DEATH OF WELL-KNOWN TIATRIST EDMUNDO EMILIO FERNANDES.

The first Tiatro in Kuwait was held in Ahmadi, Kuwait, somewhere in early fifties thru the tremendous efforts of my “ghanv bhau” Antonio Marie Fernandes, popularly known as “Lapitt Anton” who created a history in Kuwait in the late fifties by hoisting the Portuguese Flag in KOC Compound to mark the Portuguese National Day of Portugal, this incident has created a big noise then especially in the diplomatic circle in Kuwait.  So much so, the big man of Portugal, Dr. Antonio Oliveira Salazar – the dictator of Portugal – was even alerted thru British Embassy in Kuwait that sent this message to British Foreign Office and from here this message went to Portugal.  Since there was no Portuguese mission in Kuwait, Britain was looking after the interest of Portugal in Kuwait. In such matters Antonio Marie Fernandes was a genius, he was working then in Ahmadi Kuwait Oil sector for the prestigious company Kuwait Oil Company.

Edmundo Emilio Fernandes was his brother also working in Kuwait but Edmundo was the well-known Tiatrist in Kuwait during that time, he was a very good “partist” doing any type of role but he was at his best in doing the role of a “Bhattkar”, Police Officer and such other roles.  He was very good “clownist” also composing and singing his own Solos on different topics. It was partly he and some of his other friends and colleagues namely the late Tony Call from Candolim, Felix Monteiro from Bastora, the late Clemente from Anjuna, the late John Dias from Candolim etc. were responsible to lay the strong base for the Tiatro in Kuwait.  Because of that base, Tiatro in Kuwait is not only surviving but flourishing.  Edmundo  had the distinction of participating in that first ever Tiatro in Kuwait held at KOC premises. When in 1975 first time Alfred Rose and Rita Rose came to Kuwait to stage their 2 Tiatros, Edmundo also participated in those Tiatros and brought name and fame for him.

When he did so much from Kuwait, why in Goa by any institution promoting this art has not done anything to him to appreciate his contribution in the development and promotion of Tiatros?  I am a bit perturbed and disturbed that none of the Associations funded and not funded by the government are doing anything to them in  appreciation to the  yeomen services they render for the cause of Goa in diverse fields.  I have seen in the past how some of the stalwarts of many of our Goan organizations based in Goa are least bothered to know what our brothers and sisters in foreign countries inspite of facing innumerable hurdles are helping our Goa, Goan causes and Goan Associations. At moment, many of our prominent Goans leading their Goan Associations are of the opinion that expatriate Goans are duty bound to help Goa and Goan causes. 

It is my wish here to tell all our Goa based leaders holding the reins of prominent Goan Associations in Goa that by ignoring the contribution of expatriate Goans they are robbing the expatriate Goans, just because they are out of Goa that does not mean their contribution should be seen as not important.   How about the money these same expatriate Goans send to Goa for different activities?  Why this money amounting to lakhs and lakhs of rupees accepted with open arms?  In the past Kuwait Goans alone sent about 5 lakhs of rupees for the cause Novem Goem Daily.  For Cancer Hospital at Dona Paula about 20 lakhs  besides so many lakhs for other Konkani activities, for the Churches, their schools and convents.  Was it small job especially from Kuwait where you are round the clock under the scanner?  When you people want our money you approach us like slaves but when our turn comes to expect some appreciation you drive us away like slaves.  I think time is come now for every Goan Association recognized by the government or not to evaluate the contribution of expatriate Goan on par with that of those Goa based Goans. In this direction, the efforts of the Tiatrists based in  the foreign countries should be appreciated first by decorating them with the citations and other awards along with those based in Goa.     

A.Veronica Fernandes.

80TH BIRTHDAY OF JOAO DE DEUS CARDOZO.

To mark his 80^th birthday, 23rd of this month,  Joao de Deus Cardozo, the elder and the only brother of renown Goan personality, a multi talented man Tomazinho Cardozo, organized a get together of his relatives, friends, colleagues and well wishers.  Since I received his invitation card thru the crawling Postal System, I could not attend it.  But after receiving his invitation card 4 days late, I wished him though belatedly, all the best and again I am wishing him now thru this forum all the best.  “Wishing you a very happy 80^th Birthday, Cardoso.  May God bless you with good health”.

