COANS CONDEMN BOMBING IN KUWAIT.

On behalf of Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center that stood by Kuwait strongly during the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq and also on behalf of all the like minded Goans who enjoyed the benefits of Kuwait employment, I strongly condemn the brutal bombing of Shia Muslim Mosque in Kuwait City on 27.06.15.  This bombing organized by ISIS thru a Saudi Muslim radical suicide bomber is an act of anti-Islamic policy in the name of Islam.  Thru this type of bombings, ISIS are creating a very bad image of Islam.  ISIS in one way want to promote Islam but on the other hand in the name of promoting of Islam they are committing all sorts of crimes agains innocent Muslims their own brothers in religion.  This is unacceptable.

Islam is a great religion that preaches and promotes peace but many of its promoters like ISIS are doing just the opposite therey giving an opportunity to its enemies to debase Islam and precisely because of this many of the Islamic organisations are looked with suspicion.  Islam forbids suicide killing in the sense it forbids any individual Muslim to kill himself but this suicide bomber killing is just aginst the teachings of Islam.  ISIS and many of the radical Muslim leaders who are thirsty for innocent people blood are doing injustice to their great religion Islam. 

It is time now for the Muslim countries coming under their Islamic union (OIC) to discuss this topic and tone down the fury of Muslim radicals.  Today if Islamic world is suffering it is only because Islamic teachings are misinterpreted by their Muslim leaders and preachers.  Islam is not a harsh and cruel religion, Islam is very compassionate religion and its initiator Prophet Mohammed himself shown by his own deeds how benevolent Islam is.  Today if almost everywhere Islamic terrorism is seen it is because some of the States have supported these terrorism and developed many of the Muslim terrorists in their cradles. 

When Kuwait is burning now we Goans like me who earned our sustenance by working in Kuwait cannot remain as silent spectators.  Hence, once again I condemn the bombing of Shia Muslm Mosque in Kuwait and pray to God to keep Kuwait safe and also our Goan brothers and sisters working in Kuwait.

 A.  Veronica Fernandes,
For GOA - KUWAIT SOLIDARITY CENTER,
Goa.
Tel: 7507394349

     

GOA - INDIA - PONDICHERY - MACAO.

A few years preceding the invasion and conquest of Goa by Nehru’s "serkar" (I say conquest because according to the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of India, on 19^th December 1961, Goa was conquered by India.  Hence, the word Liberation is wrong), especially during the tenure of last Portuguese Governador Vassalo e Silva, Goa was booming and flourishing with all round development.  Common man was happy because Vassalo e Silva introduced lot of developmental changes in Goa.  To give a sense of dignity to the students he stopped corporal punishment in schools for the students.  Earlier, teachers were thrashing the students like Buffalos especially if the student is coming from low category.   To spread education to all the segments of Goan society especially for the socially lower rung students, he made primary education in Portuguese compulsory for all children attaining the age of six, of course free of charge. And those who wanted to pursue higher professional education in Portugal, educational loan facilities were given to the students by the Goa government.  To spread the gospel of education, he issued order to build Portuguese Primary Schools in every village. His wish was to make every Goan adequately educated.  Then, after creating appropriate climate, he gave a call to Gulf Goans willing to return to Goa for job, to come back with a promise to provide them with the necessary employment in Goa, for English educated in the Mining sector and for Portuguese educated in the government departments.  Heeding this call some Goans working at Qatar Oil Company left their jobs, returned to Goa and got employed in Goa.

Then he embarked on creating avenues for Goans to get employment especially for the Portuguese educated Goans and this move was making a very good progress. Then he made easy availability thru market reforms, of the goods and commodities for the common man like two and four wheelers and electronic gadgets.  Expensive and luxury goods started flowing into the hands of common man.  The prices of food items were brought down thru his personal intervention so that common man could afford best of food. To check the prices of food items, in Panjim market as a common "Paklo" he was moving all by himself in civilian dress.  Agriculture was given a strong boost even by providing the affected farmers with necessary requirements to carry on with their farming uninterrupted. When in my village once Saline water entered the paddy fields, he personally came to inspect the affected paddy fields by interacting with the “Kaxtticar” farmers to the chagrin of Bamon Bhattkarshai.  His wish was to elevate the standard of "Bahujan Samaz" and in this direction he was moving speedily.

