"God I am not hurt that you sent death on our brother Rosary Ferns but I am hurt that I am unable to bear this death."The power of snatching life from one’s body is totally left into the hands of God and He alone knows the timing of it but as a human being I cannot accept it at this time. That Rosary like any other human being will die was a known fact but that he will die at this young age of 48 was unimaginable.
Who was Rosary Ferns?
As far as Tiatro Art is concerned Rosary Ferns was not only an excellent Tiatrist but an extraordinary Tiatro artiste who during his short time on this planet scripted, directed and staged 21 Tiatros most of them in Kuwait. He had great distinction of staging an All Ladies Show in Goa about 30 years back when he was still in his teens. Besides so many Tiatros, he released about 15 Konkani Albums in the form of Audio Cassettes and CD’s.
Rosary Ferns had unique distinction of creating history by releasing the first Konkani CD. This was done in Kuwait at Hotel Plaza Ballroom in the presence of hundreds of guests who attended the Mando Festival organized by Kuwait Konknni Kendr.
All the great work in the service of Tiatro and Konkani art he did in Kuwait and to perform this greatness from Kuwait itself was a great job which no other Tiatrist has done. He also had another distinction of introducing in his Tiatros and Musical Shows some of the topmost visiting Stage artistes from Goa and Mumbai.
Thank You Kuwait
Just before his coming to Goa on vacation in December last, he completed his VCD titled 'Thank You Kuwait' taking best of shots from Kuwait. One will see almost the entire Kuwait in this VCD, once released. During his last few days in Kuwait before his death, he was preparing to give the final touches to this VCD but unfinished task was kept unfinished by his sudden death.
Rosary Ferns was very melodious singer and he composed and rendered innumerable songs on very good topics mainly on family life. He gave some of his songs to other friendly artistes to sing not only in Kuwait but also in Goa and to record them in the Konkani Album, some of the well known stage artistes and directors are on record to have rendered his songs in their shows in Goa.
Rosary Ferns was also a very good Mandoist composing and rendering best of Mandos and Dulpods. Thru his leadership, Kuwait Konknni Kendr even organized Mando festivals in Kuwait – He was the Executive Body Member of KKK and thru it he served Konkani very well.
As a human being Rosary Ferns was a perfect gentleman, a decent person with decent tongue, a celebrity without any scandal, never a revengeful even against those who betrayed him with a Judas Kiss. When his own colleagues who were with him and whom he promoted in his Tiatros betrayed him by supporting the decision of Kuwait Tiatristanchi Sonvstha of isolating him, Rosary Ferns showed no revenge and no retaliation. Kuwait Tiatristanchi Sonvstha was formed with the strong backing of now Stage-ailing Jose Rod to finish Rosary from Konkani Stage without any fault of Rosary. It was done only out of jealousy for Rosary’s super stage talent. It was surprising even Rosary’s closest persons deserted Rosary that includes even the one whom Rosary supported the most and now a retired tiatrist from Kuwait.
The law of Nature
KGTS enacted an unwritten law for its members not to associate with Rosary as per Jose Rod Code “If Rosary is there – I am not there”. Now Rosary is not there, are you all happy?? Rosary is gone gracefully as per the call of God but those who tried to finish Rosary from Konkani Stage will go from this planet Disgracefully by suffering physically and mentally as per the law of nature. They will be cursed in this planet only and this curse will pass on to their generations because they tried to finish an innocent man otherwise they must apologise openly for their great harm they did for Rosary Ferns. They tried to crucify innocent man The law of nature will surely work and knowing this we must pay obeisance to it. The law of nature is compensatory and this compensation will come in the form of punishment either today or tomorrow.
I was present at Rosary's funeral and I saw how a huge crowd including prominent artistes from Tiatro fraternity attending his funeral. It was like a sea of humanity in the Church and Cemetery. There was no place to sit in the Church. Everything went on smoothly. The only deficiency appeared when no person spoke in the Church highlighting Rosary’s achievements. Nobody described as it should be who Rosary Ferns was. Fr, Diogo while saying the Mass said something which did not make justice and what he said was irrelevant while in his homily Fr. Alvares spoke something in the air because being a “kalcho porcho pott'to” he knew nothing of Rosary and yet he spoke. I don’t know what courage he gathered to speak on such a mighty man when Fr. Alvares himself was a tiny man physically and intellectually.
