TIATRO "ZAIAT ZAGE" BY PRINCE JACOB..

TIATRO " ZAIAT ZAGE " Written and directed by Prince Jacob.
Review with photos by Daniel F. D'Souza - Vasco, Goa.

ZAIAT ZAGE - a laugh-a-minute riot on stage.

Prince Jacob the Showman of the Konkani stage has done it once again. Known for his penchant for experimenting with progressive and innovative ideas on stage, his latest offering ‘Zaiat Zage’ (Wake Up) is drawing tiatr lovers by the throes to the theatres.

On 8th August two successive shows at the Kala Academy auditorium in the capital city were packed to capacity with people returning back home for want of tickets.‘Zaiat Zage’ as a matter of fact is the talk of town for its sheer style of presentation and the heavy dose of infectious comedy unleashed by the indefatigable comedian Humberto. Humberto makes his intentions very clear from the very fist scene that he is going to unleash unlimited comedy for the next three hours. In fact he boldly shoulders the comedy department single handedly.

Prince Jacob has weaved an interesting tale taking into account the day to day happenings and events that take place in our Goan villages and how it influences the very future of our land and its people. Using wooden props he has cleverly depicted five houses on stage. While four are projected with side elevation, one has a frontal view. The scenario depicts a typical Ward in any Goan village. The gist of the story revolves round these five middle-class families and the way they react to situations on a day to day basis in a typical middleclass fashion.

There is Jacinto and Simon two brothers who cannot see eye to eye and live separately in a house divided. Simon is young and energetic, always obsessed with his body fitness and weights. Then there is Joe (Joe Rose) a funny character wearing ‘cheddis’ with sleeveless banians and lots of gold chains living with his young daughter Sonia who enjoys life at the cost of his wife who is working in the Gulf. No non-sense Maria Dias (Annie Quadros) the dominating village panch and her hand packed husband Salu (Humbert) live next door to Joe. On the other end are a traditional Hindu couple Jairam (Ignatius de Xelvon) and his wife Sakhu ( Diana) and their only son Reagan dreaming of joining the cruise lines. Their tenant Balasubramanian (Cajetan de Curtorim)South Indian who lives in the adjacent house adds further to the commotion. All these neighbours form a motley crowd involved in each others affairs. Jacinto’s son Bernard is secretly in love with Sonia, his father is not so happy with the alliance.

At one point there enters Jaiprakash Yadav (Prince Jacob) a young Bihari who sets a small shop in a typical Bihari style in the neighborhood. At first everyone is opposed to him setting up business in their ward, but the Panch Maria Dias over-rules everyone and allows him to put his shop. Jaiprakash Yadav is a shrewd businessman and one has to watch how he turns around the situation to his benefit taking the Goan community for a virtual ride in due course of time. Something that is close to reality. One fine day when he strikes back, the Goan community is totally handicapped and helpless thereby highlighting to what extent a Goan is dependent on these migrants for our daily needs. When his wife (Anita) joins him from his native Bihar, she first attempts to learn the local language. Joe and Jairam have an eye on her, while Jairam is scared of his nagging wife. Humbert too, who is remote controlled by his wife, tries to make hay while the sun shines.

It is a hilarious situation full of fun. Joe Rose, Jacinto in a double role, Simon Gonsalves, Prince Jacob, Diana and Ignatius de Xelvon in the role of a hindu have done a class act in their respective characters. Annie Quadros who shoulders a major part of the script is at her best as the dominating village panch. The playwright has emphatically touched upon various Goan issues in the script such as, the infiltration of migrants, our over dependence on them for several needs, the garbage issue, their political ambitions and how they influence the political process in Goa, and their nexus with politicians.

For three hours one is virtually transferred to the centre of a Goan village and given a broad vision of how the locales tackle their day to day issues. But, a few scenes do tend to sound chaotic, but then again, it is a village set up and this is how it is. At times there are as many as 12 plus characters in a single scene with each one having something to say.

The onstage presentation is beautiful and the playwright has used just one set throughout to depict the entire story. Appropriate light effects by John bring out the desired finish to the various scenes.

Among the songs, a decent solo by Joe Rose, Jr. Reagan, Cajetan de Curtorim on Pulsar motorbike, two trios one by Prince Jacob-Humberto-Jr. Reagan a tribute for M. Boyer, and another by Annie-Anita-Sonia a scathing attack on the Goa Police on the Mahanand serial killer case are simply the best. A comedy duo by Joe Rose and Bernard however failed to impress. The music by Maestro Domnic de Arambol is pleasing and full of punch. ‘Zait Zage’ is a really entertaining show with plenty of healthy comedy and a strong message to every Goan. It’s a show for the entire family if you are looking out for quality entertainment with a sound message.