During this time itself when Goa was doing all round progress, according to my source, Nehru got the smell that Goa is progressing at a fastest pace and if India wants to acquire Goa, this will be the only ripe time when Goa was still  progressing.  If India delays invasion of Goa for later on then even ordinary Goan would oppose invasion because by that time even the last strata of Goan would be developed and would not like to be a part of corrupt and filthy country India under the corrupt Indian leaders.  Hence the military invasion of Goa started on 17^th December and at that particular moment on 18th December 1961, UN discussed this topic and commanded India not to move an inch further into Goa till this topic is discussed and settled amicably.  In the ensuing Security Council Vote, 7 countries including US, UK, France, China voted against invasion of Goa but Russia, Ceylon and other two tiny countries voted in favour of invasion of Goa.  Since Russia wielded Veto power, the resolution went in favour of invasion.  Thus Goa was hurriedly robbed from Goans by India to convert it into a colony of India  or a brothel of India or a part of Maharastra since the big stalwarts of Congress Party in Maharastra were keeping their eyes on Goa, Y. B. Chawan and V.P. Naik were two of them.  As a punishment for Nehru’s Congress for illegally invading Goa without taking Goans into confidence, in the first general election, Congress Party of Nehru was totally voted out by the Goans.  Such a humiliating defeat Congress never got anywhere in India.

If Goa is saved till today, we must thank Governador Vassalo e Silva for not executing Salazar’s order of destroying Goa fully to the ashes instead of giving Goa on silver platter to India.  If Goa is intact till today, we must pray for Vassalo e Silva and also the then Portuguese Patriarch of Goa who impressed upon Vassalo e Silva not to follow the diktats of Portuguese dictator Salazar. It was their Christian principles that made them to act the way they acted.  This is the greatness of Christianity. Thru their decision they saved not only minority Christians but also majority Hindus.  A few days before the invasion of Goa, the way Bombs were implanted all over Goa by the Portuguese it was really horrible. May the Christian souls of both these Portuguese stalwarts rest in peace.   

Like Goa, Pondichery in South India was also colonized not by the Portuguese but by the French and it was given freedom not in 1947 but in 1954.  It took many years after independence in 1947 for India to claim possession of Pondichery from France officially and legally.  At the time of surrender of Pondichery to India in a treaty and agreement signed by the French Foreign Minister and Nehru of India, a number of Clauses were put by the French government to safeguard the rights of the citizens of Pondichery and all these clauses were accepted by the same Nehru who promised mountains to Goans but none given.  It took long years of negotiations for India and France to agree on these clauses and then only France agreed to hand over Pondichery to India.  While Pondicherians were given all the rights and facilities to safeguards their interest by Nehru, Goans were totally neglected because Goa is a precious place for India.  For this reason India robbed Goa in the name of fake lliberation.

Take the case of Macao, another colony of Portugal.  When it was given to China by the Portuguese government, both the countries Portugal and China negotiated for long years the clauses for transfer of power.  Like Pondicherians, Macao citizens were also given lot of facilities and rights.  It is almost like an independent country now except that its sovereignty comes under China.  There is no high command in Beijing for Macao, all the decisions are taken in Macao only. And to get all these facilities, Portuguese government worked hard to convince China to agree. 

While Portugal at the time of transfer of power of Macao to China protected the rights of Macao citizens, the same assurance was not given to Goans at the time of officially  and legally handing over Goa to India in 1974.  Before the transfer of Macao to China, Portugese took Macao citizens into confidence and then only transferred the power to China.  But at the time of negotiating of officially transferring of power of Goa to India in New York in 1974, only the two persons – foreign ministers of India and Portugal – decided what is good and what is bad for Goans without even consulting Goans.  Mario Soares was the foreign minister of Portugal and it was he who gave Goa on silver platter to India on behalf of Portugal.  When the final agreement was signed in the same year in Delhi by both the leaders,  there was nothing for Goans thus Portugal also robbed Goans of their rights and previlleges and because of this we are now suffering in Goa as orphans.

India does not care for our rights and sentiments. Special Status will never be given to Goa inspite of the lies given by Modi and Parricar.  In the next election in 1922 there is a possibility of non-Goans to form government in Goa because majority of residents in Goa will be non-Goans then and because of their harsh and cruel nature they will even massacre Goans if we do not toe their line, just as Jews did  for Palestinians in the occupied Palestine.  Our situation will be very pitiable. Our freedom fighters who suffered so much to get rid of Portuguese from Goa will never be able to help us.  They are dead issue now only. We have to forget them to do anything good for Goa and Goans.  They are happy with their Tamrapatras and Pensions that Indian government gave them.

In this scenario, is everything lost for us? No, never. With some hope, we have to tell our woes to the current generation and see if we can get a new leadership from them to fight peacefully for our rights, if necessary by approaching even UN, if possible. UN Charter gives certain facilities to the indigenous people who are facing a disguised genocide in Goa. Global Goans can think over this issue because they are in better position to make their voice more audible.  If possible we must conduct a hunger strike in front of Portuguese Consulate in Panjim to make Portugal aware of our sentiments and of the  mistake they did by ignoring us at the time of transferring of power of Goa to India.  Side by side, we must conduct peaceful “dharna” in Delhi to make Delhi “babus” aware of our grievances because our case is totally different. We were not Indian citizens till 1961/62 but we were made Indian citizens by force by Indian “dadageri”. By doing this much we may not get anything but by sleeping at home will we get something?     

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 6507394349.

 

SINFUL TIATRISTS - VULGAR TIATRISTS.

