TIATR ACADEMY MONTHLY MEET.

 

Yesterday, 30.12.14, Tiatr Academy of Goa organised a function in Panjim, at 4.30 PM, in honour of 16 Tiatr personalities who all are dead but all were born in this month.  Organising such functions monthly once is the trend set in motion by Tiatr Academy of Goa.  Lot of efforts is put in organizing such functions by TAG headed by Prince Jacob.  But what is regrettable is the fact that it is not marketed properly to draw the attention of the Tiatr lovers and precisely because of this deficiency very few people attend  these function as it happened today.  It hurts me to say that there were hardly 35 people in attendance today when the significance of this event is so great and it was so informative on historical point of view.

 

William seen speaking

In today’s function some of the giants of Konkani Stage were remembered and their contributions in the promotion of Tiatros were highly eulogized by the researchful matter delivered to the audience by William, Coney M. and Anil Kumar.

Prince Jacob welcomed the gathering and handed over the podium to William who spoke on 5 Tiatrists namely, Pai Tiatrist Joa Agostinho Fernandes, Miss Carlota, Andrew Fernandes, Anthony Mendes and Young Menezes while Coney M. spoke on P.Nazareth, Rosario Dias, Vincente de Saligao and Sebastian Miranda (Tiatro Contractor) and finally Anil Kumar spoke on Florence Fernandes, Nolasco Dias, John Gomes Kokoy, Sucurro Piedade de Verna,  Rosario de Souza de Taleigao and Rex de Bardez. 

Coney M. speaking

Next time TAG must try to find out some elder Tiatrists and more knowledgeable persons who can deliver better and more information on the late Tiatrists.  Since it is a paid job as per my information, I feel TAG should hunt different persons to throw more light on the dead Tiatrists.

The speakers must try to highlight on the ideology and philosophy of the Tiatrists they speak on and not just the history and if necessary, quote some matter of their performances like a verse or two of their memorable songs.

Anil Kumar speaking

 

Speaking on Young Menezes’ epic song of 500 words as indicated by William, it was a fast pace song and being very lengthy, he was so exhausted while singing that he even was bending in front and holding his hands on his stomach to control himself.  When somebody from the audience said it did not contain 500 words, Kid Boxer came on to the Stage with the script and challenged anyone to prove it was not while offering Rs. 500/- to that person otherwise the challenger had to pay Rs. 500/-  Finally nobody came forward and the matter ended there.  It was somewhere in 1955 in Candolim.  Secondly it was not Young Menezes who introduced Rap type of songs on Konkani Stage but Kid Boxer.  Young Menezes was perfect in forming appropriate Rhyming for his songs and none can beat him in this segment till now. 

 

                                                           VIPs seated at the dais
                                                   

Regarding Rex de Bardez, he worked in Kuwait for few years till August 1990 and later part of his life as Gospel preacher in Goa.  He staged his one Tiatro in Kuwait for which as a Chief Guest he brought especially from Goa Shri Churchill Alemao. He was a very good, melodious and bold singer and an excellent composer.  His added advantage was that he was very fast composer and could on the spot sing one verse and one chorus on any given topic.  Such a fast composer I am yet to see on Konkani stage. Best of his Stage performances he performed in Kuwait.  

A. Veronica Fernadmes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.
 

ECOLOGICAL DESTRUCTION IN CANDOLIM.

 

Candolim village is very famous in many respects.  In this village there is one world famous Vaddo known as “Pintos” Vaddo made known worldwide by the world famous son of this Village and Vaddo,  Abe Faria the world renowned Hypnotist.  Also, Pintos Vaddo in Candolim gained worldwide publicity because of the Pintos revolution initiated by the Pinto people from this Vaddo “Pintos” in Candolim.  Attached to this Vaddo is a small hamlet like place called Araddy touching the Hill and where there were very few houses.  Earlier this place was inhabited  by the locals only but recently due to land price rise there is a big demand for this place even tempting the big builders to hunt for land there.  The infrastructure is very thin there for building mega projects where only the non Goans occupy these projects thereby upsetting the demographic structure not only of this are but also of Goa as a whole.

