An excellent and detailed account of tiatr, tiatrist and theer contribution to the konkani stage. such informative, descriptive and educative write-ups on tiatrs and tiatrist can only come from the mind and intellect of Mr. A. Veronica only.
Daniel F. de Souza
Goa
July 14, 2007
SALAZAR
SALAZAR.
In his beautiful comment on my recent article "Memory of Yesteryear Tiatrists", Dr. Teotonio R. de Souza - http://by104fd.bay104.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?mailto=1&msg=56D86D42-252F-470C-82DA-7430ED41FB90&start=0&len=8117&src=&type=x&to=teodesouza@gmail.com&cc=&bcc=&subject=&body=&curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&a=c623804d5bb41e4822be483c731d58bfd0922a060b7db461f297dd396ac3637c, Lisboa, Portugal, a great scholar and a great intellectual made a following statement on which I would like to comment. Since, the comment is coming from such a top known intellectual person, I feel I should write further.
"Fado, Futebol e Fatima as the Salazar critics would say?"
Hence, it reminded me of Salazar whose real name is Dr. Antonio Oliveira Salazar and according to Dr. Teotonio R. De Souza who is a scholar in research work,
"Salazar was born on 28-4-1889 and died on 27-7-1970. He was born in an average rural family and only male child. He studied first (1900-1908) in the diocesan seminary of Viseu where he took minor orders. After leaving the seminary fought for restoration of the rights of the Church against the Repbulican persecution. Joined Coimbra University to study law (1910-1914). Taught at that Faculty from 1916 where he became well known for his expertise in economics and finance. Was militant of the Portuguese Catholic Centre, a Catholic party founded in 1916. It elected Salazar as its deputy for Parliament in 1921. The military rulers invited him to be Minister of Finance in 1928. Took charge of the Government in 1932, and enforced his own constitution for the country in 1933 instituting an authoritarian New State, which was brought down by the Carnation Revolution of 25 April 1974.
There is no unanimity about the benefits of this regime. No one questions the simplicity of his life, but also his passionate convictions on some issues. Defended rural life and its traditional values. Died without any significant personal bank accounts. The major accusations against him point to his inflexibility and incapacity to accompany the rapid changes in the world scenario. He seemed scared by any major change. They overtook him."
Salazar was a part of Goan history. Goa was grabbed by Bharat by using force when he was ruling Portugal. He never expected Nehru a follower of Non-Violence movement initiated by the father of the nation Gandhiji would use violence to annex Goa to Bharat. But unfortunately it happened and only by using violence and military force Nehru grabbed Goa for Bharat. Everybody said Salazar was a "fury" and would not listen to saner sense easily. If he had to listen and handed over real and genuine liberation to Goa under the administration of genuine and true sons of Goa, irrespective of their religious affiliation before 1961 December, would not Goa be a safer and lucrative place for the sons of the soil and for Goan posterity?
He was a dictator and dictators are always harsh. For asking freedom for their lands, freedom fighters from Angola and Mocambique during his regime were mercilessly punished. When these freedom fighters ran for their safety to the jungles, Salazar ordered to burn these jungles. When Bharat serkar under Nehru asked him to hand over my beloved Goa which is under seige now from all sides by our Montris and non - Goan influx, he forcefully said NO and converted Goa into a foreighn territory of Portugal. The status of Goa no noubt brought on par with motherland Portugal but were Goans treated in a real sense as Portuguese?
Inspite of his arrogance in rulership I still feel he had soft corner for many things as a person. Pe. Chico Monteiro from Candolim and the big man of Lar dos Estudantes, Panjim, in 1960 visited Portugal. During his short stay in Portugal, he showed his interest in meeting Salazar who till last moments before Pe. Chico Monteiro's leaving for Goa did not know that Pe. Chico is in Lisbon. Pe. Chico tried all the avenues to explore ways and means to get an audience with Salazar. During the last 15 minutes of his despare attempt, Salazar's Peon comes to know of Pe. Chico's wish and somehow or the other the Peon informs Salazar of a Goan Priest by name Pe. Chico Monteiro is in his Palace and desparately trying to get an audience with you but down the line administrators ignoring and neglecting Pe. Chico. Listening to his Peon, Salazar reacted fast and asked his Secretary to send for Pe. Chico Monteiro immediately. Then with a broad smile Salazar gave standing welcome to Pe. Chico, spoke to him for about 15 minutes. The topics that Salazar discussed with Pe. Chico were: Futebol in Goa, upliftment of poor Goans, unity of Hindu - Christian communities and well being of Pe. Chico himself. According to Pe. Chico Monteiro who disclosed this to me once, Salazar during those very memorable 15 minutes with him spoke like a fatherly figure with all his humility. And after saying "adeus" to Salazar, Pe. Chico Monteiro walked out from Salazar's Cabin all excited and in happy mood. While Pe. Chico was walking out a few seconds after he left Salazar's Cabin, Salazar came with swift steps following Pe. Chico Monteiro, discarding the protocol and even ignoring his own security calling loudly thus: "Sr. Padre, Sr. Padre, Teu Chapeu, Chapeu" holding Pe. Chico's Hat in his hand. Pe. Chico was totally astonished and was embarassed because he forgot his Hat on the table of Salazar while leaving Salazar's oggice. Pe. Chico had a habbit of always wearing a nice Hat in which his puny stature gave an extra majestic look of Pe. Chico.
