| Goykānaḍī script Kandavī script | |
|---|---|
 Right side text is Goykanadi | |
| Script type | |
Time period | 6th century – 17th century |
| Languages | Konkani,Marathi |
| Related scripts | |
Parent systems | |
| This article containsphonetic transcriptions in theInternational Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, seeHelp:IPA. For the distinction between[ ],/ / and ⟨ ⟩, seeIPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters. | |
| Brahmic scripts |
|---|
| TheBrahmi script and its descendants |
Goykānaḍī orKandavī[2] is aBrahmic script that was once used in the territory ofGoa to writeKonkani and sometimesMarathi in theKonkan coast. Similarly, it was used by the tradingSaraswat andDaivajna families along with theModi script to maintain their accounts.[2][3][4]
Goykanadi was used in Goa since the times of theKadambas, although it lost its popularity after the 17th century. Goykanadi is very different from theOld Kannada script, with strikingly similar features.[5] Unlike Old Kannada, Kandevi/Goykanadi letters were usually written with a distinctive horizontal bar, like the Nagari scripts. This script may have been evolved out of theKadamba script, which was extensively used in Goa and Konkan.[4]
Theinquisition of Goa is seen as a blot in the history of the Konkani language. According to the orders of the Goa inquisition it was an offence to remain in possession of books in the local languages. All books, whatever their subject matter, written in Konkani, Marathi and Sanskrit were seized by the inquisition and burnt on the suspicion that they might deal with idolatry.It is probable that valuable non-religious literature dealing with art, literature, sciences, etc., were destroyed indiscriminately as a consequence. For instance, even before the inquisition orders in a letter dated 24 November 1548, D Fr Joao de Albuquerque proudly reports his achievement in this direction.[6]
Many Konkani manuscripts which are now found in museums in Portugal are Roman transliterations of Kandavi manuscripts of Hindu epics.[7][8] The earliest document written in this script is found in a petition addressed by Ravala Śeṭī, aGaunkar of Caraim in the islands of Goa, to the king of Portugal. This 15th-century document bears a signature in Konkani which says:Ravala Śeṭī baraha (Translation:writing of Ravala Sethi).[4] It is believed that most of the pre-Portuguese documents and books in Kandavi were burnt by the Portuguese missionaries.[6]