125TH BIRTHDAY OF TIATRO CELEBRATED.

On 17^th April, 2017, at Kala  Academy Panjim, I attended the especial programme organised jointly by Kala Academy and TAG (Tiatro Academy of Goa) to mark the 125^th anniversary of the Tiatro.  The first Tiatro “ITALIAN BURGO” was scripted and staged by Lucazinho Ribeiro in Bombay 125 years ago, i.e. 17.04.1892.   I am sure, he must have never realized this baby known as Tiatro conceived by him would reach to this length and height. But the facts are facts for us to see the greatness of Tiatro since its birth.  It is the most powerful weapon in Goa now to shake the most arrogant authority and most powerful persons in Goa. The worst arrogance of Bhattkars was destroyed by Tiatrists and the worst caste discrimination was hammered by the Tiatrists only.  The mighty Salazar’s regime even got afraid of the mighty power of the Tiatro and precisely because of this during the Portuguese time in Goa Censorship was ruthlessly introduced for Tiatro and Tiatrists. Some of the Tiatrists were even barred from entering Goa from Bombay. Thru Tiatros we release our sentiments, hardships and feelings.  Tiatros became the voice of the rejected and those who were hurt by the top. Thru Tiatro we got justice in society because it became a very powerful method of obtaining justice from any authority taking interest in Goa.

Anthony San & Rita Rose

Moreover, Tiatro is become a big industry now engaging innumerable persons directly and indirectly earning good amount of money.  Did Lucazinho Ribeiro realized this commercial factor of his baby?  I am sure, not but when he started it, for him it must have been just to pass his time but destiny had its own route and this has what happened. 

Fatima - Antonette Mendes - Betty Naz

During the first decade the standard of Tiatro was high and some of the directors were educated who even translated Plays from foreign languages into Konkani. Only after a quarter of a century "Rostad" type of Tiatrists got involved in this field and brought its image low. Most of these Rostad Tiatrists were drunkards and womenisers who lacked basic discipline at home and  good family tradition and culture.  It is during this period that good people stopped patronizing our Tiatros. However, during this period the genius Minguel Rod appeared on the Stage and through his God given skill he totally revolutionised Konkani Satage by writing and staging extraordinary Tiatros of which type nobody is capable to write. 

Jose Rose

Then came on the Stage another genius J.P. Souzalin who by staging religious Tiatros brought name and fame  for Konkani Tiatros. Then came the golden voiced singer Alfred Rose who westernized the Tatro  thus attracting the youth and romantic audience.  In late fifties, the golden voice of Alfred Rose enhanced the rating of the Tiatro very much. Just before him came into the picture C.Alvares, Alexinho de Candolim, Kid Boxer, M. Boyer, Prem Kumar and many more.  All these Tiatrists were very much responsible to keep the flag of Tiatros flyiing higher and higher from where it will never fall down.  That is the base of Tiatro. Even those who do not understand Konkani among Goans they will learn Konkani to understand Tiatros because Tiatros have become very attractive especially of those great writers and directors. It is Tiatros that is responsible to promote and spread Konkani language and Goan culture and tradition. Nobody can forget the entry of Lorna on Konkani Stage that totally changed the face of Konkani Tiatro.

Eugeno Cardoso

Coming back to the function oranised on 17^th of this month, there were two ministers, one Francis D’Souza and the other Govind Gauvde as main guests, one director of Art & Culture Loliencar, one Secretary of Art and Culture Daulat Hawaldar and one MLA from Panjim Mr. Kuncalliencar. All these honourable VIP guests praised Tatros and assured their assistance and cooperation in promoting Tiatros and even building one more new Auditorium for Tiatro in Panjim. They, especially the elected representatives praised Konkani but will these people in the Goa Legislative Assembly at an appropriate time vote in favour of Konkani? I doubt. I will rather rely on Judas knowing his Kiss will betray me but never on those traitors who falsely profess their support for Konkani.   

Jessy Dias - Ben Evangelisto

The highlight of the celebration was the cultural programme “Goychea Tiatracho Ithias” in which rich tributes were paid to some of the yesteryears Tiatrists by introducing their songs and scenes of their famous Tiatros.  Joe Rose imitated Minguel Rod by singing his solo “Tarvotti” which was very well rendered with perfect imitation with the exception of not going Nasal as Minguel Rod.  The duet of C.Alvares rendered by Jessie Dias and Benevangelisto “Figur Haddlam Putan” was excellently rendered by both the singers. The character of C.Alvares played by Ben was perfect especially with respect to vocals.  But instead if they had to render the most beautiful duet of C.Alvares “Aum Tarvar Vetam” would be a majestic gesture because such a duet was never rendered on Konkani Stage.  The current generation would have also know the greatness of C.Alvares and why he was called the “Pai Duettancho”. The scene of Jesus Carrying the cross from J.P.Souzalin’s Tiatro “Saibinnicheo Sat Dukhi” would be still better if one great Motet in Latin was payed during that particular time.  I remember when Souzalin staged this Tiatro in Mapusa, the Music Director of Johnson and His Jolly Boys, Mr. Johnson (Joazinho) came to see this Tiatro twice, only to listen to the beautiful music of this Motet named “Filius Est Jerusalem” the most sorrowful Motet.  The current generation would also come to know the greatness of Motets in Latin which our elders played and sang till 45 years back.  Today these Motets are dying and some are already dead because we don’t have Solfist Mestiri in our Churches to keep them alive.  Our Churches have money to spend for anything and everything except to employ Mistiri with good knowledge of Solfas.    

