PANJIM, Feb. 3 -- Luizinho Faleiro

The battle for Konkani and Statehood has been the most passionate of movements Goa has ever seen or that Goans will ever witness. While the Opinion Poll of 1967 may have settled the question of merger of Goa with Maharashtra, it neither protected Konkani nor granted Statehood to Goa.

It was a status quo and it was over 25 years after Liberation that we were able to obtain Official Language recognition for Konkani and Statehood for Goa. Neither would have been achievable had it not been for the people who, unlike at other times, came together, stood resolutely and did not waver in their determination to make Konkani the Official Language of Goa.

It turned into a veritable battle waged by the people of ...