GOAN WRITER VERONICA’S BOOK RELEASED IN KUWAIT

~A report by Gasper Crasto

Kuwait: Ms. Kyoko Matsukawa, a Japanese Researcher doing extensive research on Konkani language issues in Goa, on a visit to Kuwait released the book ‘From Coconut Trees to Oil Wells’ written by Shri A. Veronica Fernandes.

At a brief ceremony presented by Kala Mogui Kuwait (KMK) under the leadership of President Mr. Domnic Araujo at the Bayan football grounds on Friday 12th March 2016, Ms. Kyoko released the book to the applause of spectators and everyone present.

The young researcher who works at Konan University in Kobe, Japan amazed everyone by speaking in Konkani at the presentation. She said she was thrilled to release the book and wished to congratulate Mr. Veronica on the in-depth accomplishment.

Ms. Kyoko further added she was able to understand why Goan activities were so strong in Kuwait after flipping through some of the chapters of the book.

Holding a Masters in Philosophy from London University and a PhD as well, Ms. Kyoko travels across widely for various seminars, conferences, lectures, etc.

Prominent personalities that were in attendance included Tony Gonsalves (Founder member - United Goans Club), B.M. Viegas (Gen. Secretary - Kuwait Indian Football Federation), Gasper Almeida (Moderator - Gulf Goans E-Newsletter), Norman Noronha (President – Navelim YC), Julio Cardoso (Goa Maroons Club), Laurence Miranda (Konkani stage artiste), Lourdina Fernandes Maria Santos (KMK), etc.

Well-known Goan in Kuwait Mr. Raymond D’Sa who had released the book in Goa was also present.

Gasper Crasto compered the ceremony while KKM President Domnic Araujo proposed a vote of thanks. Mr. Araujo specially thanked Ms. Kyoko and the Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) committee present during the presentation.

The book published by Goa 1556 was released in Panjim, Goa last month on the occasion of Kuwait’s 25th anniversary of liberation from Iraq.

‘From Coconut Trees to Oil Wells’ – is a well-documented memoir of Veronica’s life that relates his links and solidarity between Goa and Kuwait and the trauma of his ordeals in the aftermath of Iraqi invasion.

The book describes Veronica’s personal experience of the life and working conditions in Kuwait, eyewitness invasion account of Kuwait, contribution of Goans in Kuwait, and many more details not revealed before.

Shri Veronica has dedicated the book to Goans who bring prosperity to Goa through their sweat and tears in distant Kuwait.

Known among Goans as an activist of immense abilities, Veronica’s deeds are well-known in the chronicles of history, and well recognized and acknowledged by Indian and Kuwaiti governments. His major accomplishments have been the Konkani language agitation and the famous Solidarity Movement in support of Kuwait.

A freelance journalist and firebrand writer known for courageous exposés and opinions, Veronica writes regularly on various topics in his blog Goa Kranti (http://goa-kranti.blogspot.com/).

‘From Coconut Trees to Oil Wells’ has 16 pages of photographs with a mix of tiatrs, musicals, demonstrations and sports that certifies the early days of Veronica in Kuwait.

A lot of books are written by Goans working abroad; the last book written by a Goan working in Kuwait was by Bennet Paes. ‘From Coconut Trees to Oil Wells’ has made headlines all over the Goan world. Amazing reviews of the book have featured in OHerald, Times of India and several websites.

Although Goans knowing Veronica and the might of his pen expected a much stimulating ‘title’, and a ‘proof-read’ error-free edition, the book is must for every Goan working abroad especially those in the Arabian Gulf.

NOTE: The book can be obtained from Mr. Domnic Araujo (Tel No. 99391452), Gasper Crasto (Tel. No. 99502686).

WHY THIS SILENCE OF OUR MLA'S?

Since the murder of Fr. Bismark, Goa is in turmoil and government and all the legislators are aware of this incident very well.  Because of this one full Goan community is alienated from the ruling BJP party government though some members of BJP are keeping their feeling suppressed fearing they may be reprimanded by BJP leadership if they raise this topic openly.  It is surprising that even the non-BJP members in the Goa Legislative Assembly are not coming forward to raise this issue to enquire who killed and how Fr. Bismark died thugh government machinery declares it is an accidental drowning death.  Can we swallow these cunning capsules of the government?  Where is Vijay Sardesai, Rohan Kaunte and Reginaldo Lorenco gone now?  Why they cannot raise this issue in the Assembly? 

