PANAJI: Entrepreneur and author Datta Naik has resigned from the Konkani Bhasha Mandal (KBM) following a controversy over his article on Shenoi Goenbab published in the Konkani magazine Jaaag. He has also withdrawn the balance of his pledged ₹1-crore donation for the promotion of the Konkani language.
Naik submitted his resignation as a primary member of the Mandal to KBM president Serafin Cotta via email and WhatsApp. In the same communication, he informed the organisation that the remaining amount of his financial commitment would no longer be released.
The controversy began after the Konkani Bhasha Mandal and the All India Konkani Parishad issued a joint statement expressing reservations about the contents of Naik’s article. Reacting strongly, Naik said he was disappointed with the response and claimed the two organisations were acting under the influence of a single individual instead of encouraging open dialogue and diverse opinions.
Naik had earlier pledged ₹1 crore to support Konkani language and cultural initiatives, of which more than ₹25 lakh had already been donated. However, he has now decided to discontinue the remaining financial assistance.
KBM president Serafin Cotta confirmed receiving Naik’s resignation and acknowledged his contributions to the organisation. He said the Mandal would hold discussions with Naik in an attempt to resolve the differences arising from the issue.
The resignation and withdrawal of the remaining grant have sparked discussions within Goa’s literary community, with many expressing concern over its potential impact on Konkani language promotion projects, including initiatives at Ravindra Kelekar Dnyanmandir High School in Margao and other programmes aimed at preserving and promoting the language.