First of all we must thank the Almighty God for giving an opportunity for our friend to celebrate his 80^th birthday while for so many of other friends and colleagues and relatives God has not given this opportunity, not only to celebrate their 80^th birthday but not even 80 months;  why 80 months, in fact not even 80 days. Thank God for showing benevolence to my friend. To mark this great and auspicious day  Joao de Deus released a book written beautifully by his younger brother Tomazinho Cardozo – Ex Sarpanch of Candolim and Ex Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly. It was originally written by Tomazinho in Konkani and translated excellently into English by Irene Cardozo – wife of Tomazinho. Both the versions are in one book only.  Both the versions are beautifully scripted indicating the mastery over both the languages.

Also released an Audio CD of his songs. He was an ace Tiatrist once but now only occasionally he participates due to ill health.

In this book Tomazinho Cardozo detailed the calamities his brother and their whole family faced from the time Joao attained the age of 10 whence their father died. It reminded me of the somewhat miserable life young Fantine faces in that  great epic “Les Miserables” by French writer Victor Hugo. What a pitiable and hard life Joao faces to be the bread winner for him, for his brother and mother from the age of 10 when miserable circumstances forced him to act like a man of 20 years !! These and other details very beautifully indicated by Tomazinho Cardozo in this book where you also see the rise of Joao as a successful businessman as he is now.

I feel more and more people coming from financially weaker segment should read this book and learn how to come up in life.

My interaction with both of them was very early though with Tomazinho earlier because the age difference between two of us is only 2, he was senior.  We were colleagues on soccer field and in other activities too in our village. I always found both the brothers calm and cool, never using bad words, both were disciplined and God fearing. He was longest serving Sarpanch of our village but never I heard anybody saying he was involved in doing corruption to make money.  

The Audio CD “DEVAK ARGAM” consists of 12 songs such as solos, duets, trios and quartets, all are Joao’s compositions but rendered by Joao himself, his children, his brother, his sister-in-law and others. All songs are well composed and well rendered but the title song is most beautiful which should be if possible introduced into the Church as was done in the past. Musical score was provided by Mukesh Ghatwal.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

PROTEST MEET HELD IN SINQUERIM AGAINST HILL/TREES CUTTING.

In Candolim at Sinquerim, today at 11.30 AM a special meeting was called by the people from Calangute Constituency to protest over the Hill Cutting at Sinquerim and also a big number of Trees to pave the way for the owner to construct different type of structures without getting any license from any of the government machineries as disclosed by the organisers of this meet.  The response for this meet was heavy as seen from the attendance of the people mainly from Candolim, Sinquerim, Calangute and elsewhere from the constituency.  It was a strong show of solidarity with the people of Sinquerim by all those supporters of this move who came voluntarily to indicate their disgust over the tricky way by the owner of to convert the whole area into a total concrete jungle and that too without any license from any of the government authorities.

Seen above a large number of attendees.

It is surprising how that owner gathered such a powerful courage to go thus far without any license, it is unthinkable.  Speaking to this writer, one constituent who suffered from his Sarpanch in particular and Pachayat in general inspite of having all the necessary approvals from the respective authorities to construct his own house because he refused to give the bribe in the form of money and sex to his local Sarpanch, said it is not possible for the owner to move ahead in this manner without performing illicit acts.

                                         A.Veronica Fernandes seen addressing the Meet.

Seen above one section of the people

Speaker after speaker from the galaxy of them chosen carefully after analyzing their knowledge over this subject, spoke louder and louder to warn not only the owner but also those responsible to give their silent nod for the owner possibly in return for the heavy bribe, as described by one of the speakers.  

                                                     

Seen above addressing the meet is Prem Divkar

Sachin the local acitivist from Candolim compeered the Meet. Damian another activist from Candolim in his speech exposed the local authority of closing its eyes for such a gigantic project and he further questioned how they can say that they are not aware of this illegalitiy going on just below their nose when the locals even when they build a small settlement in the form of “Khomptti” touching their houses are stopped.  One of the speakers even questioned “where is the Panch member of Sinquerim gone?  Is he gone blind that he is unable to see such colossal blunder in his kingdom?  

                            Sudeep Dalvi a firebrand speaker seen addressing the meet

Prakash from Pilerne Forum who is a firebrand speaker in his normal way spoke so forcefully and demanded justice in Sinquerim.  He questioned at one particular point the role of local MLA.  Incidentally, one of the speakers asked, where are our elected representatives gone now, why they boycotted this meet?  As representatives of the local people they should have been present for this meet to show their solidarity with the people of Sinquerim and others who congregated there at Sinquerim.

Another firebrand speaker and activist of all Goa stature asked the local people not to surrender in this fight and gave some clues how to move ahead to get the final victory.

Among others the Ex MLA  of Calangute Agnelo Fernandes and the prominent Leader of Calangute Joseph Sequeira were present for this meet and the latter even spoke a few words before winding the proceedings.

A>Veronica Fernandes.