Picture 1 of the Site

 

According to elders, the Candolim Church in the beginning was to be built in Araddy Vaddo and even preliminary work for this job was conducted and the first phase of excavation was done.  However, to due unknown reasons, this project was shelved at Araddy and shifted to a place where the present Church is majestically standing now.

 

Picture 2 of the Site

 

Earlier because of small local population it was only one Araddy but now it is devided into two Araddys, original Araddy is called Old Araddy and the other is New Araddy where new settlers mainly the Migrants built their settlements with the blessing and nod of the local authorities.  This is one method by the local politicians to create a Vote Bank for them.

Picture 3 of the Site

 

In Old Araddy one mega project was already built there and occupied by the non-Goans, the second one is under construction and the third one is about to begin where the area is readied for putting a fence.  In this area there are lot of productive trees and plants  which naturally will be cut to make way for the new construction.  By cutting these Trees and Plants there will be negative effect on ecology which is to be protected by all means.  The local authorities has already cleared this project without realizing the bad effect on ecology which by all means has to be protected. 

 

Picture 4 of the Site

 

It is right time now for the social activists and the protectors of Ecology in Goa to intervene in this matter.  Also, it is imperative now for reviving Congress Party under its new Boss Luizinho Faleiro to find out from the local authorities the genuineness of this case because local authority owes its allegiance to Congress Party.

   

Picture 5 of the Site

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Araddy,
Goa.

CONTRIBUTION OF PRIESTS & CHRISTIANS IN GOA'S FREEDOM MOVEMENT.

From 18^th December 1961 till the end of that month, in Candolim the atmosphere was tense, on 18^th itself at dawn the Indian Military invaders of Goa consisting of Tanks, Jeeps and other Military vehicles started moving on the main road going to Aguada to capture the strongly manned Portuguese citadel. Early in the morning my father was going to adjust the flow of water to our Paddy field.  He was wearing a sleeveless Banyan and a “Cheddi” up to his knees.  Suddenly, one top ranking Military personnel from the front Military vehicle spotted my father standing in our field 50 metres away from our house and stopped the movement of the Military vehicles, called my father thinking he was a “Paklo” because my father was fair.

When my father told the purpose of his being in the field, the Indian Military personnel asked my father “why you are wearing a Banyan?  For this. my father replied saying “I am a poor man”. Then the Military man replied saying “We know Portuguese has intentionally kept you Goans as poor.  But now, henceforth, you people will not remain poor any longer. We will drive the Portuguese out, make you rich and hand over your Goa into your own hands”.

Hearing these good tidings, my father came home smiling and all excited, saying Nehru Zindabad and Salazar Murdabad while this same father of mine a few minutes earlier while going to our field was saying just the opposite, that is Zalazar Zindabad and Nehru Murdabad.  It looked he was drugged by the invaders to bring about such a dramatic change in him.  However, to his regret, within a few days he repented for the change in his thinking because first disgraceful act Indian invaders did was to commit rapes though not in bigger scale but unbearable scale as per Goan standard.

During that week, in the evenings, Novenas “Salve” were going on in our Church to celebrate the feast of Nossa Senhora de Esperanca”,  on the last Sunday of the December month, as per the tradition.  Pe. Nicholau Noronha was the Pe. Vigar of our Church and being a man of wisdom he suspended for a few days evening Novenas to prevent raping of our female Church goers because during that period there was continuous flow of Indian Military personnel on the main road.  Though Pe. Nicholau Noronha distrusted Indian Military yet he welcomed the ouster of Portuguese rule from Goa and as an evidence of this he at Candolim Tinto somewhere on 23^rd of that month gave a small speech praising the invaders for getting rid of colonial rule and concluded saying “Now we in Goa will have democracy and freedom to express our views freely under the new government”.  Earlier, when he was writing for Portuguese Daily “A Vida”, his views on freedom were suppressed and banned by the order of the “Censors”.

