Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Entrepreneur and writer Datta Naik has stepped down from the Konkani Bhasha Mandal (KBM) after a disagreement over an article he authored on Shenoi Goenbab, published in the Konkani magazine Jaaag. Alongside his resignation, Naik has announced that he will not release the remaining amount of the ₹1-crore financial commitment he had made for the promotion of the Konkani language.
Naik, who was associated with the Mandal as a primary member, conveyed his resignation to KBM president Serafin Cotta through email and WhatsApp. In the same communication, he informed the organisation that the unreleased portion of his donation would stand cancelled.
The disagreement arose after the Konkani Bhasha Mandal and the All India Konkani Parishad jointly issued a statement expressing reservations over the contents of Naik’s article. Their response drew a sharp reaction from Naik, who said he was disappointed by the stand taken by the two organisations.
Naik alleged that both bodies appeared to be functioning under the influence of a single individual rather than encouraging diverse viewpoints. He described the joint statement as unexpected and said it reflected an unwillingness to accommodate independent opinions within literary institutions.
Earlier, Naik had pledged ₹1 crore to support Konkani-related educational and cultural initiatives. Of that amount, more than ₹25 lakh has already been contributed. However, he has now decided to discontinue the remaining financial assistance.
Confirming the resignation, KBM president Serafin Cotta said the organisation had received Naik’s communication and acknowledged the support he had extended over the past months. He said the Mandal would soon hold discussions with Naik in an effort to address the differences arising from the controversy.
The development has prompted debate among members of Goa’s literary fraternity, with many discussing its impact on Konkani language institutions and the space for differing views within them.
Naik’s decision to withdraw the remaining grant is likely to affect some of the Mandal’s language promotion activities, including initiatives linked to the Ravindra Kelekar Dnyanmandir High School in Margao and other programmes aimed at preserving and promoting Konkani.