The above incident indicates how humble a man Salazar was. He was not proud of his highest position. First he showed his simplicity by giving full freedom to his Peon to talk to him freely and secondly his deep simplicity and humility of condescending and coming himself with the Hat of Pe. chico and handing it over to him. Would our Indian and Goan Ministers would show such a humility and simplicity?
Salazar adored Fatima Saibinn. He was a true Catholic and a genuine Christian. He always revered religous leaders. When Pope Paul VI visited Fatima in Portugal, Salazar as a Premier of Portugal personally went to welcome the Pope there and how did he welcome His Holiness? Salazar welcomed the Pope by kneeling down on both his knees by kissing the hand of the Pope. This holy gesture of Salazar even surprised the Pope. It created history. When Kennedy a devout Catholic met Pope he did not emulate Salazar. Neither Pele when he met Pope during his Honeymoon visit to Italy.
When the same Pope in 1964 came to Bombay for Eucharistic Congress, He was welcomed by the entire Indian Cabinet headed by the President of India Dr. Radakrishnan and Premier Lal Bahadur Shastri. Indira Gandhi too was present to welcome the Pope, she was an Information and Broadcasting Minister of India.
Salazar loved Fado the Portuguese Folk song. We also love our folk song Manddo with dulpod. Our Goan Manddo and Portugal's Fado are both most attractive forms of songs. Both excite our respective cultural, traditional and historical attributes and both take us deep into our past and make us realise how great our folk songs are. Manddo culture, Manddo singing and also Manddo Festival in Kuwait was introduced by me and it was only me, Kuwait Konknni Kendr and my colleagues responsible for Manddo awakening in Kuwait. Thru this awakening we in Kuwait created a "Manddekar" in Rosary Ferns whose genius is such that he is now become one of the best Manddo composers in the world of Manddo.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
In his beautiful comment on my recent article "Memory of Yesteryear Tiatrists", Dr. Teotonio R. de Souza - http://by104fd.bay104.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?mailto=1&msg=56D86D42-252F-470C-82DA-7430ED41FB90&start=0&len=8117&src=&type=x&to=teodesouza@gmail.com&cc=&bcc=&subject=&body=&curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&a=c623804d5bb41e4822be483c731d58bfd0922a060b7db461f297dd396ac3637c, Lisboa, Portugal, a great scholar and a great intellectual made a following statement on which I would like to comment. Since, the comment is coming from such a top known intellectual person, I feel I should write further.
"Fado, Futebol e Fatima as the Salazar critics would say?"
Hence, it reminded me of Salazar whose real name is Dr. Antonio Oliveira Salazar and according to Dr. Teotonio R. De Souza who is a scholar in research work,
"Salazar was born on 28-4-1889 and died on 27-7-1970. He was born in an average rural family and only male child. He studied first (1900-1908) in the diocesan seminary of Viseu where he took minor orders. After leaving the seminary fought for restoration of the rights of the Church against the Repbulican persecution. Joined Coimbra University to study law (1910-1914). Taught at that Faculty from 1916 where he became well known for his expertise in economics and finance. Was militant of the Portuguese Catholic Centre, a Catholic party founded in 1916. It elected Salazar as its deputy for Parliament in 1921. The military rulers invited him to be Minister of Finance in 1928. Took charge of the Government in 1932, and enforced his own constitution for the country in 1933 instituting an authoritarian New State, which was brought down by the Carnation Revolution of 25 April 1974.
There is no unanimity about the benefits of this regime. No one questions the simplicity of his life, but also his passionate convictions on some issues. Defended rural life and its traditional values. Died without any significant personal bank accounts. The major accusations against him point to his inflexibility and incapacity to accompany the rapid changes in the world scenario. He seemed scared by any major change. They overtook him."