Hearing his speech, some of the Hindus at the Tinto were surprised to know how a Christian Priest can be a  supporter of Jai Hind Raj? These Hindus were third class illiterates because they thought Jai Hind means Jai Hindu Raj and hence Goa under Bharati rule will be a Hindu Raj.  However, these stupid idiotic minded Hindus never knew the first Goans to raise their voice against Portuguese rule in Goa were Christian Priests under the banner of Pinto’s Revolt from Candolim Pintos Vaddo. Incidentally they were caught, arrested and publicly hanged in Panjim by the Portuguese government of Goa then.  At one place, history says that even French Revolution was planned after the Pinto’s Revolution.  Even Abe Faria the Priest son of Candolim Pintos Vaddo was a part of Pinto’s Revolt since the distance between his house and that of Pintos is just a few metres.

Christians and Priests from Goa played a very important role to free Goa from foreign domination.  Dr. Francisco Luis Gomes, a renowned Portuguese Parliamentarian  from Navelim, Salcette, Goa,  raised the issue of Goa’s freedom right inside European soil.  But all the intellectually bankrupt Hindus mainly from my village were not aware of this fact and  precisely for this reason they were dubbing Goan  Chrsitians as pro-Portuguese.  So much so, on 19^th  and 20^th of that month of December 1961, under the leadership of one fanatic Hindu, Balkrishna, some stupid Hindus were firing fire crackers in front of the local Christians and their houses near the Tinto. One Shamba Xett was even abusing Saint Francis Xavier by saying “Now where is your Goencho Saib gone” as if He is from Portugal.  Somebody was giving bad words to St. Anton.  

During this period in my village in Candolim in particular and in Goa in general,  there was fear into the minds and hearts of many Christias whom many Hindus treated as enemies of Indian Raj.  But in reality what role Goan Christians played for the ouster of colonial raj from Goa none others have played.  But our misfortune was that  during that particular period especially,  our Church leaders have failed to open their mouths loudly to silence the wrong opinion created of Christians.  Many times we as Christian community failed miserably because of our weak leadership based in Panjim at Altinho.

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

LUIZINHO FALEIRO BEWARE OF OLDGUARDS & DEFEATED CANDIDATES.

On Monday 22^nd of this month, I was invited by Luizinho Faleiro to give him a company for the Lunch at Hotel Mandovi in Panjim.  Luizinho and me known to each other from the time of language agitation when I took very active part from Kuwait in this movement.  Because I was fasting, I only had a fresh Orange Juice while he and other colleagues of him went ahead with their meals.  Many of those who were with Luizinho on the dining table were new Congressmen compared to me since I enrolled myself as a member of Congress while I was still a student, by paying Rs. 5/-  When I joined Congress, the Congress culture in Goa was service to the society and precisely because of this Congress Party jumped from outside the Legislature to inside and ruled in Goa for such a long period.

 

However, due to greed for illicit money, illicit  sex and brute political power, almost all the elected Congressmen bypassed the motto “Service to the Society” and got trapped on the wrong side in the last election where people like me disgusted with their ugly unCongress performance, kicked them out in the election foray.

 

The defeat for Congress in the last election was so  deep that to come back to the surface again, not one Luizinho Faleiro as Congress president but even with one hundred Luizinho Faleiros will not be able to revive the grand  old party which otherwise had fantastic record.  As he spoke to me on the dining table for about 45 minutes, he had lofty plans to revive the party prospects and he looked very serious but all these plans to be operational and successful, the induction of new and young faces will not be sufficient enough. He relies on new faces and young blood on the revival of Congress.

It is a good idea to bring the freshers into the forefront but they must be told to behave well in a disciplined manner purely in Congress culture and tradition and not to aspire for election tickets within a night. We have seen how yesterday’s youth Congress leader by becoming a hero within a night is turned into a most corrupt politician in Goa.  He not only sucked Congress in Goa but he even sucked the entire politics in Goa purely in the corrupt ways he learnt from corrupt Indian politics while he was a novitiate in corrupt youth Congress.   In view of this Luizinho Faleiro must be very careful with the new faces that generally speaking are having high political ambitions to grab political power by any means for the purpose of making fast money thru loot and thus  shamelessly live the life of Maharajas. Looting is not genuine Congress culture, it is the culture of the “Chors”.