A scene from Tiatro

The song "Kottecho Bikari" of Alexinho de Candolim rendered by Eugeno Cardoso an exfootballer of Dempo/Goa, was acclaimed as the best.  Though Eugeno Cardoso tried to imitate Alexinho de Candolim but still he remained far because Alexinho de Candolim was the born genius who while singing this song then, the overwhelming majority of the audience was crying in the "Mattou". Secondly, some of the original words were replaced and missed.   

The  duet of Alfred Rose “Goa – Zolmancho Ghaum Goa” rendered by Anthony San and original singer Rita Rose was excellent showing lot of originality while the beautiful Canto from M. Boyer’s Tiatr “Sounsar Sudhorlo” rendered by the original singer Antonette Mendes with her still mellifluent voice captured the hearts of the audience. Though she is ageing as seen from her physical features yet her attractive voice is still the same, i.e. what it was 50 years back.  She has served the Konkani Stage for over 60 years now and for which we are grateful to her, I pray to God to keep her in good health to serve the Konkani audience occasionally at least.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

UNITY OF CONGRESSMEN IS IMPERATIVE.

A month has been passed already since by murdering the right democratic procedure and with the backing of the Central government, the BJP government was formed in Goa. Though Congress was partly responsible for its customary  “susegad” Goan approach to put its claim to form the government yet it is surprising the Congress is still lethargic in handling appropriately the current chaotic political turmoil in Goa.  It should not have given smooth sailing to Jr. Rane to move freely to BJP and moreover the same Congress  is still not showing its readiness  to pose a strong challenge to Jr. Rane and Parricar in the forthcoming by polls. Both Jr. Rane and Godinho jointly brought havoc on Goa by doing all mischief as they were known to do earlier.  Both of them will play their political game as if it is a football game for them.  Is there any one in the Congress group among their MLA's to be vigilante on the misdeeds of the BJP's MLA's and Ministers?  Is there any one among the Congressmen who is more upright than the bended BGP MLA's?   There is a saying in Konkani "Apun zanvcho khum nit ani dusreak marchem mitt".

If Congress was a bit strong, GFP MLA’s and Jr. Rane would not have been doing what inhuman betrayal they have already done.  If Congress in the last election got 17 Seats, it was not because voters loved Congress but because voters in Goa hated BJP and its “dadagiri” to suppress people’s rights and create communal athmosphere in Goa in which case not a single Christian BJP MLA would be able to raise his voice forcefully.  Even if he does, he will have to think twice otherwise he will get a boot from RSS.   It looks BJP is preparing the way to deGoanise Goans who opposed them.  The mandate given to Congress by the Goan voters was a gift to Congress to discard BJP and rule Goa even though it would not do something extraordinary.  The need of the hour was dethroning of BJP but Congress failed us.

The priority now in front of Congress is to find ways and means to oppose Jr. Rane and Parricar in the by elections and to be more vocal and aggressive and not to remain dormant as it looks now.  Congress must know that it has its responsibilities towards its voters who expect every elected Congressman to be united to pounce on its opponents when got an opportunity which is not very far.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

  

NOT A SINGLE GOOD LEADER IN GOA?

Like that the great ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes,  I too am roaming  in Goa with a Lantern in my hand when the Sun is directly overhead to see if I can get one good person  but  I find none though at moment I feel there must be some  at somewhere  unwilling to indicate their identity. I worked in Kuwait for long and with the help of my colleagues and friends conducted activities to raise funds for the good causes in Goa.  For Konkani cause itself we sent lakhs of rupees including for KPA and other Konkani activities. For Novem  Goem Daily we sent about 5 lakhs of rupees when the management of NG – Novem Goem Prathistan - asked for one lakh only to start first the Romi script daily and attaining 5 lakhs, they promised to start the Nagri script Konkani daily also. But unfortunately they failed us at both the places though they started Romi script and after a few years it was closed down. Why this tragedy has happened especially when this project  was manned and devised by the learned persons, namely Sara Machado, Dr. Francisco Rebello, Adv. Clovis Costa, Adv. Antonio Lobo, Adv. Mulgaocar, Adv. Christopher Fonseca and Gurunnath Kelekar? There is no news even of the assets of NG and moreover none of the Konkani supporters raised his voice against this crime committed on Konkani. We know how difficult it was to raise this fund from Kuwait though it was easier for NGP to fritter away recklessly this fund and thereby disturb the smooth functioning of our movement for the cause of Konkani in Kuwait.  Who let us down? Not these Goa based irresponsible Konkani leaders who in reality got no love for Konkani?  What a pity it is to know that Konkani movement especially Romi script Konkani is gone into the hands of irresponsible Konknni Mogui whose sole motto is to get personal benefits and personal prominence.  If our so called rascal Romi Konkanni Mogui in the Konkani Porjecho Avaz were sincere to our cause, Konkani in Romi Script would also become the official language of Goa. 

      

Then came the issue of Goa Cancer Hospital erection and again we sent,  as per my information,  over 30 lakhs for this project and ultimately who owns this hospital?  Where is the donation money came from abroad?  It was sent in whose name?

Incidentally and regretfully,  none of the recipients of our donations including priests and nuns supported us during the invasion period of Kuwait  when we organized our movement in Panjim in support of Kuwait. There is no conscience for these people? Is Goa become so hardened, ungrateful and cruel now?

The recent betrayal by the GFP MLA’s  is yet another incident that justifies sincerity and faithfulness are not existing in Goa. Where are the pristine characteristic of Goans gone? By using the Konkani proverb "VOTERS BOSLET AMCHEA XENxxx, all the three GFP MLA's indicated their their questionable parentage. Such traitors know their mothers only.

  

In view of what I said above, my need to imitate Diogenes.

A.Veronica Fernandes.