While in Kuwait I was promoting Tiatros along with my other colleagues. Many times we used to bring Tiatrists from Goa to participate in our Shows in Kuwait and while in Kuwait they used to stay at my place in Kuwait City.  Among these Tiatrists there were males and females and couples too.  There was during one particular time a Tiatrist couple and as per my knowledge it was a legally wedded couple because they already had one son.  During their one week stay at my place I gave them all the facilities and treated them with high respect befitting their marital status. Thinking that they are a married couple I even gave them one full independent room of my Flat.

Within a few hours of their going back to Goa, somebody a Tiatrist only told me that they are both unmarried adulterous couple and giving them a shelter in my house I  realized that it was a sinful act. But this sin I committed without knowing the correct fact.  I knew that there are such rackets rampantly flourishing among Tiatrists and precisely because of this in the past the image of Tiatrists was affected.  Even currently the image of Tiatrists in general is not very good even though on the Stage they are adored by the people including the rotten apples.  This does not mean that there are no good character Tiatrists.  Some of my best friends are Tiatrists males and females whose character is excellent and I am proud of their friendship. 

Coming back to the adulterous Tiatrist couple stayed at my place, with a heavy burden of guilt on my head, I approached a Priest in Kuwait Church explaining the entire episode and requested him to bless my Flat with special prayers and Holy Water which he did. Then only I felt relieved of the guilt burden lying on my head because of this adulterous Tiatrist couple.  For them it is nothing because their “Khandan” is like that but for me having my character and discipline it was something unimaginable.  What a disgrace is it for a wives deserter Tiatrist to live with a “Ghanttin” concubine and produce an illegitimate child; moreover still acting on the Stage and moving in society shamelessly?  What good this type of Tiatrists impart to the audience from the Stage? What role model such Tiatrists will be for the public?  Such artistes are a disgrace on Tiatros and Tiatrists. It is these sinful Tiatrists who are creating a bad image of Tiatros and Tiatrists. 

Saib Rocha was boycotted by the decent Tiatrists for keeping a concubine and then the image of Tiatrists was brightened.  Saib Rocha was such a mighty tiatro figure once, finally died a poor death in the Provedoria Azilo, unsung and unknown.  In the same manner all the bad character tiatrists should also be boycotted by the decent directors and tiatrists.  By the way, how many morally upright directors are existing now? I was told that almost every second or third director is keeping a concubine from his own troupe either by deserting his own wife or by harassing his wife.  One such persecuted wife already confided in me of her agony.

In order to create a good image of Tiatrists we must boycott the Tiatrists living an immoral life otherwise they will create a bad image even of the morally upright Tiatrists, as it happened in the past.

One of the reasons for the Portuguese government in Goa to apply censorship for Tiators was to check the vulgarity and indecency displayed on the Stage by the Vulgar, indecent and morally bankrupt tiatrists.  If vulgarity is to sop in Tiatros then Censorship will automatically come in.

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel:7507394349.

SAVE TIRACOL - SAVE GOA MEET.

SAVE TIRACOL - SAVE GOA.

 

 

Panjim Church

 

Under the banner of “SAVE GOA – SAVE TIRACOL”, a public meeting was held today in Panjim, at 10.30 AM, in front of the Panjim Church, organized by some youth who came forward to keep the momentum of the Tiracol campaign moving by awakening Goans on this issue. Some of the prominent faces seen on the forefront as organiers of this meet were Fr. Bismarque, Zico, Sudeep, Eliath and D. Pinto. Among the politicians seen there prominently were Reginald Lawrence of Congress and Swati of AAP.  Ironically, there was none from Tiracol especially from among those who spoke at Tiracol Meet. Neither, there was none from the Tiatrists circle though they are very much concerned of this issue.

 

Singing & playing music

 

Though small in number yet those who attended this meet did not care for the rains which at moment were very heavy. This type of meeting I see first time in Goa in the sense that it was a musical meeting where songs like Manddos, Dulpods, Dekhnis and other popular Konkani songs were rendered by the organisers with the accompaniment of music as seen in the pictures.  The attendees too participated in the singing thereby the whole event looked lively. In between the songs there were short speeches by the organisers. 

 

Seen Zico singing

 

The whole show lasting about 2 hours attracted lot of attention from the passersby as well who even by stopping their vehicles, two and four wheelers focused their attention on this meet and got acquainted themselves with the Tiracol issue and how the non-Goans there trying to usurp Goan land by force. 

Sudeep seen at right

Thru this musical meet once again Goans attending this meet, however small in number they may be, proved how important this Tiracol issue is for them. Tiracol issue is not of the people of Tiracol only, it is an issue of all Goans also.  Though most of the heavyweights of Tiracol Meet were missing yet in their absence nothing looked low.  Next time while organizing such meetings, appropriate publicity must be made so that every Goan is aware of what is going on below his nose.

                                                        Attendees also seen singing.