Then I told Luiznho Faleiro that it will be next to impossible for him to revive the party with the presence of corrupt oldguards who were mainly responsible for the Congress debacle in the last election.  Is it possible for him to throw them out even though they rightly deserve it for anti-party activities?  Will Luizinho Faleiro take such a stringent action? Or the presence of his predecessor is imperative again to take hard decisions?  One thing is certain, unless severe disciplinary action is taken against all the erring Congressmen though most of them are artificial Congressmen, people like me will never support corrupt Congress candidates. On the contrary we will oppose such corrupt candidates.  Supporting Congress with all the corrupt Congressmen is like promoting corruption in an unCongress manner. Though Luizinho Faleiro is in a state of dilemma which may lead him into the Hamletic influence yet he must be bold enough to jump into Julius Caesarian citadel and say “I went, I saw and I conquered”.

 

The next topic I raised with him was the fate of Defeated Congress candidates who I strongly feel should not be given the tickets again to contest the forthcoming election.  They are now become like worms meant to feast on the dead bodies.  It is these corrupt candidates who did major damage to the Congress in the last election because of their arrogance, pride, dadagiri, goondagiri and Hitlerism.  While they were MLA’s they acted with the common folks especially in their own constituencies, like Portuguese time Bhattkars treating  others as their humiliated Mundkars.  Many of them were sadistic and revengeful and their victims were only the poor Goans. All these defeated candidates were rejected by their voters because people hated them for their revengeful nature as it happened below my nose.  Congress leaders in my constituency thought they are feudal lords to act with the people the way they deem it fit. Luiznho Faleiro must give them good lesson on how to deal with the people because our Congress leaders are not having genuine Congress culture of uprightness, lowliness, humility and simple life.  The current Congress culture is the culture of Maharajas which should be stopped right now if Luizinho Faleiro wants success in his new assignment.

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

 

FOOT-BALL - FC GOA - ISL TOURNAMENT.

It was a loud noise all over the stadium at Fatorda in support of FC Goa soccer team in the second leg semifinal of ISL tourney, the degrees of this noise was almost hundred percent and it looked Goa would easily carry the day but the moment the otherwise star of the team and of course of the tournament the Brazilian Andre Santos kicked the penalty over the bar, there was a total silence in the stadium in a mournful manner. With this penalty kick the chances of Goa  reached to zero level. 

When I was recruited by the then mighty Sesa Goa soccer team in mid sixties, I was still a school student studying at the then mighty Arpora school.  One evening the big man of Sesa Goa, Mr. Conzen a German national came to my place and  incidentally at that particular time there was also the presence  of Dr. Gustavo Monteiro the then President of Goa Football Association at my place.  While in the conversation with Dr. Monteiro on the topic of soccer, Mr. Conzen told Dr. Monteiro with a tinge of pride that “his soccer team that year will perform very well because Sesa Goa got the services of one Patiala qualified coach”. For this, Dr.Monteiro replied thus, of course, sarcastically,  “Mr. Conzen, there is no soccer coach in India and Patiala is not competent to produce genuine soccer coaches.  If you want to develop the standard of Sesa's soccer team, then you must hire a soccer coach for your team directly from Germany, however third rate he may be in Germany.

The standard of this edition of ISL tournament was really fantastic and extremely high compared to the existing Indian standard.  The major reason for this high standard was not only the presence of 6 foreign experienced players in each team but due to the presence of foreign coaches for each team.  It was these experienced soccer coaches who moulded the players according to their advanced methods.  Among  all the participating teams, FG Goa I can rightly select as the best organized team that dished out really a good brand of soccer with short accurate passing as if pushing the ball into the narrow tunnel. In late fifties such a high standard was dished out by the youthful Goan team,  Academecia FC coached by the great priest Fr. Chico Monteiro. Two players of that dream team  Dr. Mazarello a Goan and Czar a Mestiso were heroes of that great team.  Mr. Cyril the Dempo soccer team coach in early seventies also produced the then Dempo squad of the current type of FC Goa.

The credit for the 360 degrees change in FC Goa must surely go to its legendary Brazilian Coach Zico though it looked in the beginning that Zico is unfit to coach FC Goa appropriately due to a few defeats FC Goa suffered in the beginning.  The approach of Goan boys for the ball was forceful, the body feinting was as good as of any Eurpean team players, sudden changing of the direction of the movement of the ball from one side to the other was as similar as Brazilian and above all the teamwork with perfect combination was superb.