Salazar was a part of Goan history. Goa was grabbed by Bharat by using force when he was ruling Portugal. He never expected Nehru a follower of Non-Violence movement initiated by the father of the nation Gandhiji would use violence to annex Goa to Bharat. But unfortunately it happened and only by using violence and military force Nehru grabbed Goa for Bharat. Everybody said Salazar was a "fury" and would not listen to saner sense easily. If he had to listen and handed over real and genuine liberation to Goa under the administration of genuine and true sons of Goa, irrespective of their religious affiliation before 1961 December, would not Goa be a safer and lucrative place for the sons of the soil and for Goan posterity?
He was a dictator and dictators are always harsh. For asking freedom for their lands, freedom fighters from Angola and Mocambique during his regime were mercilessly punished. When these freedom fighters ran for their safety to the jungles, Salazar ordered to burn these jungles. When Bharat serkar under Nehru asked him to hand over my beloved Goa which is under seige now from all sides by our Montris and non - Goan influx, he forcefully said NO and converted Goa into a foreighn territory of Portugal. The status of Goa no noubt brought on par with motherland Portugal but were Goans treated in a real sense as Portuguese?
Inspite of his arrogance in rulership I still feel he had soft corner for many things as a person. Pe. Chico Monteiro from Candolim and the big man of Lar dos Estudantes, Panjim, in 1960 visited Portugal. During his short stay in Portugal, he showed his interest in meeting Salazar who till last moments before Pe. Chico Monteiro's leaving for Goa did not know that Pe. Chico is in Lisbon. Pe. Chico tried all the avenues to explore ways and means to get an audience with Salazar. During the last 15 minutes of his despare attempt, Salazar's Peon comes to know of Pe. Chico's wish and somehow or the other the Peon informs Salazar of a Goan Priest by name Pe. Chico Monteiro is in his Palace and desparately trying to get an audience with you but down the line administrators ignoring and neglecting Pe. Chico. Listening to his Peon, Salazar reacted fast and asked his Secretary to send for Pe. Chico Monteiro immediately. Then with a broad smile Salazar gave standing welcome to Pe. Chico, spoke to him for about 15 minutes. The topics that Salazar discussed with Pe. Chico were: Futebol in Goa, upliftment of poor Goans, unity of Hindu - Christian communities and well being of Pe. Chico himself. According to Pe. Chico Monteiro who disclosed this to me once, Salazar during those very memorable 15 minutes with him spoke like a fatherly figure with all his humility. And after saying "adeus" to Salazar, Pe. Chico Monteiro walked out from Salazar's Cabin all excited and in happy mood. While Pe. Chico was walking out a few seconds after he left Salazar's Cabin, Salazar came with swift steps following Pe. Chico Monteiro, discarding the protocol and even ignoring his own security calling loudly thus: "Sr. Padre, Sr. Padre, Teu Chapeu, Chapeu" holding Pe. Chico's Hat in his hand. Pe. Chico was totally astonished and was embarassed because he forgot his Hat on the table of Salazar while leaving Salazar's oggice. Pe. Chico had a habbit of always wearing a nice Hat in which his puny stature gave an extra majestic look of Pe. Chico.
The above incident indicates how humble a man Salazar was. He was not proud of his highest position. First he showed his simplicity by giving full freedom to his Peon to talk to him freely and secondly his deep simplicity and humility of condescending and coming himself with the Hat of Pe. chico and handing it over to him. Would our Indian and Goan Ministers would show such a humility and simplicity?
Salazar adored Fatima Saibinn. He was a true Catholic and a genuine Christian. He always revered religous leaders. When Pope Paul VI visited Fatima in Portugal, Salazar as a Premier of Portugal personally went to welcome the Pope there and how did he welcome His Holiness? Salazar welcomed the Pope by kneeling down on both his knees by kissing the hand of the Pope. This holy gesture of Salazar even surprised the Pope. It created history. When Kennedy a devout Catholic met Pope he did not emulate Salazar. Neither Pele when he met Pope during his Honeymoon visit to Italy.
When the same Pope in 1964 came to Bombay for Eucharistic Congress, He was welcomed by the entire Indian Cabinet headed by the President of India Dr. Radakrishnan and Premier Lal Bahadur Shastri. Indira Gandhi too was present to welcome the Pope, she was an Information and Broadcasting Minister of India.
