Goans on the whole are happy with all the good things the BJP has done since being elected as the ruling party. Right from slashing the price of petrol, the promise of zero tolerance to corruption, to the way the MoI issue has been resolved.
However, it is indeed shocking to see the reactions of a section of Goan people on the MoI issue; they are threatening agitations against the decision to give grants to English medium schools. I for one, welcome Manohar Parrikar’s decision on the same. He has handled this issue with utmost intelligence and sensibility. He has given greater importance to Konkani as MoI. But at the same time he hasn’t ignored the pleas of parents who prefer English MoI. We must keep in mind that it is not just a handful, but thousands of parents who prefer that their children study in schools that have English as the medium of instruction. We all know that Parrikar’s personal preference is to have Konkani as the medium of instruction. Yet, he has also given grants to English medium schools. This is what a true leader should be. A true leader is a person who doesn’t impose his ideas and opinions on others, but one who respects and takes everybody’s opinions, including the minorities, into consideration.
Here’s a thought for those threatening agitations and demanding that no grants should be given to English medium schools. Let’s not be so hypocritical. Why don’t they also demand that the entire education system - upto college level be made in Konkani and Marathi. Why just primary education? Children who are abruptly shifted from studying in Konkani in primary school to English in secondary school find it really difficult to adjust to the sudden change. Some find it difficult to even write a sentence in English correctly and this affects their performance.
I would like to express my gratitude to our Chief Minister and thank him for giving grants to both Konkani and English medium schools, and for respecting the opinions of all, especially the minority community. However, we hope that he doesn’t reverse his decision because of a handful of communalistic dictators. The true character and integrity of a man can be seen when he remains firm in his decisions in the face of storms.