Reginaldo Lorenco was once very active in Panjim along with other agitators in front of Police Station to demand justice for Fr. Bismark but in the Goa Assembly he is silent surprisingly. 

 

I admire my friend Irineu for raising this issue in Facebook drawing the attention on this subject of innumerable readers.  Well done Irineubab.  

Gentlemen you may remain silent on this topic now but we will never when you come for asking for our votes for you during the next general election. As for me, I will raise this issue of the silence of our candidates contesting elections in our constituency when they come to our doors like beggars to canvass votes for them.  Raising this issue at that juncture wil be the real test of our democracy. 

 

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa

Tel:7507394349.  

WE NEED TO KNOW POLITICIANS' INCOME.

Babush is not Goa and Goa is not Babush and hence the victory of his panel in Panjim Municipality election could not be taken as the barometer for gauging the mood of Goan voters for the forthcoming Assembly election.  However, this victory was a direct slap on BJP’s misrule of Goa and inefficiency of Congress. It is a direct humiliation for Parricar who personally came from Delhi to canvass votes for his BJP contestants.  This indicates that BJP wave and Parricar charisma is waning because people in Goa have realized that BJP and Parricar are liars and cannot be trusted to fulfill any of their promises.

Now, in the forthcoming Assembly election it is my warning to Congress Party in particular and BJP and other parties in general not to hoist on us, the voters the candidates without our consent.  It is become customary for these political parties to hoist on us any “Ladru-Pedru” with questionable character.  This time we will oppose such questionable characters. 

We need a clean candidate from every Party and we want to analyse his source of income – how he acquired his asset and other details including his activities in the past.  Most of the candidates imposed on us by Congress Party were known to acquire enormous amount of wealth thru unfair means when they were in Panchayat members where the biggest loot is happening.  Most of the Panchayat members in the coastal areas are known to acquire wealth thru illicit means, by threatening the locals, by extorting  bribe  for issuing illegal licences for constructing Hotels and houses.  The most glaring example of these illicit activities is in my locality.  Otherwise how a man coming from economically “Ladru-Pedru” family background could come in possession of a fleet of most expensive cars and chain of hotels?    And otherwise how a semi Goan being partially a Madrasi erect Bungalows spending lakhs of rupees?  What is his source of income to create such an asset? 

 

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tl:7507394349. 

 

ALLIANCE OF NON-BJP PARTIES IS A MUST.

The eminent jurust Nani Palkivala advised the Janata Party when it went for the Polls in 1977, to introduce a legislation in the Parliament to UNDO all the draconian laws introduced by Indira Gandhi during the Emergency and convert all her legislations as Nul and Void.

In the same manner, the Non-BJP Parties must promise the voters voting in the forthcoming election to UNDO all the wrong decisions taken by the BJP during its current term. 

However, before this, all the Non-BJP Parties must come to a very firm conclusion of forming an alliance of all the independent parties with Seat adjustment and Seat sharing procedure to fight the next election in order NOT to split the votes and give the advantage to BJP.

In this respect, Congress Party must take a lead to form this alliance.  As a major national Party,  Congress must condescend to initiate this move.  In case Congress Party thinks it will defeat BJP on its own without taking support of other parties then Congress Party is sadly mistaken.  Luizin Faleiro and Digvijay must do the homework very thoroughly to draw the strategy to uproot the BJP government from Goa otherwise BJP will uproot Gons from Goa.

Though Babush is not Goa yet he in the just concluded Panjim Municipality election proved that neither the BJP nor Congress are going to create any impact in the next election.  For this reason Congress if it is serious to finish BJP in the next election then alliance of non-BJP parties is imperative and to form this alliance Congress Party must take the lead.

 

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel:7507394349.

 

BHARAT MUKTI MORCHA MEETING.

Fr. Michael Fernandes in the centre and Maggy to the right.