Salazar loved Fado the Portuguese Folk song. We also love our folk song Manddo with dulpod. Our Goan Manddo and Portugal's Fado are both most attractive forms of songs. Both excite our respective cultural, traditional and historical attributes and both take us deep into our past and make us realise how great our folk songs are. Manddo culture, Manddo singing and also Manddo Festival in Kuwait was introduced by me and it was only me, Kuwait Konknni Kendr and my colleagues responsible for Manddo awakening in Kuwait. Thru this awakening we in Kuwait created a "Manddekar" in Rosary Ferns whose genius is such that he is now become one of the best Manddo composers in the world of Manddo.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
July 13, 2007
Death of Chndra Shekar - Ex Premier of India.
DEATH OF CHANDRASHEKAR - EX PREMIER OF INDIA
Quote "This is with regards to the death of former Premier of India Chandra Shekar at the age of 80 in New Delhi. Chandra Shekar no doubt will be remembered in the history of India as one of the dynamic leaders of modern India always with revolutionary ideas yet with regards to Kuwait I will rightly call him a great friend of Kuwait. For saying so I will give my reasons too.
In another few days time, on 2nd of August, we will be observing the day Iraq invaded Kuwait. When invasion of Kuwait took place Chandra Shekar was not in power, V. P. Singh was in power at that time. The invasion of Kuwait took India by surprise and V.P. Singh and his Government was in jittery position not knowing what to do, what statement to issue and whom to side openly. Though V.P. Singh was more an Indian oriented parochial leader without much exposure to foreign affairs yet his Foreign Minister Gujral who later on became Premier of India, was expert in foreign affairs as he was a career diplomat. Though India under V.P. Singh failed to openly condemn Iraqi invasion of Kuwait for reasons best known to New Delhi yet India knew it is a short lived crisis. Soon after the invasion of Kuwait when Gujral came to Kuwait after meeting and hugging Saddam Hussein or Saddam Hussein imposing his hug and kiss on Gujral to create a false image of Gujral in Baghdad, at Shara Istiklal in the Indian Embassy compound, to a multitude of Indians gathered there for receiving good tidings from him for their safe return back to India, said he as an expert on foreign affairs: “this is just a temporary crisis” and rightly it remained so. But ordinary people were restless while intellectual Indians wanted V. P. Singh government in Delhi to openly condemn Iraq and its leadership under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein for invading Kuwait illegally. But V.P. Singh and his Government played the role of hide and seek thereby lowering the prestige of India known in the past to side with the aggrieved party, like Kuwait. By his silence V. P. Singh as a Premier of such a great country India that championed the cause of freedom all around the globe made India look a cheap and weak country.
However, that India was not a cheap and weak country was made known to the world including Kuwait by Chandra Shekar when he dethroned V.P. Singh and took control of the Government of India. It was a blessing in disguise. Kuwait was under the occupation of Iraq for seven months and incidentally Chandra Shekar too was in his Premiership for seven months only. But during these seven months period, he was straight forward and direct in his statement regarding Kuwait. When he became Premier of India in November 1990, he issued a strong warning to Iraq that India will not support this invasion and India will stand by Kuwait. For those who were equating Kuwait’s case with Palestine, he openly told them that Palestinian issue was different from Kuwait issue. Kuwait issue was purely an issue of invasion of a sovereign country and as such India could not accept it. The issue of Palestine cannot be linked with the issue of Kuwait since both these two issues were of different in nature, though he said India fully support the cause of Palestine.
His above bold statement on Kuwait issue was also a direct slap on those fake Indian pundits who were equating Goa’s issue with that of Kuwait issue saying that the way Goa in 1961 was annexed to the motherland by Bharat thru military force to free it from Portuguese colonialism so also Kuwait was annexed to the motherland Iraq. Kuwait’s case and Goa’s case were totally different. Kuwait was invaded against all international norms by Saddam Hussein. Kuwait at the time of invasion was a sovereign country while Goa was just a Portuguese colony and as a colony Goa had to be liberated. But according to the landmark judgment of Supreme Court of India, Goa was not liberated but conquered by Bharat.
India by using military force evicted Pakistani authority from East Pakistan and gave it in the hands of Bangladeshis for them to rule their country. It was India that liberated East Pakistan and handed over to the sons of the soil, i.e. Bangladesh. But as far as Goa was concerned, India did not do the way it did for East Pakistan.
