd International Symposium "Goa: Literatures, Languages and Cultures"

• The 2nd International Symposium "Goa: Literatures, Languages and Cultures" was held from January 16 to January 18, 2017, organized by CLP-Camões and Alliance Française de Panjim.
• The symposium was organized in conjunction with the 6th Meeting of the Thematic Project "Pensando Goa" (Thinking Goa), and several members were present.
• The goal of the symposium was to create new opportunities for discussion and research on Goa by researchers from India and abroad.
• It targeted academicians, teachers, and researchers interested in Goan literature, comparative literature, and culture.
• Various themes were explored during the symposium, including:
  • Literatures of Goa
  • Teaching Languages and Literature in Goa
  • Literary translations in Goa
  • Cultural Press Literature and Goan Society
  • Cultural and artistic expressions in Goa
• The oral presentations were in English, Portuguese, and French, while the written papers and PowerPoint presentations were expected to be in English to facilitate communication.
• Charlyne Weiss, Director of AF Panjim, presented on the influence of French Romanticism on Goan Literature, illustrated using the novel Les Brahmanes by Fransisco Luis Gomes and the epistolary exchanges between Fransisco Luis Gomes and Lamartine.
• Irene Silveira from the University of Goa presented on the topic Creating a French space in Post-Portuguese Goa.