WAS THE LATE DAYANANDA BANDODCAR A VISIONARY?

 Yesterday, 12^th August  was the 41^st death anniversary of Dayananda Bandodcar, the first Chief Minister of invaded Goa. In the Goa Legislative Assembly some MLA’s and Ministers with their flowery speeches in mellifluent tones showered fabulous praises on the late Bandodcar for being visionary and also a promoter of education in Goa, and so on and on. While agreeing to allow them to air their views on Bandodcar,  I should also be allowed to air my views on him though for some my views will not be palatable.  Said the great French writer Voltaire, “I fully disagree with you but to allow you to say what you wish to say,  I will give you all the freedom, if necessary I will even risk my life to allow you to say what you want to say even though I fully disagree with what you say”.

One point raised was Bandodcar’s contribution in laying the foundation for education in Goa.  I disagree with this point.  In fact the real foundation for the education in Goa was laid by the Portuguese Governador Vassalo e Silva when he decreed somewhere  in 1958 a law making Primary education in Portuguese compulsory for every Goan child on attaining the age of 6 and of course, free of charge.  New school premises were  started to build on uniform pattern in Goa, in our side in  Calangute at Sauntavaddo was one.  Those who could not afford to go for higher education were provided facilities to study in Portugal.  Thru this process of compulsory education, the education facilities went into the hands of commoner thereby helping the poor child to attain education.

Secondly, as a genuine Goan, I will never accept that Bandodcar was the lover of Goa and Goans, if he was, he would not work so tirelessly to liquidate the identity of Goa by merging it with Maharastra. He disliked everything Goan, Konkani language being on top of his list and for this reason he wanted to convert Goa into a Marathi land.

Somebody said he was the Secular by core.  I disagree with this point too.  He was the worst communal having aligned himself covertly and overtly with Hindus.  For him only in Hindu community there existed Bahuzan Samaz. And what about in Christian community?  Even  in government jobs, preferential treatment was given to Hindus.  During his rule, Christians in Goa were made to admit that they are not full-fledged Goans while Hindus were.

One thing I must admit that at the later stage of his rule, he was a very changed man in favour of Goa and Goans but it was too late when irreparable damage for Goa and Goans, meantime, has already been done.  To bring this change in him, genuine Goans especially common men mainly from Christian community had  to face lot of difficulties.  Because of his support for merger of Goa with Mahastra genuine Goans like me had to face lot of hurdles to survive in Goa. It was during this period many of the genuine Goans preferred to leave Goa for their survival in the name of greener pastures elsewhere. He was an architect of deGoanisation process of Goa.  He was fully responsible for splitting the Goans on communal lines with the excuse of helping only the Hindu Bahuzan Samaz. He killed the peace of mind of all those Goans supporting Goan identity and communal harmony.  For Goans supporting Goan causes, when they see his Statues in Panjim, Calangute and now in Porvorim, it will remind them nothing good in him but everything anti-Goan and communal.

His death was a big blow to all his “Chamchas” who gained maximum material benefits for them and for their family members. However, inspite of all his flaws and mistakes he committed against Goa and Goans, I pray to God to give his soul eternal rest.

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

  

 

HISTORY OF TIATRO AND "ZUPATTIS".

 

 

The origin of the Tiatro was started with the concept of correcting somebody for doing something not correct.  Earlier, this job was undertaken by the "Zagor" when in the form of “Zupattis” the wrong deeds and the wrong system followed by the Brahmin Bhattkars and others were exposed from the Stage.  So much so, being unable to digest these Zupattis, the Bhattkars dubbed the Zagors as mode of entertainment for the third class Goans.  So also, Tiatro was considered by the Brahmin Bhattkars as mode of entertainment for the lower strata of Goan society.  A hundred years back acting in Tiatro was considered as profession of illiterate and low class of people. So much so, some parents refused to marry their daughters to a Tiatrist boy who normally during those days lacked good discipline, etiquette and education.  In general, the Tiatrist in one word was considered beyond the Stage as a man of vices including that of drinks. 

 

 

Many of the earlier topmost Tiatrists including the legendary Minguel Rod were the first class drunkards but genius in their art of Tiatro as script writers or singers or song composers.  They were all naturally talented and with meager resources and facilities at their disposal they turned out to be exceptionally talented as Tiatrists. It was their stage genius during those days that changed the mindset of the Goans and minimized the ill effects of the social barriers created by the upper class of Goans even in the Church, of course with the consent of the Clergy. 

 

 

Tiatros and Zupattis or Criticism in the Play or in the Sideshow songs are the part and parcel of the Tiatros. Without Zupattis the Tiatros could not be successful, be it the Zupatti for the fellow Tiatrists, Bhattcars or Brahmins or for the ruling class or for the local Pe. Vigars and Pe. Curs for their illicit sex with the local females.  During the earlier days, Tiatrists directed their Zupattis against the Brahmin Bhattcars as we saw in most of the Tiatros of Minguel Rod.  Thru Tiatros during those days policy of cleaning of the social evils like Dowry system, harassment of daughter-in-law by the mother-in-law etc. was implemented. As a matter of interest, audience would never enjoy the Tiatro if there was no Zupatti part introduced either in the main plot or in the Sideshow songs.

