Shenoi Goembab

Goembab had started writing in Konkani while working in Mumbai. His wife was an illiterate but had a very good knowledge of Konkani language and folklore. He made her recite the tales and proverbs and put them in writing which were published later. "Goenkaaranchi Goianbhaili Vosnook" (Goan migrants outside Goa) was a series of history lectures given by Shenoi Goembab at the Saraswat Brahman Samaj, Mumbai, in 1927.[5]

Another historical book he wrote was "Albuquerquan Goen Koshem Jiklem" (How Albuquerque Won Goa). "Mhoji Baa Khuin Gelli?" is regarded as the first modern Konkani short-story. It was published in "Gomantopnishat",[6] which is a two-volume collection of fiction and non-fiction. The second volume contained "Sonvsar Budti" (The drowning of the world). It used the story of the Great Flood to discuss various philosophies and includes parts from various religious works such as the Upanishads, Bible, Qur'an and Talmud.[7]

He believed that Konkani language was awaiting a revolution and it could only be brought about by its youth. This was revealed in his essays "Amrutacho Pavs" (The Rain of Nectar) and "Konkani Vidyarthiank" (For Konkani Students). One of his major contribution was towards children's literature. "Bhurgianche Vyakran" (Children's Grammar) was written in a series of question-answers that he used to teach his son and "Bhurgianlo Ishtt" was a collection of short stories.

Goembab has also translated many works into Konkani, the chief among them being Molière's Le Médecin malgré lui, which he translated as "Mogachen Logn" (Love Marriage) and Shakespeare's Othello, Hamlet and King Lear.[8] He is most remembered for his translation of the Bhagavad Gita into Konkani: "Bhagwantalem Geet".[4]

In an autobiographical reference, Goembab credits the Barão de Cumbarjua (Baron of Cumbarjua), Tomás Morão, with opening his eyes to the fact that it was Konkani, and not Marathi, which was the mother-tongue of Goans. In anecdote he recounts in Konkani Bhashechem Zoit, Goembab indicates that in about 1899, he had written a book "O Mestre Portugués" for use in the Marathi-Portuguese schools that had been established by the Estado da Índia in Goa since 1871.[9]

At the time the Barão of Cumbarjua, was the Inspector of Schools in Goa. In that book, Goembab indicates that he had introduced lessons covering grammatical rules, meanings of words and sentences for teaching the art of translation. In the Portuguese introduction, he recounts "I had, in my ignorance, referred to Marathi as "Lingua Vernacular" i.e., local language. After reading that introduction, the Barão pointed to my mistake saying, "the local language of Goa is Konkani, how can it be Marathi?". I saw the truth in that statement. And I have not forgotten that incident till this day."[10]

He had observed how Konkani had diminished in status among Goans and Marathi and Portuguese had taken the place of respect among the educated, upper class Hindus and Christians respectively. Konkani was used only to communicate with their employees, the poor and downtrodden castes. He He believed that no matter how many languages a person could communicate in to earn a living, he was lost if he could not communicate in his mother tongue, the "language of your soul" as he called it.[1] "We have been shining under others' lamps", observed Shenoi Goembab.[1]

He began telling Konkanis about the sweetness of their mother tongue and of its rich past. He started writing books to propagate his views.[1] Not only did he see the Konkani language as an inseparable part of every Goan's and Konkani's identity. He also saw it as a movement against Portuguese rule in Goa.

Goembab wrote 7 books in the Roman script and 22 in Devanagari. This included short stories, dramas novels, poetry, essays, linguistics, philosophy history.[1]

Perhaps, ahead of his time, Shenoi Goembab stressed on the need to eliminate caste barriers and get the lower castes educated. He said "let's make Pandits (scholars) out of Gawdes (farmers)".

In a communally divided linguistic community Waman Shenoi spread the message of peace and unity without rejecting religion. He equated Santeri (a Goddess popular among Goans) with the Virgin Mary to get the Goan Catholics and Hindus, two major communities of Goa, to join hands for Konkani. He would chant "Om Santeri Have Mercy on Us! Holy virgin Mother Bless Our Way!"