Coming back to Chandra Shekar, as a friend of Kuwait and also as a lover of Kuwait’s liberation, he even allowed refueling facilities in India for American Planes involved in the liberation of Kuwait. In his death Kuwait lost a great friend who spoke openly and forcefully on the need of its liberation. Not only this, he even allowed Indian space and facilities to augment the liberation process of Kuwait. During his tenure as Premier of India he was much responsible for strengthening the friendly bonds between Kuwait and India. May his soul rest in peace.
Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait” Unquote.
The following write-up of mine appeared in the local daily Arab Times dated 12.07.07.
I am reproducing it for the goa.kranti readers.
Quote "This is with regards to the death of former Premier of India Chandra Shekar at the age of 80 in New Delhi. Chandra Shekar no doubt will be remembered in the history of India as one of the dynamic leaders of modern India always with revolutionary ideas yet with regards to Kuwait I will rightly call him a great friend of Kuwait. For saying so I will give my reasons too.
In another few days time, on 2nd of August, we will be observing the day Iraq invaded Kuwait. When invasion of Kuwait took place Chandra Shekar was not in power, V. P. Singh was in power at that time. The invasion of Kuwait took India by surprise and V.P. Singh and his Government was in jittery position not knowing what to do, what statement to issue and whom to side openly. Though V.P. Singh was more an Indian oriented parochial leader without much exposure to foreign affairs yet his Foreign Minister Gujral who later on became Premier of India, was expert in foreign affairs as he was a career diplomat. Though India under V.P. Singh failed to openly condemn Iraqi invasion of Kuwait for reasons best known to New Delhi yet India knew it is a short lived crisis. Soon after the invasion of Kuwait when Gujral came to Kuwait after meeting and hugging Saddam Hussein or Saddam Hussein imposing his hug and kiss on Gujral to create a false image of Gujral in Baghdad, at Shara Istiklal in the Indian Embassy compound, to a multitude of Indians gathered there for receiving good tidings from him for their safe return back to India, said he as an expert on foreign affairs: “this is just a temporary crisis” and rightly it remained so. But ordinary people were restless while intellectual Indians wanted V. P. Singh government in Delhi to openly condemn Iraq and its leadership under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein for invading Kuwait illegally. But V.P. Singh and his Government played the role of hide and seek thereby lowering the prestige of India known in the past to side with the aggrieved party, like Kuwait. By his silence V. P. Singh as a Premier of such a great country India that championed the cause of freedom all around the globe made India look a cheap and weak country.
However, that India was not a cheap and weak country was made known to the world including Kuwait by Chandra Shekar when he dethroned V.P. Singh and took control of the Government of India. It was a blessing in disguise. Kuwait was under the occupation of Iraq for seven months and incidentally Chandra Shekar too was in his Premiership for seven months only. But during these seven months period, he was straight forward and direct in his statement regarding Kuwait. When he became Premier of India in November 1990, he issued a strong warning to Iraq that India will not support this invasion and India will stand by Kuwait. For those who were equating Kuwait’s case with Palestine, he openly told them that Palestinian issue was different from Kuwait issue. Kuwait issue was purely an issue of invasion of a sovereign country and as such India could not accept it. The issue of Palestine cannot be linked with the issue of Kuwait since both these two issues were of different in nature, though he said India fully support the cause of Palestine.
His above bold statement on Kuwait issue was also a direct slap on those fake Indian pundits who were equating Goa’s issue with that of Kuwait issue saying that the way Goa in 1961 was annexed to the motherland by Bharat thru military force to free it from Portuguese colonialism so also Kuwait was annexed to the motherland Iraq. Kuwait’s case and Goa’s case were totally different. Kuwait was invaded against all international norms by Saddam Hussein. Kuwait at the time of invasion was a sovereign country while Goa was just a Portuguese colony and as a colony Goa had to be liberated. But according to the landmark judgment of Supreme Court of India, Goa was not liberated but conquered by Bharat.
India by using military force evicted Pakistani authority from East Pakistan and gave it in the hands of Bangladeshis for them to rule their country. It was India that liberated East Pakistan and handed over to the sons of the soil, i.e. Bangladesh. But as far as Goa was concerned, India did not do the way it did for East Pakistan.
Coming back to Chandra Shekar, as a friend of Kuwait and also as a lover of Kuwait’s liberation, he even allowed refueling facilities in India for American Planes involved in the liberation of Kuwait. In his death Kuwait lost a great friend who spoke openly and forcefully on the need of its liberation. Not only this, he even allowed Indian space and facilities to augment the liberation process of Kuwait. During his tenure as Premier of India he was much responsible for strengthening the friendly bonds between Kuwait and India. May his soul rest in peace.
Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait” Unquote.
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