Ixtt's contribution to the freedom movement of Goa is worth the mention. Ixtt under the aegis of the Society of Pilar followed a line of thought closer to the aspiration of the freedom movement of our Motherland India and Goa. It was on the Vespers of the independence of India that Ixtt began to publish from the precincts of the old Monastery of Pilar, where its editorial office and press was housed.
The weekly enjoyed quite good freedom to express itself without rigorous Portuguese censorship upto the early 50's. However, the picture started changing after the Liberation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and the freedom struggle movement to liberate Goa from the clutches of the Portuguese. During this period, the Press buckled under the pressures of rigorous Portuguese censorship. Nothing could be published in Goa without getting it censored by the Portuguese Police with the rubber-stamp of approval that read 'Visado pela censura' (Seen by the Censor).
Ixtt, under the editorship first of Fr. Conceicao Rodrigues (1944-54) and later of Fr. Jeronimo Pereira (1954-69), had to face insurmountable pressures to toe the Portuguese line. In order to survive most of the times, Ixtt maintained silence towards the policies of Salazar the Portuguese dictator without however openly criticizing the Portuguese Government, which would be suicidal. But this silence was construed as opposition to the Portuguese Sovereignty in Goa.
On August 12, 1961, three months before the liberation of Goa, the Governor Vassalo da Silva, by his decree, suspended the publication of Ixtt for 90 days as a punishment for not being patriotic towards Portugal and showing pro-India tendencies. Thus Ixtt was the only paper of Goa which remained firm and suffered for its nationalistic aspirations.
Today Ixtt still continues to be popular. Since more than a year, Ixtt has seen lot of changes in content and presentation. In keeping with modern trends in journalism and the needs of readers, Ixtt is slowly but steadily progressing. At present Ixtt has almost 7000 regular subscribers and in fact this number is increasing at an unexpected rate. After a systematic campaign started recently, Ixtt hopes to cross the 10,000 figure before 2004. While Ixtt was online since 1999 sharing a link on Goacom.com, today it has its own website (http://www.v-ixtt.com).
Gulab is another magazine, which is on the lips of every Romi Konknni reader in Goa and even abroad. Started in 1983 by Fr. Freddy D'Costa, who continues to be its editor, Gulab has maintained a certain standard in its language and has strived to keep up the tempo of advancing journalism.
This monthly is printed in a magazine format, with an attractive glossy and coloured cover. Writings of interests to the young, old, children and women and on literature are included, besides covering news on films, Konknni language and culture. Sports and tiatr have projected this monthly as a popular family magazine. Gulab is also online with its own website (http://www.gulabonline.com). By running this magazine single handedly since the last 20 years, Fr. Freddy D'Costa will surely go down in the annals of Roman Konknni journalism. If the Gulab (literally meaning 'rose') is still blooming it is because of the support of its founder and his Press — New Age Printers.
Scope & Challenges?
A large section of the Konknni-speaking people still reads Roman Konknni. This section reads neither English nor the Devnagri and is totally dependent on Roman Konani literature. Besides there are a lot of people who read English as well as Roman Konknni, who want to read in the vernacular and get a different slant in coverage. Therefore, to say that the demand for Roman Konknni will go for another 25 to 40 years will not be inaccurate. This is strongly complimented by the Church factor. Meaning, till the Church transliterates its entire set of Roman-script liturgical, ritual and other holy books to Devanagiri, the use of Roman Script will not die.
There is also an increasingly felt demand among the Diaspora population of Romi Konknni-speaking people who are migrating to other countries over the globe. This population will also take more than a generation to assimilate the language or culture of the residing countries. Further, if care is taken to make these papers or periodicals at the same time competitive, attractive, people-friendly and useful, then the scope and longevity of Roman Konknni journalism will be ensured.