 

Yesterday,  5^th March 2016 at 3.00 PM in Panjim at TB Cunha Hall,  I attended the meeting organized by Bharat Mukti Morcha to explain to the people what blunder the Archbishop of Goa Felipe Neri Ferrao has made in selling the beautiful Vanxim Island to one non-Christian Mahendra Gaunekar for very cheap price. The area of the land comprising Paddy Fields sold by the Goa Archbishop is 3,00,275 sq. metres at the rate of Rs.6.00 per sq. metre and 1,85,275 square metres of Horticultural lands at the rate of Rs. 20.00 per sq.metre. The deal according to information was initiated in 1990’s when the Bishop House was ruled by the then Archbishop Raul Gonsalves and in 2006 in the month of February the actual deal was finally clicked by the current Archbishop.

                                             Saby Rodrigues seen addressing the meeting

Gaunekar then sold this land for 30 crores to a corporate body named Ozone dealing in Real Estate in South India.  This company plans to build villas and sell at the rate of 22 crores each, 5 star hotel, helipad, marina and golf course.  The Archbishop House also promised the buyer to hand over every house located there where a number of inhabitants are residing thereby uprooting the locals from their ancestral dwelling places.

According to the latest information, the Archbishop has felt the pinch of public ire over this sale and said it seems that “the deal was morally wrong but legally right”.  But did not utter a single word of undoing the whole deal. The deal was done in utter secrecy and the locals residing in Vanxim Island came to know of this deal only after 4 years. The locals are now demanding from Archbishop all the correspondence pertaining to this deal,  all the correspondence done between Vatican and Archbishop House to obtain permission to sell this land as per the Canon Law  and the actual amount paid by the Gaunekar to the Archbishop.

During the Press briefing, Fr. Michael Fernandes the Parish Priest of Batim spoke heavily against the religious gurus who are looting the faithful and Church property adding further that he being a Christian he cannot remain as silent observer to the nonsense the Archbishop has committed.  He further said that as per the Gospel of St. Paul he has to raise his voice on this wrong committed by the Archbishop otherwise he himself commits a double sin by keeping silent.

Meantime, to correct the wrong and to bring the Archbishop to his senses and for whom some Catholics started refusing their allegiance, Bharat Mukti Morcha sent a memorandum to the Vatican Mission in New Delhi citing all the misdeeds of the Archbishop  of Goa, Filipe Neri Ferrao.

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel:7507394349.

 

 

 

NEW KONKANI ALBUM "BESSAUM".

 

The latest Konkani Album that makes waves everywhere is the “BESSAUM” of the well-known singer – composer –director Salvador Silveira from Calangute Goa.  Due to his business ventures he cannot devote much of his time for acting in the Tiatros but otherwise he is one of the best Tiatrists singing beautiful songs all composed by him only since he is the best composer with very good rhymings. He is also a very good proponent of traditional Zagor.  Because of his busy schedule he participates only in few selected Tiatros but performing very well.  He is an innovative artiste and so far he has produced 4 Konkani Albums, Bessaum is his fourth.

 

 

 In Bessaum there are 13 songs comprising solos, duos, duets, trios and quarter, all composed by Salvador Silveira only but rendered by different singers namely Salvador himself, Marcus Vaz, Lawry Travasso, Bushka, Valency, Pascoal de Calangute, Mini Mario, Benny de Aldona, Socorro de Santacruz, Tony de Ribandar, Antonette de Maina, Regan, Domnick de Parra,Johny, Domnick and Violet.

 

Though all the songs are good yet the following are the best:

Title song – a solo – Bessaum by Salvador Silveira where the singer names 118 Tiatrists whom he singles out for their contribution.

Duet – Doth Denem by Marcus Vaz and Valency who is at her best.

Duet -  Diamantichem Tik by Lawry Travasso and partner.

Trio –   Fr. Bismark by Salvador – Pascoal – Mini Mario.

Solo – Banvterak Etam by Bushka who rendered it very melodiously.

Solo -  Jinnechem Trum by Socorro de Santacruz who rendered it very beautifully.

Musical score was beautifully provided by Neville Pereira from Arpora.

 

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

 

TIATRO "INTERVIEW" BY SABY DE DIVAR.

