PANJIM, Feb. 3 -- Tomazinho Cardozo

It is a fact that we need an official language for our State, as it helps citizens improve their quality of life in all aspects. But has Goa's Official Language helped improve the living conditions of Goan citizens? No! The Goa Official Language Act (OLA) has done - and continues to do - great injustice to the minority community of Goa.

Consider the language scenario in Goa in 1987 when the OLA was passed. Goans were divided over both the issue of language and the script. Soon after Liberation, a conflict arose between two languages -Marathi and Konkani. Over 95% of Goa's population spoke Konkani at the time, but not all considered it their mother tongue. As a result, the majority of Hindus in Goa wan...