Zico’s coaching gave FC Goa a Brazilian flavour for this reason FC Goa’s standard remained higher than of other teams even though Santos’ missed penalty against Kolkotta in the second leg semi-final was the matter of concern.  However, for that matter even Zico during his peak form in 1986 World Cup missed the crucial penalty kick. Today Gulf Arabs have made tremendous improvement in the field of soccer only by employing Brazilian coaching system.

Though the FC Goa had perfection in many areas yet it lacked firepower in Portuguese Eusebian or German Gerd Muellerian style.  This was the weakness ingrained in Brazilian soccer even during Zico’s time when he played for Brazil in the World Cups in 1982 and 1986 coached by the great soccer coach Tele Santana who insisted Brazilian forwards to exchange passes even in the goalmouth area.

 Secondly, Santos was a weak link especially in FC Goa attack because he was given a hero worship by the other players and with this in mind he tried to control the whole game on his shoulders and in the bargain he flopped at so many times.  Next time FC Goa must induct at least 2 Santoses in its rank, if not three just  as in 1970 World Cup Brazilian squad created not one but three Peles in Tostao, Rivelino and Jairzinho besides original Pele who was much relieved of his normal pressure. 

The standard of Refereeing was very poor and inaccurate; some of them were suffering from inferiority complex especially the Asians who easily got intimidated by the non-Indian players when confronted verbally.  It was due to the wrong judgement of the Referee that Pinheiro of FC Goa was red carded and again FC Goa was denied an otherwise sure penalty when Santos was clearly fouled in the Box at Fatorda. 

To conclude, the organizers of this tournament first time showed their guts and wisdom in investing so much in this tournament resulting in enormous dividends not only for the benefit of soccer development in India but also for the benefit of players, sponsors and  fans.  If this trend is carried forward, in the near future, in popularity and money, ISL will conquer IPL in India. Thru this tournament it was proved beyond any doubt that there is plenty of following all over India for the attractive brand of soccer which could be easily enhanced by recruiting some of the current top players from Europe and South America instead of those who crossed their prime because there is plenty of money in stock with all who  are involved in ISL.

In this inaugural edition of ISL we saw not only glamorous soccer but also glamorous Bollywood Stars associated with Cricket celebrities and top business houses patronizing this edition.  This combination can easily make India a real powerhouse in the world.  It looks now the Sleeping Giant is awakened.

In the end, I congratulate Athletico de Kolkata a traditional soccer giant for winning the inaugural ISL tourney.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.                                                            

 

 

BRUTAL KILLING OF SCHOOL CHILDREN IN PAKISTAN.

There is a saying in Konkani which says, KELEM TUKAM PUN ZALEM MHAKAM”.  This was what has happened to Pakistan resulting in the killing at Peshawar over one hundred fifty school children by the Muslim terrorist group Taliban.

Let me first condemn the brutal killing of innocent school children by the heartless Muslim terrorists under the umbrella of Taliban.  Though they are Muslims yet their act is unislamic because such BARBARIC unislamic acts are forbidden in Islam. These terrorists acted like Zionits, in fact Zionists are far better but not these Talibans.  It creates a very bad image of the Islam that these terrorists are projecting thus giving a bad opinion of Islam which otherwise is a good religion.

Islam is a great religion but its greatness is damaged by the Muslim terrorists and their organizations.    It is the same Pakistan that supported, promoted and pampered all the segments of terrorists to fight against India since a long time now without realizing that the same terrorists one day will act against the Pakistani government and Pakistani society.

 

In mid sixties it was the Muslim Arabs initiated support and base to the Palestinian Arab terrorists to carry out with terrorism thru Aircraft hijacking and bombing of Israeli and Western interests.  Finally the same Muslim Arab terrorists turned their guns towards their own benefactors.  For example, when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, PLO and overwhelming majority of Palestinians residing in Kuwait turned against Kuwait and embraced the invading Iraqis even by collaborating with Iraqis inspite of receiving so much of help for their movement and survival from Kuwait.

