Konkani was recognised by the Sahitya Academy in 1975 as an independent language -net an dialect of Marathi as claimed by the Marathi protagonists.

In 1987, State-wide violent agitation had forced the then Congress Government to make Konkani official language of Goa. It has now even been included in the eight schedule of the Constitution. "As the High Court has put an end to all the controversies going on till date, the Government has to be now pressurised to fully implement the Official Language Act and make Konkani compulsory even for jobs here", says A. Uday Bhembre, a journalist and president of Goa Konkani Academy.

The language controversy has kept Goans fighting amongst themselves all these years since its liberation in 1961 ...

The age-old language controversy has erupted once again in Goa as the High Court, almost 13 years after the Official Language Act was passed, has ruled that Konkani is the sole official language of the State and not Marathi.

It is for the first time the court has interpreted the controversial Official Language Act, which was passed by the Assembly of Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu after violent agitation by Konkani and Marathi protagonists, which even took a communal turn and paralysed the whole State for a fortnight during tourist season in 1986.

In order to elaim down the situation and resolve the issue amicably, the State Assembly had then passed a legislation stating that Konkani was the official language of the State while Marathi would also be used for the official purposes.

"Undisputedly Konkani is the official language. Mere use of Marathi for official purpose to reply the communication received in Marathi by itself cannot afford the status of official language to Marathi or equal status with Konkani. The fact that 90 per cent of people of Goa speak Konkani is not in dispute", states the court now.

The Marathi Rajyabhashs Prasthapan Samiti, whose petition has now been dismissed by the local bench of Bombay High Court, had challenged Government notifications making knowledge of Konkani essential and that of Marathi desirable for employment purpose.

As the same court had once observed that Marathi enjoys equal status on par with Konkani, the Marathi protagonists had filed the petition against, discrimination. "The order is really shocking and it needs to be reviewed by the Supreme Court", says former Union Law Minister Ramakant Khalap, who had led the State- level agitation in favour of making Marathi the official language. He has, however, been targeted by the Marathi protagonists now, accusing him of misguiding them that Marathi enjoyed equal official status.

The Marathi protagonists ... are bent upon starting a State-wide agitation to make it Goa's official language.