Renowned writer and Padma Shri awardee Maria Aurora Couto, on Saturday, voiced her views against the “fast shrinking space of free speech and the consequent growing intolerance in the country."
Expressing her deep outrage and anguish over the present state of affairs in the country, Ms. Couto said it is imperative that “we address our protest directly to leaders who are either silent or deflect the issue and have allowed the fringe to occupy centre stage.”
Her comment comes in the wake of protests by eminent writers by surrendering their national awards and decorations.
Voicing her concerns about the State, Ms. Couto, through a press release said: “I am deeply saddened by the spiraling descent into communalism in Goa, among my friends who have valiantly fought for secularism and liberal values all their lives.”
Goa's literary figures, intellectuals and political leaders are polarised over the government's bid to make English as the medium of instruction (MoI) at primary school level. Regional language advocates want Konkani to be the MoI in primary schools. The long-simmering MoI issue recently took a communal turn.
“I pray they do not get derailed into converting their stated position on medium of instruction (MoI) at primary school-level into an ugly polarization between Goa’s two major communities,” she said.
“Intolerance which is vitiating the air nationally will do irreparable damage to Goa’s legendary secular ethos. Debate and dissent by all means but do not vilify an entire community and its leaders. The communal virus if allowed to infiltrate the Goan psyche will not leave a Goa we wish our children to inherit,” she cautioned the people on both sides of MoI controversy.
Ms. Couto, who is wife of late renowned retired bureaucrat Alban Couto was recipient of Padma Shri in 2010 and Goa State Cultural Award in 2014.
She is a Director of Visiting Research Professors Programme, Goa University.