 

It was an excellent maiden display of the Tiatro “INTERVIEW”  by Saby de Divar.  Yesterday I saw it at Kala Academy Panjim at 7.30 PM attended by the full house of the attendees and all came out filled with joy for having witnessed something excellent story wise as well as Side-Show wise.  This was his first Tiatro and that too gone so well it shows the greatness of this young director Saby from Divar an ex Tarvotti who gave up his lucrative job at “Tarvar” eight years back to devote his life and time for Tiatro profession and devotion too.

Very few directors in the history of Tiatro  came out with flying colours in the first try itself as Saby de Divar did.  Even the gigantic directors failed in their first try but not Saby de Divar.  In the history of Tiatro mighty directors like Minguel Rod, Alexinho de Candolim and Nelson Afonso received total success in their very first Tiatro itself and it gives me pride to include Saby de Divar in their bracket. This is due to the good Tiatro and good acceptance of the director by the Tiatro goers.

Currently Saby de Divar is a mighty force on the Konkani Stage as a political singer though he sings well also on other social topics.  His songs are well accepted by the audience just as his first Tiatro Interview. His political songs rattled the minds and hearts of many of the corrupt politicians.  The themes of his songs are meaningful and research on his topics is done well to hit the nails appropriately.  Rightly he hits the iron when it is hot. His voice is attractive and presentation on the Stage is appropriate and being a young man he attracts more attention.  And as per my information character wise his standard is high having upright morality.

Anil and Olga singing their duet

 

The story of the Tiatro is not related to any job interview as it looked but it relates figuratively to the account of our life in front of  God before entering the gate of Heaven.  In between there are many incidents that attract the attention of the audience and all these one has to see by oneself by seeing this Tiatro which is going on full house now all over Goa. 

Very many of the artistes males and females are new in this Tiatro entering the Konkani Stage for the first time yet they performed well. The director in this aspect  played his inning well by coaching them well.  All the artistes played their roles well but especial mention must be made to Anil Pednekar for his excellent role of the father opposite to Dola as his wife.  Juju and Carmen also played their roles well as husband and wife. However, lack of Cantos for every “Poddo” created a bit of a void.   

Seen above are all the comedians

Comedy part was nicely handled fabulously by all the comedians namely Sally, Neto, Humbert and Ambe who all created peals of laughter in the hall.  Yet Neto and Ambe were at their best.

The Side-Show part was at its best as all the songs were meaningful and rendered also well.  The political songs rendered by Saby de Divar and Olga and also by Benny de Aldona were the excellent ones.  These songs were the best so far in this season according to my observation.  Olga remained unbeatable. Besides the solos rendered by Juju and Reagan were meaningful.

 

Trio song: Saby-Benny-Sally

 

These days there is a war going on in Konkani Stage, war of “Zupattis”.  It looks like the period 25 years after the inception of Tiatro in Bombay reappeared when Pai Tiatrist was found  crying at Cross Maidan in Bombay for seeing some Tiatrists singing piercing Zupattis  to each other and thereby lowering the status of Tiatro.  In this context Pai Tiatrist, Joa Agostinho Fernandes made a remark as “Rostad Tiatrists” referring to those Zupatti singing Tiatrists. Henceforth, this has to stop because we have to challenge the government machinery of playing dirty in Goa, for this the unity of Tiatrists is imperative to fight the common enemy.

 

Last scene of the Tiatro

 

Secondly, “To aslear Aum Na” politics should be stopped immediately unless those who put this condition has to face the wrath of God and severe punishment from the Nature.  They must know that “Devachea Marank Avaz Na”.  We have seen in the recent past how those who used this condition of  “To or Tem aslear aum na” have suffered and one in Kuwait is still suffering.  May God forgive him and bring him back once again on the Stage as a refined artiste.

 

                                                Saby de Divar singing his solo

Finally let me make an important statement here saying “Every political singer is best in his/her own way having his/her uniqueness which is appreciated by the audience.  In view of this, every political singer is the best in his own way. Two years back when Google interviewed me telephonically from Bangalore asking me who is the best political singer among the Tiatrists in Goa, I said “Kid Boxer”.  When further questioned why?  I replied saying that Kid Boxer rendered songs against the then mighty Indian government system and because of this he suffered the worst as none of the current political singers suffered.

 Coming back to the Tiatro “Interview”, from what I have seen in this season, this Tiatro is the best.  Hence I congratulate the director and his entire troupe.

 

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel:7507394349.