Coming back to Pakistan and terrorism there, Pakistan must open and broaden the doors of education to all the segments of Pakistani society very forcefully.  Terrorist organizations like Muslim Taliban is against the female education but they forget the fact that Islam gives highest priority to education when it says “To acquire education one must go even to China”. The Peshawar killing of innocent school children is just against the doctrine of Islam.  The sensible Muslims and Islamic scholars must raise their voices in unison against all the Muslim terrorist organizations that promote unislamic ideology in the name of Islam. Islam is a good, compassionate and peaceful religion but its image is soiled in the eyes of non-Muslims by the Muslim terrorists only.  The enemy of Islam is within its own fold.

A.     Veronica Fernandes,

Cadolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.     

CRIMINALS DURING INVASION OF GOA.

On today’s date, 18^th December, in 1961 at about 10.00 PM when it was realized that invasion of Goa is going to be a reality on the next day, some criminal “Bastards” from Candolim in a group of around 8 persons, all males, came with Guns to kill the prominent village personality Dr. Gustavo Monteiro. They projected themselves as pro-Bharati and Dr. Monteiro as pro-Portuguese.

The first thing they did was to fire gun shots about 40-50 on the door of Dr. Monteiro.  This door helped Dr. Monteiro and his family as barricade from the onslaught of the gunshots from the criminals, the so called freedom fighters and also the so called pro-Bharatis from Candolim only and who earlier enjoyed many benefits from the Potuguese government of Goa thru the goodwill of Dr. Monteiro. If the door of the house was not closed immediately, there would be a blood bath in the house of Dr. Monteiro.

These so called pro-Bharati Freedom Fighters thought they will be the rulers of the village and Goa.  But as a matter of fact, in the invaded Goa under Bharati Raj they suffered too much in the life, all of them died miserable deaths, their children faced worst of difficulties in their life and their houses also collapsed without keeping any traces.

These so called pro-Bharati Goans had no liking for Bharati rule but they had the liking for their personal vendetta which they tried to acquire.  Though they succeeded in some cases but failed in case of Dr. Gustavo Monteiro.

Similary, they also failed to finish Fr. Mendonca the Principal of Arpora School when they came to kill him at Arpora taking advantage of the invasion of Goa.  But sensing some tragic outcome, Fr. Mendonca fled from Arpora School and took shelter in Bastora at Nuns’ Convent thereby dodging his killers.

There must be more such incidents in Goa during the invasion period of Goa.  Those who are aware of such incidents they must share with others so that posterity knows what has happened to some sons of Goa in the process of invasion of Goa by Nehru’s Bharat.

ON 19^TH DECEMBER 1961, GOA WAS NOT LIBERATED BUT INVADED AGAINST THE WISHES OF MAJORITY OF GOANS. I WANTED PORTUGUESE OUT FROM MY BELEVOED GOA  BUT DEFFINETELY NOT THE BHARATI RAJ IN GOA.  BHRATI RAJ IS A RAJ OF FILTH – CORRUPTION – CHOR – LOOTERS AND BAD GOVERNANCE. I WAS MADE BHARATI CITIZEN NOT BY MY CHOICE BUT BY FORCE BY THE BHARATI GOVERNMENT HEADED BY THE DICTATOR NEHRU WHO WITHOUT TAKING US INTO CONFIDENCE INVADED GOA.

A.    Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim,
Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.

CONGRESS MUST DENY ELECTION TICKETS TO DEFEATED CANDIDATES.

This is in reference to the various news items appearing in the local newspapers saying Luizinho Faleiro wants to revive the hopes of Congress Party to regain power in the next election.   I am of full confidence that Congress Party will never rise up again unless all the defeated candidates in the last election are denied tickets for the forthcoming election in 2017.  Mainly it is these candidates who were responsible for the disaster of Congress Party in the last election because of their pride, arrogance, goondagiri and corruption.  As MLA’s they failed to identify themselves with the commoners and led the life of filth, dadagiri and  Maharajas thinking they will enjoy this status throughout.  People voted them out because they acted very rudely and roughly with their own class of people. Because of their revengeful nature people disliked them.