G'BYE GOA: GOAN EMIGRATION-5. By valmiki Faleiro.

G’bye Goa: Goan Emigration-5
By Valmiki Faleiro

Let’s look at the CDS study on Goan emigration (Goans out of the country) and on
out-migration (Goans elsewhere in India) a bit closer. I’ve studied statistics in college,
but am no expert. Yet I feel the CDS findings are a paler reflection of the reality. May
I explain.

CDS identified the sample (of households) for study, using the Stratified Multistage
Random Sampling Method, doubtlessly the best. But, while the study concluded that
more than 50% of Goan émigrés hailed from a single of South Goa’s five talukas,
Salcete, only 2,700 households were surveyed in the whole of South Goa, as against
3,300 in North Goa (having talukas like Sattari, with zero/minimal migration.) The
report says a mid course correction was done by selecting the highest number of
urban households in Tiswadi and Salcete.

Again, religion-wise, the sample reflects the population, 76% Hindu-20% Christian in
North Goa, 57% Hindu-34% Christian in South (and yet discovered that three-fourth
emigrants are Christian!)

A focused study of emigration from Bardez, Tiswadi and Salcete (and out-migration
from entire Goa) would have brought out a more realistic picture of the issue. The
pointers emerging from the study are, no doubt, valid.

Chapter 2 (“Emigration from Goa: a historical view”) is poorly written, but one can’t
expect statisticians to also be historians! Goans fared well in Africa, Portuguese and
British. In Mozambique, particularly its Zambezi region, Goans maintained private
armies. Some even proclaimed themselves kings! (In the 17th century, Portugal
encouraged colonizers, many of them Goan. Large tracts of land in Zambezi were
leased for a period of “three generations,” to better establish Portuguese claims over
the colony. The system disappeared end of the 19th century.) Goans also did well in
Lourenco Marques/Maputo, Beira and Nampula.

Goans in Zanzibar were prosperous. They had a monopoly over several trades.
Caetano Rosario de Souza (1839-1900) from Velcao excelled at both manufacture
and trade. Twice decorated by ruler Sayyed Bargash Bin-Said, he was unwittingly
caught in an international row between Portugal and France when France’s mission
in Zanzibar claimed his prime land in the capital. After diplomatic heads rolled and
the issue died down, Souza gifted his land to Portugal. King D. Carlos declared him
*Cavalier of the Military Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ.*

In British Africa, many joined the civil service, railways and telegraphs. They were
assured of better pensions. They did well in Nairobi, Mombassa, Dar es-Salaam and
Kampala. Norman Godinho built most of modern Kampala in the early 20th century
and was one of its biggest landlords. In 1956, Nairobi alone had 30,000+ Goans.

Emigration to Karachi began in 1842, after its British occupation. By 1947, several
Karachi roads bore Goan names.

Goans similarly began settling in Rangoon from the late 19th century. During the
Japanese occupation of WW-II, a few Goans opted for Burmese nationality. Most, of
course, fled.

CDS’ figure of Rs.800 crore annual remittances is arrived from data from just nine
banks in Goa. Major nationalized players like Bank of India, Central, Syndicate,
Vijaya, Dena, UCO, Indian, SB-Mysore, United, scheduled banks like Karnataka,
Federal, Vaishya, and co-operative banks, all with NRI deposits, were not counted.

As all in life, emigration/out-migration had its two sides. Some aspects of the flip side.

Émigrés are a brain drain. Goan emigrants have a higher level of education than the
general population. While the public treasury largely funds education that produces
28% percent Goans with a secondary education, 58% of them emigrate. (Of female
émigrés, 36% are graduates, against 26% males.)

Émigrés *create* social problems. Absentee husbands leave lonely wives on both
sides of age-30. (Goa’s senior journalist, Frederick Noronha, quoted in the report,
links “Adeus Korchea Vellar” to this, though I think it’s sung at weddings, as the bride
separates from family, rather than at Dabolim, when hubby’s flying out to Dubai.)
Loneliness, often leading to waywardness and, though rarely, to rape and murder, is
one of the myriad ills of emigration.

Mothers, as head of family, find difficulty coping up. Families feel insecure. Aged
parents feel isolated (and mushrooming old-aged homes in recent times explain this
sad Goan reality.) (ENDS)

The above article appeared in the Herald, Goa, edition of August 16, 2009