Though he was not present for this meet today neither at Tiracol last time, Claude Alvares must be complimented for firing a salvo on this issue. His awakening on this Tiracol issue has helped Goans like me to be sensitive of this issue.

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel:7507394349.

REVOLUTION DAY OF GOA.

Yesterday, 18^th of this month, Goa marked the 69^th anniversary of the “Revolution Day” of Goa.  On this day 69 years back when Goa was under the control of Portugal, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia coming from other part of Bharat came to Goa and gave a call to Goans gathered at Loia Maidan Margao in big number to overthrow Portuguese government in Goa.  The Loia Maidan was named after Dr. Lohia much later. This is the story given to us by our freedom fighters and other Goan leaders as far as naming this day as Revolution Day since according to our said leaders the spark of Goan revolution was fired by Dr. Lohia on this date.    

With due respect to Dr. Lohia and all his colleagues who were with him on that day to defy the Portuguese regime, according to my information, Dr. Lohia was brought to Goa by his Goan friend Dr. Juliao Menezes from Assolna for rest and treatment for his sickness.  Being a ferocious freedom fighter against Britishers in Bharat, he became restless in Goa to fire a salvo against  the Portuguese rule.  Hence, to give a clarion call to Goans against Portuguese rule, he was brought to Lohia Maidan by his Goan friends.  While he was about to deliver his fiery speech for the gathering which was not mammoth but average, he was whisked away by the Portuguese security personnel and pushed to Goa border to cross on to the other side.  While leaving from Lohia Maidan he passed on his written speech to his Goan colleague but he too was arrested snatching from his hand the speech by the security personnel.

If this news is true, how his statue at Lohia Maidan depicts his pose  differently as if he is speaking? 

Secondly, I feel the first step for Goan revolution against Portuguese rule in Goa was laid by the Goan Catholic Priests from Pinto family in Candolim, Bardez, Goa centuries back,  before the birth of French Revolution. In view of this, I strongly feel that Pintos Revolt should be marked as the birth of Goan Revolution and not as 18^th June to salute Dr. Lohia.  I feel the trend to down play the efforts of Christians in Goa’s freedom movement should be stopped and they must be given their rightful place of course rightly and deservingly.  It is a history that said what Pintos did for Goa’s freedom none others did. 

Secondly, it was brought to light how shabbily the freedom fighters were treated yesterday at Azad Maidan by the authorities.  According to me the Goan freedom fighters are feeling the step motherly treatment they are getting from the authorities.  In this respect though they are right but according to me they must not expect anything from the government for being freedom fighters.  Their (only the genuine ones) struggle, sacrifices and sufferings are priceless and as such the same cannot be compensated with material benefits.

Yet my regret is that after the ouster of Portuguese from Goa they in totality remained inactive as far as Goa’s well being is concerned.  I don’t think they challenged Portuguese to see the state of Goa reaching to such an ebb where Goa is getting degoanised and recolonized by the non-Goans.  In most of the Goan freedom fighters I see nothing but craze for material benefits as if they joined freedom movement only for personal gains.  They are the only Goans who are capable of raising their voices in unison very vociferously against the authorities for the corruption they spread in Goa.  I am sure it was not their wish to see Goa is going to the dogs.  But to prevent it, have they done or doing anything concrete? 

 

The voice of freedom fighters is more audible than mine but did they raise their voice forcefully or they confined to the benefits they are given?  They are duty bound to shake the corrupt authorities in Goa spreading all round corruption.  If they still remain dormant then surely posterity will hold them responsible for their inaction because of which Goa is suffering today.  If necessary all the genuine freedom fighters must be ready to surrender their Tamrapatras and even pensions and other benefits as a mark of protest for what rot is going on in Goa.    

 

Rabindra Tagore surrendered his Knighthood to the British for doing injustice to Bharat and thereby created a history which means Tagore showed his displeasure over the treatment the British were giving to India.  In the same manner can our freedom fighters do?    

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel:7507394349.

 

VERONICA WAS SUMMONED BY POLICE.

Today, those who are eagerly waiting to know the outcome of the summon/call I had from Colva Police Station, please be advised that my article “Vulgar Tiatrists Threatening Me”  appeared in goa-kranti.blogspot.com, was reproduced by “NIZ GOENKAR” on 1st of this month.  Following this, there appeared 3 comments from three different writers in the same forum, one of them is very piercing.  This comment is available in Niz Goenkar below my article and it can be found if you browse Niz Goenkar archive.  It was understood that I am also responsible for this comment  or I am aware of the writer of this comment. 

In fact I have nothing to do with Niz Goenkar, I am not its moderator nor I am its owner.  On receipt of the complaint by Colva Police, I was called there to find out whether I know who that person is who wrote that comment.  My answer to Colva Police was "NO".

The details of the complaint will be disclosed once I get the copy of the complaint thru RTI which is under process.  On the basis of this, I will decide what next step I should take in consultation with my legal adviser. 