Luizinho must be very carefully in doling the election tickets to the candidates in the next election.  Time to impose candidates of High Command and Low Command is over.  We in Calangute constituency will never accept again an imposed candidate on us.  The choice should be given for the locals to select their own representatives and not to the Congress Commands. Ultimately, it is the local supporters of Congress Party who will elect their candidate and not the Congress Commands sitting in Delhi and Panaji.

If this advice is not accepted then I am sure Congress in Goa under Luizinho Faleiro will surely face its disaster  at least in my constituency because voters in my constituency are disgusted with the former Congress Party candidates since they acted very negatively not only against their opponents but also against their own people.

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349. 

 

        

14 SENIOR TIATRISTS AWARDED IN GOA.

Group Photo of awardees with guessts

At Pai Tiatrist Hall, Margao, on 14^th of this month, I attended the “Life-time  Contribution to Tiatr Award – 2014” function, appropriately organized by Tiatr Academy Goa. This year this award was conferred on 14 senior Tiatrists, 2 females and 12 males.  The females are Rita Rose and Sucurrine. The award for each artiste consists of a Shawl, a Memento, a Citation and Rs 20,000/-

The Chief Guest for this function was Dayanand Mandrencar, Minister for Art and Culture, Goa who in his speech highly praised the awardees for their enormous contribution in the promotion of Tiatro with minimum of facilities. In a booklet distributed in the hall by the organizers, the details of the Stage work of every awardee was given.

 

Xavier Mendes

However, I would like to add something more of Xavier Mendes one of the sons of the legendary comedian the late Anthony Mendes; Xavier who along with his other 2 brothers Felix and Derek was part of the very popular Trio of Mendes Bros which shot into limelight in mid sixties after the unexpected death of their beloved father.  After making a solid impact of their performances in Bombay and Goa  where they became the darlings of Tiatro lovers, they all one after the other migrated to Kuwait starting from Derek first in early seventies.  Xavier came to Kuwait somewhere in 1976. It was their presence on Kuwait Konkani Stage that totally changed the outlook of our Tiatros in Kuwait. They were very much responsible to develop the standard of our Tiatros in Kuwait and Xavier played an excellent role in this development.

Minister Mandrecar

 

When we organized our movement in Kuwait for the cause of Novem Goem Daily, they were the first to assure me of their total co-operation for the collection of funds for this cause by acting Free of Charge in two Tiatros we organized there in Kuwait. Because of their participation both our Tiatros were Housefull. Though they were three distinct individuals yet they always acted as one entity.  Among all the three brothers, Xavier was more artistic, more productive and more intelligent.  With his acrobatic and flexible physique he could perform any difficult comedy role and win the hearts of the audience. His other speciality was that he was expert in mimicry and with ease he could play the sound of a Trumpet with his mouth.  Once at Keefan Hall in Kuwait, he with his mouth played beautifully the sound of Trumpet accompanied by musician Teo on his original Trumpet.  It looked so original.  His body swerves while doing comedy roles had lot of resemblance of his father’s comedy roles. For their contribution on Konkani Stage, all the three Mendes Bros. were felicitated by Konkani Heritage Kuwait.

Rita Rose receiving a Memento

As a human being Xavier is a very soft and kind hearted thorough gentleman, very generous and a great lover of Goa, Konkani and Goan causes.  He is settled down now in Goa at Mapusa by leaving Kuwait a year ago due to failing health.  It was a very sad scene to see him entering the Stage to receive his award on Wheel Chair.  But what was surprising was that people in the audience did not forget him and the evidence of it was the strong applause he received when his Wheel Chair was noticed by the audience. 

Premananda Sangoddcar

 

The other two artistes known to me in Kuwait were Teo and Rita Rose, the former worked for many years in Kuwait and side by side played music for Tiatros there while the latter after her husband’s death maintaining her promise came to Kuwait to act in our Musical Show.  During this period we under Konkani Heritage Kuwait felicitated her for her long term contribution in Tiatro.

                                                        Xavier Mendes on Wheel Chair

Speaking on behalf of all the awardees, like a Professor and Philospheer, Premananda Sangodcar showered abundant superlatives on all his Stage colleagues for playing their roles so nicely. I salute him for delivering such a powerful and meaningful speech.

