TIATRISTS AND POLITICS.
The contribution of Tiatrists in controlling the disgrace in political life in Goa especially after the exit of Portuguese from Goa is immense and hence to be appreciated. What elected MLA’s could not attain in the Legislative Assembly for the good cause of Goa, its people and Konkani language finally Tiatrists got it attained by using the platform of Konkani Stage. Kid Boxer, Con-Nel-Anthony, M. Dod de Verna, M. Boyer, Rom-Rem-Rod, Young Menezes and others fought from the stage like Lions to silence the anti-Goan and anti-Konkani campaign let lose on Goans and Konkani by the Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party first under Dayananda Bandodkar and later under his daughter Shashikala Kakodkar. If it was not for the heavy campaign in support of Goa for Goans and for Konkani, both these issues dearest to the genuine Goans, our causes would have been buried in the grave of Maharastra. It is not that others have not fought vigorously but the voice of Tiatrists became more audible and more powerful. To suppress their voice, in the Salazarist style, Bandodkar even introduced censorship for Tiatros but Tiatrists of those days especially those under Young Stars of Goa never cared. To air his views freely from the Stage, Kid Boxer even had to face arrest and imprisonment. So too Con-Nel-Ant so much of harassment by the Bandodkar regime. They did what they could without expecting any favour from the ruling political party in Goa. Those were the great tiatrists whose contribution for the cause of Goa, Goan interest and Konkani will always remain alive. The elder tiatrists who challenged MGP were the genuine Goans, they were not bastardized Goans who are willing even to sell their wives for the benefit of few Coins. Many of the current tiatrists give the Coins of their concubines in return for precious golden Coins to enrich themselves financially.
The rise of BJP in Goa was due to the fall of MGP. Both MGP and BJP has the same principles, main principle being liquidation of Christians in Goa as if Christians are the descendants of Portugal, liquidate the influence of Christians in Goa and demolish all that is promoted and encouraged by Christians. In one word, MGP & BJP are communal parties which are against the principle of independent Bharat that preaches and legalizes the doctrine of Secualrism. MGP failed in establishing their goal in Goa because they received stiff resistance from the genuine Goans whose number now is regrettably decreasing. Secondly being a regional party whose influence is circulated in Goa only MGP could not muster support from outside especially from Delhi.
Then BJP came into the scene and it tried to achieve what MGP ultimately could not achieve. MGP comparatively is less communal but BJP proved to be more. The demolitions of Babri Masjid, harassment for Muslims and destruction of Churches and even raping of Nuns and killing of Christian missionaries became the routine under the BJP rule; in Goa under Parrikar regime there was total hatred for Goan Christians. In one of the meetings a few years back in Goa one Central leader of BJP said “use Chrsitians for election and our purposes and then discard them”. To humiliate and annihilate Christians, Parrikar Government in Goa produced a special VCD which vomited venom against Christians. To make Christians as second class citizens or even like slaves in Goa, Parrikar Government filled the Government vacancies including Police Department with their own BJP persons, some of them were even brought from Ghanttar and indoctrinated them against Christians. If it was not for the sudden fall of Parrikar Government in Goa, I am sure BJP with the backing of its supporters even from outside Goa like communalist Modi in Gujarat would saffronise whole of Goa.
Tiatrists, Goan interest, Konkani and secularism always go together. Tiatrists always upheld the dignity and sacredness of Christianity and Christian community and while doing so they never showed their dislike and hatred for other religions as BJP did. In Tiatrists Christianity, Konkani and everything that is good for Goa and Goans always received strong support. But recently anti-Goan and anti-Christian elements have taken a grip of Konkani stage and they are promoting the interest of BJP. The interest of BJP will always go against the interest of Goa, Goans and Christians. Recently one Audio Cassette has come into my hands under the title “ UMEDICHEM KOMOLL” by Goem Shahit Ullas Buyao. The singers are Ullas Buyao, Anil Kumar & Fatima, Peter Roshan, Milagres de Chandor and Hortencio. The musical score was provided by Norman on Keyboard, Bass: Agnelo, Drums: John, Rhythm & Lead by Ally and Saxaphone by Josinho.
In this Cassette the songs are all in praise of BJP and its lone Member of Parliament from Goa. Peter Roshan and Fatima & Anil are more vociferous in praise of BJP which is an anti-Christian and anti-Goan party. It is very hurting for a man like me who is a pro-Goa, pro-Goan and of course by virtue of my being a Christian pro-Christian but definitely not anti-Hindu/anti-Muslim, to listen to this Cassette eulogizing communal and anti-Goan BJP. I have this Cassette with me and I am making some copies of this Cassette to distribute to my friends and colleagues so that they know the true colours of Peter Roshan who is all set to visit Kuwait to perform in Roseferns Tiatro in the next week. We support these Tiatrists and promote them so much but they in turn act upright? Do they all and always support the cause which tiatro goers and tiatro patronisers, like us, support? Or they just opt for the lollipops our opponents like BJP give them?
Recently the late Ullas Buyao came to Kuwait to participate in one Konkani Show organized by the Sonvstha and many tiatro goers as a mark of protest refused to patronize this show as a sign of their protest over Ullas Buyao for his campaign in this Cassette in support of BJP. When Peter Roshan comes to Kuwait next week he should be indicated our deslike over the support for anti-Christian BJP. Kuwait Goans in overwhelming majority are Christians and as such they must show their protest in whatever way they can to Peter Roshan for supporting BJP. Kuwait Goans are totally in support of Konkani, Goan culture, Goan tradition and Goan interest whereas BJP is not. If this is the case, then why Kuwait Goans should support those who support and promote our enemies that is BJP?
Kuwait Goans have history of supporting Goa, Goan cause, Konkani and Christian interest and hence they should oppose all tiatrists who support BJP. Because we Kuwait Goans are Christians, when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, communal MGP and BJP remained totally silent thereby enjoying over our misfortune. If Kuwait Goan Chrsitians are real Christians and real sons and real daughters of their real Christians fathers then they will oppose those who supported anti-Christian BJP party. If Kuwait Goans are real Goans and real sons and real daughters of their real fathers then they will oppose every tiatrist and tiatro contractor who support those tiatrists who sing hosannas in praise of anti-Goan BJP. If Kuwait Goan tiatro goers are real sons and real daughters of their real Goan fathers then they will oppose the promoters of BJP otherwise they are not genuine Goans nor genuine Christians but illegitimates sons and daughters..
Recently there was a move to bring the tiatro of M. Boyer to Kuwait under Fatima and Anil but when the news of this Cassette came to light and the involvement in it of Fatima & Anil surfaced, this move of M. Boyer’s tiatro was shelved.
I am sure even our brothers and sisters in other parts of the Gulf will act appropriately against those Tiatrists who support and supported BJP.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