A.     Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
7507394349.

REGINLD FERNANDES REMEMBERED.

On his 101^st birthday, the late Romansi writer and musician Reginald Fernandes was remembered in his birth place Siolim.  The King of Konkani Romansi, as he was called was remembered by about 100 fans of the late author when they, some of them coming from distant places in South Goa,  congregated at his residence in Siolim, Bardez,  yesterday, Sunday 14^th of this month at 3.30 PM.

An author of over 160 Konkani Novels besides being a gifted musician playing Violin and Trumpet, Reginald Fernandes was born on 14^th June 1914 and after undergoing basic schooling at Parochial School in Siolim, moved to Bombay and began writing in 1932 while playing music at Maharaja’s Palace in Gujarat. He also played music at the Palace of Maharaja of Mysore. He wrote over 160 Konkani novels (Romansi),  “Lindorf” being his first novel while “Perdida” was the last. 

My first contact with him was when I was a very young boy somewhere in 1958, at that time I as a  member of our village Choir group went to Panjim at Emisora de Goa to record some Motets.  When audition test was going, he was present there and seeing me singing well he patted on my back.  At Emisora de Goa as a full time employee, it was mandatory for him to prepare some songs and Tiatros of 30 minutes duration, weekly thrice.  These Tiatros were aired on Sundays at 7.30 PM, Tuesdays at 5.00 PM and on Thursdays at 6.30 PM.  Besides, he was responsible to script one programme of 30 minutes on every Saturday at 6.30 PM known as “Antu Babachi Gozal” directing against Bharat Serkar.  Then again I met him at Siolim in 1968 when he organized a Konkani Show at Holy Cross Convent along with Cruz Noronha and others.  Though not many but at least some romansi of his I read when I was a school going boy.  Being a very good friend of my father who was his great admirer, Reginald used to send copies of his novels to my father and used to discuss with him finer points of his stories.  After discussing with my father, he penned down his finest Romans “Nimanno Ugddas”, the story of this Romans begins in Candolim near the Cemetry.

He was not only an author but also a teacher because by reading his novels many Goans learnt Konkani in Romi script.  In fact he was an institution by itself of Romi Konkani. His work in the field of Konkani writing was not to make money and in fact by writing Romansi he did not make money but only for the love of Mae Bhas. By nature he was a very humble man with no pride inspite of being a great author and a great musician.  A great number of Goans Hindus and Christians learnt Romi Konkani by reading his Romansi which were very interesting.  To give taste of his Romansi to the present generation, Tiatro Academy, Dalgado Academy and Konkani Academy must reprint some of his Romansi for the benefit of the new generation. 

On this day 14.6.15 Dalgado Academy has already named its Hall after Reginald Fernandes and also taken a decision henceforth to mark this day annually at the Academy’s premises.  This is a  very good decision of Dalgado Academy.  In Siolim close to his house where this function was organized a road was named after him.  If the local Panchayat had to organize this function on its own it would have been much better because thru Reginald Fernandes the name and image of Siolim brightened. He was an asset of Siolim. It is an honour for Siolim to have such a great son and as such local Panchayat should have taken up this job of organizing this function.  Good that his well-wishers like Joel D’Souza, Brazinho Soares, Alister Miranda, Bonaventure Pietro and others came forward to organize this function otherwise this man would remain as a forgotten hero like many remained.  As it is, he was a forgotten on his 100^th birthday.

During the function a beautiful Exhibition of his Romansi, letters and other such materials was organized by Brazinho Soares who is another independent institution that preserved most of the published materials in Romi Konkani.  Brazinho Soares displayed around 100 Romansi of Reginald Fernandes besides Reginald’s letters and Post Cards.

To entertain the guests, some of his songs were also rendered by his friends and relatives including the wife of Johnson with the accompaniment of musical score provided prominently by the son of Johnson, Bonaventure Pietro, Alister's son and others.

During the function some of his admirers eulogised Reginald’s works and prominent among them were Reginald’s son, Dale Menezes, Mario Menezes, Fausto D’Costa, Joel D’Souza, Bonaventure Pietro, Jessie Dias and others. Among others, Cyriaco Dias, Wilmix and Sharon also attended the function.

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

FUND FOR POOR AILING TIATRISTS.

Recently in one of the Tiatros, Marcus Vaz rendered a solo indicating the sad plight of three renowned tiatrists,  namely Anthony D’Souza, Jr. Rod and Ben Evangelisto.  He elaborated their plight saying they are now neglected by their own colleagues who do not even care  to pay a visit to them and find out about their wellbeing. According to what I heard from Marcos’ song was that they need assistance.  Was it financial or some other? Are they sick and need financial assistance for medical treatment? 

