By Louis Rodrigues –
Belagavi: In what would be a major benefit to the Catholic community in the Konkani belt, the first entire Bible in Devanagari Konkani was released on Sunday.
While that distinction has not gone to the Goa archdiocese but to the neighbouring diocese of Sindhudurg, an administrative district in the state of Maharashtra in India. The Devanagari Konkani Bible is a transliteration of the ‘Porvitr Pustok’ (Bible) in the Romi Konkani script published by the Diocesan Centre for Biblical Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman in 2006.
The first entire Bible in Devanagari Konkani is expected to cater to the needs of tens of thousands of Konkani speaking Catholics across the states of Goa, Maharashtra and parts of Karnataka.
The Devanagari Konkani Bible was released by Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Ferrao and Bishop of Sindhudurg Allwyn Baretto at Oras-Sindhudurg on Sunday.
Describing it as a historic moment for Catholics in the Sindhudurg diocese and a moment to rejoice, Bishop Baretto said everyone with the knowledge of Konkani in the Devanagari script could now read the Holy Bible with ease.
“Since the first complete Bible in the Romi Konkani script was published by the Archdiocese of Goa, I was inspired to publish the same in Devanagari script for the benefit of scores of Catholics, who are comfortable with the script,” said Bishop Baretto.
“Accordingly, the Bible Commission of the diocese was entrusted with the responsibility of transliteration from the Romi Konkani script and the work that began in 2014 got completed this month after great efforts.”
“It is my desire that all Konkani households in villages and cities alike should now have a copy of the ‘Pavitra Pustak’ (Bible) and enrich their spiritual lives,” said Bishop Barretto.
The Sindhudurg diocese has printed 8000 copies of the Devanagari Bible and have been made available in 3 different types, priced at Rs 500, Rs 400 and Rs 375.
Vicar General of the Diocese of Sindhudurg Fr Andrew D’mello, who heads the Bible Commission of the diocese and pioneered the project, said the team has taken great efforts and utmost care in transliterating the Romi Konkani version of the ‘Povitra Pustok’ in Devanagari.
“Many tireless hours have been spent in transliterating, composing, proofreading and we were overjoyed to see the publication of the Devanaragi Bible. Professionally printed by Brilliant Printers, Bangaluru, our ultimate dream of having the Bible in Devanagari Konkani has become reality. Our sincere gratitude to Bishop Barretto for taking the initiative,” Fr D’Mello said.
Catholics from Belagavi, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg and other parts of Maharshtra, Karnataka and Goa have expressed satisfaction with the release of the entire Bible in Devanagari Konkani.
“We have painstakingly conserved Konkani language and Goan culture in the upper ghats region. However, we had a limited access to the Bible in Konkani as people across the region find it very difficult reading the Romi script,” said Alphie Monteiro, a Konkani activist and founder of Pune Konkani Kristha Sabha.
“But with the entire Bible being published in Devanagari Konkani, we are glad that the long-awaited Devanagari version is finally available,” he added.
Scores of Catholics are now eager to have their copy of the Devanagari Konkani Bible, which is available at Navasarni Kendra, Sawantwadi.
Photo Caption: Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Ferrao and Bishop of Sindhudurg Allwyn Baretto release the entire bible in Devanagri Konkani in Oras-Sindhudurg.
Courtesy: THE GOAN