"The script for our Sourashtra language is Devanagiri"
This is a false statement.
So far no evidence is available that Sourashtra language was written in Devanagari Script.
The language itself is not traceable.
Medhavi Sri T.M.Rama Rai says, that it is the off shoot of Sauraseni Prakrit.
But nobody has clearly established that Sauraseni and Sourashtram are one and the same by giving adequate examples.
Sourashtra Vijayabdam year is 699. That is our entry in the South India started from the year 1312 of Christian era.
But in Tamil Nadu, Grantha script was used to write Sanskrit language and not Devanagari script.
So we may not have used Devanagari Script for our language. Instead, we first started using Telugu script only for it is convenient to write all sounds in that script. Tamil script is devoid of 3 more sounds of 'ka', 'cha', 'Ta', 'ta' and 'pa' etc.
In the International level, Sourashtra script is well known and it is available in Unicode also.
This the supporters of Devanagari Script could not digest !
For the past 90 years, they have been passing resolutions only to adopt Devanagari Script for Sourashtra language. They have failed to implement their own resolutions.
Moreover some symbols are lacking in Devanagari Script. Hence it cannot be used for Sourashtra language.
It is also not possible to have our distinct identity if we use Devanagari Script ! Everybody will say that something is written in Hindi language !
Time will decide the superiority of Sourashtra script.
But the most important point to be noted is that every Sourashtra is to write in his mother tongue only; He can use any script he likes.
We do not disapprove Devanagari Script; but we only say that it is not suitable for our language becaue of deficiency of some symbols required for the peculiar sounds in our language.
Devanagari Script has failed to emerge the script of Sourashtra language.
Now that Sourashtra font is available in Computer, we can print in Sourashtra script faster than Devanagari Script.
Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore has already purchased Sourashtra-Tamil-English Dictionary which is printed in Sourashtra Script !
They have given grant to 'Jabali' a Sourashtra Journal published in Sourashtra script.
The approval of the script is to be done by State Education Department of Tamil Nadu and not by Central Institute of Indian Language Mysore.
Though a resolution was passed with stiff opposition adopting Devanagari script as early as 1920, the so called Devanagari supporters found the deficiency of the Devanagari script only recently and approached CIIL, Mysore to suggest how to provide the additional symbols required to write Sourashtra language. But Sourashtri Prachar Sabha, Dindigul did not apprise the CIIL Mysore about the peculiar sounds available in Sourashtra language with the result they have not provided symbols for haddu yakaram and naaku sabdu.
It is in Madurai only, the awakening and awareness of Sourashtra language visible. In other centres they are not bothered.
Of course, in Salem one journal Sourashtra Deepam was published in Sourashtra language also; but they used only tamil script and not Devanagari Script.
After 1920, a few books were printed in Devanagari script but the distinction of short vowel and long vowel was not made properly. So it lost its utility.
There is no demand for 'Sourashtra Bhagavath Geetha' books printed in Devanagari script; but books printed in Tamil script only underwent many prints.
Since Hindi is not taught in Schools, people are not familiar with Hindi script. Only Tamil script every Sourashtra in Tamil Nadu knows. So most of the Sourashtra books are printed in Tamil Script with super script nos. 2,3,4 for the letters ka, cha, Ta, ta and pa.
So the statement 'The script for Sourashtra language is Devanagari' is false.
The statement that Govt. of India has approved Devanagari script for the use of Sourashtra language is also not true.
Govt. cannot direct that only one script is to be used to write a language. It is fundamental right guaranteed by Indian Constitution to use any script a citizen wants.
It is a fact that Konkani is written in four scripts, roman, kannada, devanagari and malayalam.
So the principle that 'for a language only one script is to be used' is not tenable.
It is the people's choice to select the script they like.
The supporters of Sourashtra script has never stated that only Sourashtra script is to be used to write Sourashtra language.
They are insisting that Sourashtras should write in Sourashtra language only in any script they like.
Those who love their mother tongue will write in their mother tongue only.
tisOs ami meLLi avre bhaaShaamuus likkengen.
Written by Mr.O.S.Subramanian.