 

 

The Zupattis against the government functioning was started immediately following the invasion of Goa by the Bharat Serkar under the premiership of Nehru.  The first Zupatti for the government  after the Portuguese ouster from Goa was rendered by the great political singer Kid Boxer at Mapusa somewhere in the first quarter of 1962 where he was immediately arrested. Fed up of corruption started in Goa in Bharati style, Kid Boxer said in his solo against the government of India, its system and its people,  the following: 

 

TUM BHITOR SORLAI CHUKON ANI MORTOLOI SUKON, DUSREACHO DHES POCHONA.

TUM PANPOTTI KHATAI ANI POCHU KORUN THUKTAI,  LOZUI KAIM DISSONA.

TUM NESTAI FOKOT VALO ANI KHATAI FOKOT PALO ………………….

 

The whole solo was a piercing Zupatti against the government of India for illegally invading Goa and turning it into a mess for Non Goans’ benefit. 

 

 

Then onwards, almost every second Tiatrist started singing Zupatti songs against the government of Goa first headed by Bandodcar.  The most popular Zupatti singers were the Conception-Nelson-Anthony Trio, ROM-REM-ROD Trio, M. Boyer, Remmy Colaco, William de Curtorim, the Trio of Tomazinho Cardoso along with his brother and Volley D’Mello and many others.  Even full Tiatros were scripted based fully on Goan Politics such as “Nationalist” and “Bhondolist”  by Nelson Afonso,  “Amchea Xetachi Pavnni” by Alexinho de Candolim and more.

 

 

Because of the political Zupattis there was a lot of improvement in our Goa since Goa government listened more to the voice of Tiatrists aired from the Stage than from the Opposition Benches in the Goa Legislative Assembly. Even the voice of media was ignored but not of Tiatrists especially of Trio Kings of Con-Nel-Ant.

 

 

Now, recently on 9^th of this month, there was an attempt on the part of Non-Goan Hindu fanatics to stop the tiatro “Akantvadi Goeant Naka” by the young director Tousif  de Navelim.  If it was not for the last minute efforts by the Goa conscious Goans to support the director in going ahead in staging the said Tiatro, it would be a big defeat and a big surrender to the Muthalik diktat by the Goans in general and Tiatro Art in particular. Under the direction of Goa conscious Goan Kennedy Afonso all the Saxttikars challenged the brute might of Mutallik’s gang and helped the director to stage this Tiatro so successfully.

 

 

While this scenario was taking place in and around Vidya Niketan Hall at Margao, there was no sign of CM Parrikar inspite of his being the Home Minister of Goa. By keeping his total silence on this episode, Parricar gave an impression that clandestinely he supports Mutalik and his Hindu fanatics.  Very shortly the next Assembly election will come and during that time Parricar and his colleagues will be questioned by the people’s court on this and similar topics.

 

 

Lastly, it was very unfortunate that personnel from Tiatro Academy of Goa remained totally aloof from this scenario instead of taking active part in defending the director Tousif de Navelim. Even the role of senior tiatrists of keeping a distance from this whole scenario on 9^th August was looked upon with suspicion. They failed to fight for justice for their own colleague.

 

 

While concluding, let me quote Prophet Mohammed: When he was asked once “when there will be justice in this world”, thus came the reply: “when everyone of us will gather courage to fight against the injustice committed on to others as if that injustice is committed on to us only,  then only there will be justice in this world”.

 

 

 

 A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

TIATRO "AKANTVADI GOEANT NAKA".

 

Finally after announcing the cancellation of the tiatro “AKANTVADI GOEANT NAKA” by Tausif de Navelim, it was successfully staged at 5.30 PM instead of at 3.30 with the capacity crowd at Vidya Niketan Hall, Margao.  Congratulations to the director Tousif de Navelim and his entire troupe who fully co-operated with him in staging this Show.  Special appreciation goes to Kennedy Afonso, Vijay Sardesai, Reginaldo Lourenco and others who strongly stood by the director in staging this Tiatro.  Special appreciation goes to the Margao Police Chief for providing over a hundred Police personnel in and around the Hall with Sniffing Dogs and Metal Detectors. Never in the history of Tiatro such a massive Police protection was provided for a particular Tiatro Show.  However, this was imperative due to the threats issued by the Muthiallik’s supporters to the director.

 

 

By going ahead in staging this Show, the dignity and prestige of Goans was protected otherwise it would be a big victory for Muthalik and his group of Hindu fanatics who speak the language of Swords as against the language of non-violence of civilized and decent Hindus.  In this whole scenario, the greatness of Goans came on to the surface and thru this it was proved to everyone that Goans are not cowards and they are not wearing ladies Bangles.  Thru this victory for Goans, Muthallik and his group and also his supporters got a resounding humiliation. Now, Muthalik and his group and supporters must think twice before venturing into Goan citadel.

 

 

It was surprising to know that there was no presence in and around the Hall of any member of GOA Tiatro Academy.  Their aloofness from this scenario keeps everyone in suspense.   I feel they once again proved to be traitors and cowards because they failed to stand by their colleagues in Tiatro fraternity when their colleagues in distress needed them the most. It is better they should abdicate  their Thrones which made them artificial heroes.

 

While concluding, I salute Tousif de Navelim for staging his Tiatro so successfully and keeping the honour of Goans to the pedestal.     

 

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.