Tiatro is a big industry and tiatrists are the power not only now even before but now their financial power is increased tremendously.  That they are a financial power was noticed when within a very short period they joined  together and organized their Tiatros to raise fund for the Kidney Operation of their colleague, the late Antonette de Calangute.  That they collected (according to my information) over 15 lakhs of rupees for this fund shows the power of Tiatrists.  It is true that this fund finally remained unutilized because meantime Antonette de Calangute expired without undergoing the operation for Kidney transplantation as planned. Even though a small portion of this huge fund collected must have been used for the initial expenses for her medical treatment but surely the major part of the collected money  is remained unutilized.

Since this is the case, I suggest that the prominent senior tiatrists must come forward and form a committee to create a fund for the aid of poor tiatrists during their sicknesses. The money remained unutilized from the fund collected for Antonette de Calangute should be used as a base amount for opening an account for this fund.  In this way the financial problems of the ailing tiatrists could be solved if not fully then at least partially.  Towards this goal, every director must make a commitment to stage his one Show annually for this fund.  In this way the amount of this fund can be easily enhanced benefitting the members of Tiatrists fraternity especially the ailing poor.

I know a lot of people were involved in raising fund for Antonette de Calangute but I don’t know up to now where this unutilized fund has gone and where and in whose kitty it is lying idle.  Its interest must have gone high thereby increasing the capital amount tremendously.  I was told that it was lying in the account of one committee specially formed to supervise this fund.  Those who are involved in holding the custody of this fund must throw some light on this subject so that the exact clear picture is exposed and all the doubting Thomases are kept silenced.

In the past many of our senior tiatrists who worked so hard to develop the Konkani Stage during their prime age have died a very pitiable death for lack of financial help during their ailing old age.  During their peak form they were adored like heroes but once sick by old age they were totally neglected not only by the very same society that praised them earlier but even by their own children and other family members.  To avoid the same fate for the current heroes, this fund is imperative because nobody knows what is in store for us tomorrow.  Tomorrow is unpredictable and today’s hero can easily become tomorrow’s ZERO.  

 A.     Veroniica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

 

 

2017 ELECTION.

Officially only two years are remaining for the next election for the Goa Legislative Assembly.  Though it is schedule for 2017 yet it may come earlier too.  It is time now for all of us the genuine Goans who are hurt by the BJP government thru its anti-Goan policies, to do the inventory of BJP government, its ministers and MLA’s regarding their falsehood, cheating and lying the people of Goa and also of taking up projects which were not on their last election manifesto. When democracy started in ancient Greece, it was a direct democracy where the ruler and the people directly interacted and not thru their representatives as it is done now where the grievances and issues of the public are brought to the notice of the Ministers or Rulers thru the representatives of the public.  

Since the next election is approaching fast, the people especially the Goans who feel that their elected representatives especially from the Treasury benches have failed in fulfilling their given promises to the public and how they embarked on the projects and issues which are against the interest of the Goans, must grill their candidates strongly till the truth and nothing but the truth comes out of their mouth.  Every candidate contesting the election will come now to your constituency, to your village and to your door; don’t allow him or her to speak and give a cunning lecture during the electioneering.  Ask the candidates especially from the Treasury Benches and the Ministers how they failed the people of Goa in not fulfilling their promises given to them during the last election. Ask them who authorized them to go ahead with the Tiracol project by cheating and lying the locals there. Tell Parsenkar that Tiracol is not his father’s property to do what he wants.  Tell him we will vote him out and his party as well for supporting the Leading Hotels and its Golf course.

Ask Parricar how he failed in removing Casinos from the Mandovi River when he himself has promised to do so and has so vociferously campaigned against Casinos when he was in the Opposition. Ask him how he fooled the Goans first by decreasing the petrol price and later on increasing it to the highest level? Diocesan Schools are not given proper justice by the BJP government, ask BJP members why they are doing this and what right they have to act thus. They have no right to deny facilities  to Diocesan Schools on silly grounds.  Ask Parsencar why his government in Goa is discriminating against Chrsitians when BJP was brought to power with the tremendous support of Christians in Goa.  Ask Parricar who killed Mathanay Saldanha and why the post mortem of his body was not done.  Ask them why they are playing dirty game with regard to Regional Plan.

Likewise, we may have many issues that BJP government has faulted.  It is time now for all of us to raise these issues when the BJP candidates come to our doors for campaigning.  Every BJP member is accountable for the mischief his party and government committed against the interest of Goans.  Now is the only time for us to conduct the Nuremburg type of trial of every BJP member, every BJP MLA and every BJP minister for the sins BJP government committed on Goans.

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

TIRACOL MEET AGAINST LEADING HOTELS.

 

 

“You are not alone in your fight my dear brothers and sisters, I am with you and the entire Goa is with you in your fight against the Leading Hotels and the Golf Course.  And that the entire Goa is with you was noticed yesterday when about 4 – 5 thousands pure Goans from all over Goa congregated to show their solidarity with you when you organized a massive public meeting against Leading Hotels and Golf Course”.  This was the message conveyed to the Goans from Tiracol in their fight against Leading Hotels trying to usurp the entire Tiracol for their project. 