If till now Tiatro is surviving it is because of the strong efforts put in by our yesteryears Tiatrists including all the 14 honoured on 14.12.14.  I salute them for their good work and pray to God to give them good health.

A.     Veronica  Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.


 

48TH MANDO FESTIVAL - 2ND DAY.

 

The concluding part of the 48^th edition of Manddo Festival was held yesterday, 12^th inst.,  at Kala Academy Hall, Panjim, attended very regretfully by a thin number of attendees.  It was a pity to see such a small crowd attending such a big Goan event. If I remember well, it was in 1970  that first time I attended  the Manddo Festival held at Cine Nacional, Panjim, attended by elite Goan community members, all of them very elegantly dressed.  Men wearing Suit or Coat or Tie but none in Shorts and T. Shirts. 

 One of the Adults groups

That year the non-Goan Governor of Goa was the chief guest and he along with his family attended the Function till the last moment having magnetized to his Seat because of the beauty of rendering Manddos with beautiful voices by the beautiful singers.  The Governor in his brief speech remarked saying “Nowhere else in India I saw such a great traditional song as Manddo”.  Then he went further and said, “though I don’t understand the language of the Manddo but listening to the Tune, Music and voices even  by the children, I feel great.  This great experience of witnessing Goan Manddo Festival will never die from my memory”, concluded the Governor.

 One of the Teenagers

Where is that greatness gone now?  Today among the members of audience you see very shabbily dressed people, shouting and talking in the hall loudly and disturbing others thereby showing they are ill mannered Goans who are not meant to attend such a great occasion as Manddo Festival.  It is this attendance that is partly responsible to diminish the greatness of Manddo.

  Four Compeers: Nifa D'Silva -Dr. Bikazi Ghanekar-Agnel deBorim - Shakila

 

During those days, the participating groups had class in them, class in composing, class in singing, class in music, class in dressing and class in presenting themselves from the stage. During those days though the number of participating groups was smaller yet this small number was giving something big that was extraordinary to the audience.

 

 Dance category Mando

When and where we can get the greatness of Congottchim Lahram? The beauty of Mapusa Group?  The elegance of Saligao, Curtorim, Benaulim, Loutolim, Kalafura, Merces etc?

 

When carefully thought, it looks to me that because of the low standard of the Manddos the real Manddo audience are refusing to patronize this event with their presence in the audience.

 Another Dance Manddo

 

In order to revive the sagging image of Manddo Festival, something drastic has to be done to bring back the Manddo audience and Manddo standard  to the previous level. Otherwise this great item of Goan tradition will suffer a great setback.

 Senior Citizens

There is a special authority to handle Manddo Festivals every year, this authority must conduct lessons on Manddos and training how to compose and sing Manddos.  Our elders expert in this field are no more now and because they were knowledgeable in this field, they were performing well.  In their absence the class of Manddo is also gone down.  Hence, the need for creating the new crop of Manddoists.

 Teenagers

That the organizers are doing the great job of regularly organizing this event is something to be admired yet they need to go beyond this step.

During those days, there was only one Compeer Dr. Bikaji Ghanekar who was doing wonderful job but now there are four and to the solace of the audience all four have done their jobs wonderfully.  

 One more Teenagers

 

Compared to the first day’s proceeding, the second day was better in all the categories where the total number of items were 23.  Hence, the delay in completing the programme. In future the organizers must avoid such delays. 

 Dpty. CM with organisers

 

The Deputy Chief Minister of Goa, Francis D’Souza attended today’s function as  Chief Guest and in his brief speech lamented the low attendance.

While I was in Kuwait, on behalf of Kuwait Konknni Kendr, we used to give financial support to this Festival thereby lowering the financial burden of the organizers to organize this festival.

 

                                  Seen at left, a young female playing Violin for this group.

The highest award for this year – Manddo Award 2014 went to Manddo Mogui Margao.

In Dance category, the first prize was shared between Orlim & Manddo Mogui Margao.

For Traditional Manddo, first prize went to Manddo Mogui while for original Manddo, the first prize went to Orlim group, so too for Teenagers group.

A.     Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7501394349