This Romi Konkani-English dictionary is a labour of love

We now have a Romi Konkani dictionary called Contemporary Konkani English Dictionary compiled by Konkani proponent Isidore Dantas. Such a massive undertaking could not have been undertaken and completed by a worthier champion of the language.

Isidore, a resident of Pune, has roots in Saligao, Goa. The change in location never deterred his efforts to promote Konkani.

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The former assistant general manager of the State Bank of India, Mumbai, has an extensive body of work in the language, having translated and written books in Konkani, as well as co-authored the English-Konkani Dictionary with the late Joel D’Souza.

Isidore also has deep interest in Konkani films, having authored Konkani Cholchitram (Konkani Films).

Isidore also has deep interest in Konkani films, having authored 'Konkani Cholchitram' (Konkani Films).

A winner of many awards, such as the Dalgado Konkani Akademi Journalism Award, 2010, and the Lifetime Achievement Award 125 Years of Tiatr Felicitation, 2017, Isidore writes in Konkani in the Romi and Devanagari scripts and in Marathi too.

This dictionary was sorely needed, as Isidore tells us, “Konkani did not have a dictionary in the Roman script for a long time. Many readers requested me to compile a dictionary as they needed to translate good literature into other languages, mainly potboilers popularly called the Romansi.”

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He adds, “Besides this, enthusiasts want their Konkani film scripts translated into English for subtitles, etc. The activity in Konkani of the Catholic community in Goa is in the Roman script, through which people chiefly desire to learn about culture, songs, sayings and dance. I have tried to fill the gap.”

This labour of love took nearly five years to be completed. Although the dictionary was compiled before the COVID pandemic, it could not be released. “I had to recheck the exact meaning of words as I introduced a bit of etymology too,” says Isidore.

Isidore DantasThe activity in Konkani of the Catholic community in Goa is in the Roman script, through which people chiefly desire to learn about culture, songs, sayings and dance. I have tried to fill the gap

Apart from the meaning of words, the Contemporary Konkani English Dictionary offers parts of speech and some words have their etymology traced. One can find homonyms and palindromes as well.

“An added feature is that I have inserted sayings in Konkani for each letter of the alphabet with the English interpretation beautifully illustrated by artist Bina Nayak,” says Isidore.

Apart from the meaning of words, the 'Contemporary Konkani English Dictionary' offers parts of speech and some words have their etymology traced.

This is an accomplishment that Isidore can look back on with a sense of contentment. He says, “I am satisfied because the readers have appreciated my efforts, and the fact that the dictionary has gone into reprint of another 1000 copies speaks volumes about it.”

“A grateful thanks goes to Fredrick Noronha, who made this project successful by implementing the crowd-funding for the book,” explains Isidore.

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He tells us more about his gargantuan accomplishment with Joel D’Souza. After Isidore had retired from his bank job, he began concentrating on contributing to Konkani, his first love.

He began translating manuscripts from English to Konkani, both in the Roman and Devanagari scripts. The CDAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing), Pune, tasked him with translation, and he has translated over four lakh words for them.

Isidore DantasWhilst doing this, I had to refer to several dictionaries to get the exact meaning of the words. It was a laborious task. Hence, I decided to compile a dictionary, which I found useful not only for me but for others too

He says, “Whilst doing this, I had to refer to several dictionaries to get the exact meaning of the words. It was a laborious task. Hence, I decided to compile a dictionary, which I found useful not only for me but for others too.”

This updated English to Konkani dictionary was a requirement at the time as nobody else had filled the then prevailing gap. His habit of noting down words unknown to him and researching the meaning, origin and use of the same, helped him in the process.

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“I offered this dictionary free to Media Commons, who promised to present it in ‘Search the word’ format, which they have not done. But, it is available in PDF format online,” informs Isidore.

On the recent discussions and debates on the attempts to make Romi an official script, Isidore asserts that the pioneering work of Konkani has been in the Roman script.

On the recent discussions and debates on the attempts to make Romi an official script, Isidore asserts that the pioneering work of Konkani has been in the Roman script.

The first paper in Konkani Udentechem Sallok, the first tiatr Italian Bhurgo and the first Konkani film Mogacho Anvddo all used the Roman script. Tiatrs continue to be scripted in the Roman script, and there have been several Konkani newspapers in the script too.

“Konkani has had a wide readership in the Roman script. This carries on and can be seen from the several magazines in the script like Dor Mhoineachi Rotti, which has crossed 100 years and another Vauraddeancho Ixtt, which is nearing a century,” says Isidore.

Isidore DantasKonkani has had a wide readership in the Roman script. This carries on and can be seen from the several magazines in the script like 'Dor Mhoineachi Rotti', which has crossed 100 years and another 'Vauraddeancho Ixtt', which is nearing a century

The Catholic community especially uses Konkani in the Roman script for their liturgy, not only in Goa, but outside Goa, wherever Catholics reside.

Isidore stresses, “Depriving people of the benefits of Konkani by restricting it to only one script is not acceptable. The community members that are unable to read Konkani in a script other than the Roman are left completely in the dark about activities and schemes of the government.”

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Contemporary Konkani English Dictionary has been published by Goa, 1556 and is available at Broadway, Panjim; Golden Heart Emporium-Confidant, Margao; Daughters of St Paul's, Panjim; and DogEars Bookshop, Margao. To order directly from Goa,1556, please email goa1556books@gmail.com for mail order anywhere within India.