 

AAM Admi party and others showing their support to Tiracol

 

Thru this type of cunning procedure, the Arab Palestine was Judaised cunningly by cunningly uprooting the genuine Palestinians from their homeland Palestine by the cunning Jews.  In this same manner Tiracol first and later on the entire Goa will be uprooted from their original homes by the cunning Bharatis with the backing of Goa and Central governments. The way the Jews used all types of cruelties against Palestinians to inculcate fear in their minds, in the same manner the Leading Hotels created a fear into the minds of Tiracol residents by using the Bouncers to threatened the locals.  If this type of “Dadagiri” is not challenged by us then the Bouncer policy will be used against other Goans as well.  Hence, it is imperative for all genuine Goans to fight in support of Tiracol people.

 

Convener of Tiracol Rakhonn Manch addressing the meet.

 

Thanks to the Church authority, 6 prominent Priests actively participated in this meeting and many more priests and nuns came along with their parishioners in buses from distant places including from Candolim. Besides, many of our Hindu brothers and sisters too came to show their support for the people of Tiracol. It is now proved beyond doubt that this battle is between Goans from all over Goa and the non-Goan Leadings Hotel. History tells that the movement handled by Goans from all over Goa have never failed and as such this movement of Tiracol will surely succeed. The momentum created by the people movement now will create good effect.

Attendees seen even braving the Rain during the meet.

 

Speaker after speaker spoke in support of the people of Tiracol who approximately number around 400 residing in about 90 dwellings. The total area of Tiracol is about 14 thousand sq.mtrs. From this area, 12,18,589 sq. mtrs. are in the hands of Leading Hotels thru the Sale deeds executed between the Leading Hotels and Khalaps.  The balance area of 1,50,582 thru Tiracol Fort is owned by the Goa government.

 

Dr. Francis Colaco a renowned cardiologist is seen addressing the Meet

 

Tiracol is situated at the far end of North Goa touching Maharastra and it is a very scenic and beautiful place consisting of medicinal Springs, plenty of productive Trees and Plants having curative effects for many of the sicknesses and deaseses.  The Tiracol River and Fort add beauty to this place.  Outside interference thru Leading Hotels and Golf course will destroy Tiracol of its few genuine Goan inhabitants, Trees, Plants and Spring Water.  This is all belongs to us Goans and as such it should remain in the hands of Goans as it is now.  In this direction, it is our duty to preserve it by giving our support to the people of Tiarcol in opposing Leading Hotels. Tiracol is Goa and Goan and what hurts Tiracol also hurts entire Goa and entire Goans. Let every genuine Goan show his or her solidarity with the Tiracol Rakhonn Manch an organization formed by the locals to fight for their rights.

One of the locals seen addressing the meet.

 

It was something to be appreciated that the people who came in large number did not even care for the rain pouring there.  It looked they said, come what may, rain or thundering and lighting, we will never leave this place unless meeting is started and concluded.

                                               Seen above is a section of the crowd.


A.     Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
7507394349.    

 

BENEFITS OF KUWAIT TO GOANS..

In the early thirties at Burgan Oilfield in Kuwait,  the Britishers found Oil in Kuwait first time but only after the end of World War II, excavation of it was done for commercial purpose.  Because of Oil finding in big quantity, the money power of Kuwait increased tremendously and as such the economy of Kuwait started booming needing foreign manpower to run the economy. Among others, manpower from Goa in different sectors got plenty of opportunities to work in Kuwait and because of these employment opportunities Goans earned a lot, mainly the lower category especially financially weaker section of Goan society.  Due to its employment in Kuwait suddenly money started flowing in big quantity into the hands of poor Goans and thru this money power this class of Goans raised its  standard of living by constructing big houses, providing quality education for their children and acquiring luxuries of their choice so that their social standing has suddenly gone up. This class of Goans started gaining respect in society better than before.

To cite an example from my village itself, because of her employment in Kuwait as a maid, an ordinary lady who could hardly read and write, after her husband’s death at the young age leaving her 3 children under the care of her mother, went to Kuwait, earned little money which as per Goan standard is big, brought her children up with good educational and social standards. What would be her position if it was not for Kuwait?  Likewise I have many examples of how our people got benefit of Kuwait though it was not easy to work and to survive in Kuwait where the local customs, tradition, language and rigid laws are unbearable.  It is very hard to work and to survive in Kuwait.  Heavenly Mannas are not falling there for the expatriates like us Goans.  But yet we worked hard facing all the difficulties, insults, humiliations and slavish type of treatment. And only by undergoing such treatment we managed to earn something to develop our economic conditions in Goa.  