In fact both these priests are strangers in Colva and being so they lack lot of knowledge on Rosary. According to my information, Fr. Diogo refused permission for Rosary’s brother to say a few words with the excuse that outsiders other than priests are not allowed.
25 years back, Rosary Ferns with the help of his brother Fidelis and other family members and colleagues organized his Tiatro in Kuwait to raise funds for the construction of Colva Church Hall. Besides he helped all the activities for the promotions of Colva causes. His father is on record to have handed over his the then own small village school to the Church including school benches and other facilities free. Now the same school is become the pride of Colva Church Fr. Diogo and Fr. Alvares I am sure do not know this.
Greatness of a Goan artiste
Since last 18 years Rosary was a very good friend of mine. It was his singing and stage talent that brought me closer to him. He was a very faithful and sincere friend of mine. He being closer to me not only laughed with me when I laughed but cried with me when I cried and among all my friends and colleagues he is the only person who took part in my tragedies. I will never get again such a friend and colleague, this is my regret.
Two years back when I told him of my intention to quit Kuwait for good, he suggested to me to wait for a while so that he will accompany me. However, destiny had another plan for him according to which he quit not only Kuwait for good but the world forever. What a tragedy!! He never knew he will quit this world so soon and I too never expected him to leave this world so early leaving behind his wife and two sons, other family members and his friends, colleagues and innumerable admirers. I told him once that the lower standard of Tiatro in Goa can be elevated only by you by leaving Kuwait and staging in Goa all your masterpieces of which type no current tiatrist can do. Nobody scripts and directs the way Rosary did. Even in staging Operettas Rosary was a genius. And which other tiatrists got such a fabulous talent?
Before his death he was busy in penning down a very good Tiatro titled “Thank you Kuwait” in which he was showing how Kuwait Goans benefitted from the Kuwaiti Dinars and how Kuwait made innumerable Goans something out of nothing while also describing the hardships that Kuwait Goans undergo in working Kuwait.
Kuwait Soddun Vetana
His Tiatros were known for beautiful tragic events and sorrowful “Cantos” of which type no other playwright can write. His Cantos I can compare with those great Cantos of great directors of yesteryears like the late Minguel Rod, Aristedes Dias and M. Boyer. These Cantos were so sorrowful in tune and music that while listening to same it looks like you are listening Motets on Maundy Thursday or on Good Friday. Those who saw all the Tiatros of Rosary Ferns in Kuwait will surely agree with me. All his Tiatros were based on current events and current happenings in our community and many of them based on our life in Kuwait. The last Tiatro of him “Kuwait Soddun Vetana” was so rich that even Mangaloreans translated it into their own Konkani and staged twice in Kuwait. Following Mangaloreans, Malyalis and Tamilians were also in queue.
A few years back when Mahendra Kapoor came to Kuwait to perform his shows at Indian Embassy Auditorium, myself and Rosary Ferns had a chance to talk to him. During our discussion Mr. Kapoor requested Rosary in my presence to write a new Story for Kapoor either to make a Drama or a Film. But later on this was not implemented for some reasons.
Besides full length Tiatros, Rosary Ferns staged One Act Plays and Musical Show of great value. In his Tiatro and Musical Art he was immensely helped by his eldest brother Fidelis Fernandes a Bank employee in Kuwait whose genius in organizing such events is second to none. His tiatros, Mandos, Operettas and songs are not only gold but Diamond and as such it should be preserved for posterity.
William Shakespeare died leaving behind rich dramas which were not allowed to die with him by the English people. In the same way Rosary Ferns great wealth of great tiatro art should be kept alive by forming a sort of Trust in his name to spread his message by staging all his tiatros. His brother Fidelis Fernandes along with other family members must come forward to do this job and if necessary Kuwait Konknni Kendr’s support can be taken. With his death, Rosary Ferns' legacy should not be allowed to die.
May the soul of Rosary Ferns Rest in Peace and may God help his family to bear this colossal loss.
A.Veronica Fernandes,
Goa.
