𝗞𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗻𝗼-𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆

Gujarati speaker is a Gujarati. Sindhi speaker is a Sindhi, Kannada Speaker is Kannadiga, Marathi speaker is Marathi. If this is true, then a Konknni speaker should have been  a Konkani and nothing else. 

But alas😰, that is not the reality. Unfortunately and sadly, 5 main rivlary camps are created, namely Goikars(Goans), Kodialkars(Mangloreans), Karwararis, Sindhudurgkars(Malvanis), Kochikars😭

I emphatically refuse to identify myself with any of the them. If any body insists to know my identity, I tell them my cultural and Ethno-Linguistic  identity is Konkani and  only Konkani.  No other language speakers in India suffer from language inferiority complex as Konkanis (Konkani speakers). 

Goan is a territorial identity created after the arrival of the Portuguese. Prior to that Govapuri referred to present day Old Goa. Portuguese in 1510 conquered Tiswadi area, later on Salcette and Bardes areas. These three were known as old congquest. Later on they conquered Sattari, Ponda, Canacona, and other areas known as new conquest. Thus, old conquest and new conquest came to be known as Goa. 

For generations whose ancestors are or were from Goa could be called as Goans. In this sense all Konkanis should be called Goans irrespective where they are born or live now.  But it is a regional or state identity and not a linguistic identity. 

In India the identity of a person is based on his or her language and culture. During the Portuguese rule and prior to it most of the people of Goa spoke Konkani and for literary, religious and cultural fields used Marathi. Portuguese imposed their own language. The elite Catholics of Goa took Portuguese as their language and culture. They looked down upon Konkani as the language of Hindus and downtrodden Catholics. This created a  linguistic division. Irrespective of their language identity, all preferred to call themselves as Goans. 

Konkani speakers from Goa and Konkan region migrated at different times for various reasons mainly to Kochi in Kerala, Tulunad and malnad region in Karnataka, and Mumbai and Ghats area in Maharashtra. In Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala they were called as Konkanis.

When Konkani speakers from Goa and Karnataka migrated to Mumbai in 19th century for job opportunities, they had an identity crisis due to the ignorance of their roots, dialect and cultural differences. Those who are from Goa called themselves Goans. Those who came from South Kanara district of Karnataka were labelled as Mangaloreans. In present day, hypothetically if we accept these two categories, where we place the other Konkani speakers from Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, North Kanara, Udupi, Kasargod, Kochi and other ghats districts? Is it fair to label them as Goans or Mangaloreans, which are territorial identities? 

If we want to unite all Konkanis under one linguistic and cultural umbrella, we must proudly and emphetically call ourselves as Konkanis. Because there are no languages such as Goanese or Mangalorese. 

Jews (Israelites)  are spread all over the world and they take pride in Hebrew the language of their ancestors🕺💃 . We Konkanis are crippled👨‍🦽👩‍🦽👨‍🦯👩‍🦯by our narrow, segmental, and territorial thinking. Those who do not speak Konkani hide conveniently under the pseudo mask of Goans or Mangaloreans. Goan and Mangalorean terms can't be totally identified with Konkani. Because, Portuguese, English, Marathi, Urdu and other language speakers do call themselves as Goans😂. Similarly, Kannada, Tulu, Beary speakers call themselves as Mangaloreans🤣, 

I am proud to be born and live as a Konkani🙋🏻‍♂️ by loving all others who belong to different linguistic and ethnic groups👳‍♀️👳🏻‍♂️🧕👨🏻‍🦱👧.  

Know your true linguistic identity and celebrate it.    

Karnatakite, Goan, Maharashtrian and Keralite are your state or Regional identity but Only KONKANI is our Linguistic identity 

Be proud to be कोंकणी