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Konkani will be introduced as a third language at St Aloysius Gonzaga CBSE School from the beginning of the next academic year, announced the school Principal, Fr Rohan D’Almeida SJ.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Konkani Sangha on 18 August 2026,at the school by lighting the lamp, in collaboration with the Konkani Bhasha Mandal Karnataka (KBMK).

Fr Rohan D’Almeida said that children whose mother tongue is Konkani should learn the language using whichever script is most suitable and useful to them, including Kannada, Devanagari and Roman scripts. He assured that the school would encourage and support students in learning Konkani.

Speaking on the occasion, Raymond D’Cunha Takode, President of the Konkani Bhasha Mandal Karnataka, said that Konkani received constitutional recognition on 20 August 1992 and became one of the 22 languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. He described this as an achievement made possible through the efforts of earlier generations and noted that the KBMK and St Aloysius Institutions in Karnataka had also worked towards this cause. He conducted a quiz for the students in Konkani and distributed prizes to the winners.

Chief Guest S. L. Prashanth Shet said that Konkani has 44 dialects and is spoken and preserved by various communities, including Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Daivajnas, GSBs, Kharvis and Kudumis. He said that this diversity itself represents the identity of Konkani and the spirit of unity in diversity.

Harry Fernandes Barkur, multilingual film director and producer, Vasanth Rao, Treasurer of KBMK, and Aparna Suresh, Vice Principal (KG to Class V)  were present on the dais.

Vice Principal, Laurel D’Souza (Class VI to XII), proposed the vote of thanks. Jevita Frenita Ferrao compered the programme, while Mishel Crasta welcomed the gathering and introduced the guests.

KBMK members D’Souza and Shanthi Veronica extended their cooperation. Stany Tauro, Denis D’Souza Vamanjoor, Herald Albuquerque, Maria Pinto, Prem and others were present on the occasion.