Actually speaking Kuwait is not dependent on us, instead of us it can hire manpower from elsewhere but it is we who are more interested in working in Kuwait and precisely because of this we spend lakhs of rupees to go to Kuwait for employment.  With all its negative factors we still crave to work in Kuwait to improve our economic conditions and thru Kuwait employment overwhelming majority of Kuwait Goans made tremendous all round improvement.  But all are not thinking in these lines.  People like me feel grateful to Kuwait for providing us opportunities to work there and to gain something more in life which would not have been possible minus Kuwait employment.  Kuwait made us what we are today, for educated and uneducated, for professionals or amateurs and for males or females.  It is because of our employment in Kuwait that many of us earlier rejected by the girls later on got opportunities to get married with beautiful and sophisticated girls.

It is because of our employment in Kuwait we successfully organized such a massive Konkani movement for the cause of Konkani and Statehood, because of Kuwait we helped so much of charitable works, helped construction of Churches and Chapels, Old Age Houses,  Hospitals, Schools and other educational institutions and so many more.

This positive factor in mind, we formed our organization called Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center to promote the cause of Kuwait. Everyone must be knowing what a great movement we did in Goa in support of Kuwait when Kuwait was invaded by Iraq and later on as well.

Since last two 26^th Februarys, we in Goa are marking the liberation day of Kuwait by organizing public meetings in Panjim.  Coming 26th February will be the 25^th anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi invasion.  Since it is going to be the Silver Jubilee function, it has to be organized befitting the year. I have decided to contact top Kuwaitis including our friend Mubarak Al Hindal who is the great lover of GKSC soliciting his co-operation in inviting prominent Kuwaitis to attend to this function.  I am also inviting Goans from Kuwait especially those who were with us in this movement from the beginning. 

This is the only opportunity for us Goans to build a strong friendship between Goans and Kuwaitis thru GKSC which should be supported by all the lovers and supporters of Kuwait. To organize this silver jubilee function, I need financial support.  During the last 2 years I spent money from my own pocket but this time and even in future I request Goans working in Kuwait and others who are settled down in Goa to co-operate, if they can afford and if they feel we should go ahead. It is not me alone who benefited from Kuwait employment but everyone who worked in Kuwait.  There will be total transparency in this transaction. Those who know me in Kuwait should have no fear but those who doubt may refrain from co-operation.

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                      

TIATRO "TO KHUIM ASSA?" BY COLY-COL.

Trio on Soccer & Romeo Fernandes

 

On Tuesday 2^nd of this month at Panjim Kala Academy Hall, I saw the Tiatro “To Khuim Asa?” written and directed by the new director Coly-Col. Though the Tiatro attendancewise was not successful but performancewise it was a great success and the major credit for staging such a beautiful Tiatro by a new director goes of course to Coly-Col and his entire troupe.  Howerver, from what I have seen on the Stage, Mr. Teotonio D'Costa who was also a member of the troupe also played a very supportive role to the director to make this Tiatro performancewise a wonderful enactment. 

 

Robert and his partner

 

Every scene was interesting and every artiste though many of them are new faces to me gave his/her best.  From what I noticed that day, these new faces males and females have great role to play in the progress of Tiatro in the future.  There was no vulgarity nor indecency displayed because there was not a single known vulgar and known indecent artiste.  The director himself is an upright man as I was told who is leading an upright life with his family. 

 

Director Coly-Col singing his solo

 

Both the comedians played their role well and being new to the Stage they lacked nothing to come to the high level. 

In the above scene in the middle is Teotonio D'Costa

  

All the females namely Rima-Jennifer-Anita though they are new to the professional Stage yet they played their roles as if they are seasoned artistes.  Their looks are good so also their acts and dress code in tune with their respective roles.

 

Saby de Divar singing his political solo

 

The story surrounded around a mother who while spinster gave a birth to a child thru illicit sex and later on after getting married she keeps the boy at her place without knowing the actual secret to anyone.  But ultimately the “ cat was out of the bag” where a lot of information one got to emulate in one’s life.  Teotonio D'Costa played a beautiful role of the father while the role of the illegitimate son played by Michael  D'Costa was excellent. 

 

Seen above are both the comedians

 

In the side show songs, yet again Saby de Divar gained lot of respect from the audience by singing a nice political song.  Robert de Calvim was the star of the show by rendering two excellent solos, one was the political and the other was a “Zupatti” to a person who is spoiling his name.  Both his compositions were praiseworthy.  Michael D’Costa’s solo on the murder of a young student was very philosophical and of very high standard. The solo on HIV rendered by Teotonio D'Costa was of very high moral standard.  He sang it also very well.  He also rendered a nice duet with one of the female artistes.  The trio rendered by all the three girls on Soccer pinpointing the success of Romeo Fernandes was just a class by itself. It was composed well and rendered also well.

 

The duo of Reginald de Pmchwadi

 

The director has announced from the stage while thanking the audience for their support however small in quantity it may be, that his next release of Tiatro will be in October.  I am sure it will be more powerful with some professional singers.

Seen above is Robert de Calvim singing one of his solo

 

 

                    A scene where Teotonio D'Costa is seen acting with his partner.



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