G O A

September 13, 2019

THE LATE GREAT TIATRIST F.X.PEREIRA

Deeply shocked to know of the death on the 10^th of this month, of once renowned Tiatrist and a great songster F.X. Pereira in London where he was living along with his family since a long time now. His birth place in Goa is Cortalim same as that of the legendary Tiatrist the late Minguel Rod. It is very sad to see so many of our senior Tiatrists are bidding adieu to this planet.

F.X. Pereira in Kuwait singing on the Stage.

F.X. Pereira is not only one of the best Tiatrists but more than that he was the best human being with very high discipline, good moral background, never using foul language and totally against the vulgarity displayed on the Stage by the “Burxe” comedians. All his superb qualities were totally different from the qualities of majority of the other Tiatrists. A deeply religious man he always followed the Chriistian doctrine in his life besides being very humble. He never suffered from the empty superiority complex normally associated with the tin-pot Tiatrists.

FX Pereira in the Centre leading the Manddo in Kuwait

He came to Kuwait somewhere in 1977 and along with Mendes Bros he started his Tiatro career in Kuwait at Keefan Hall in the same year when he rendered two most precious songs, namely A-B-C and “Missachi Bhett Konkanin” in front of the Hall-packed audience who showered him with love and affection. Thereafter he became the most adorable Tiatrist in Kuwait among all based in Kuwait. Some of his songs he rendered along with Verna Bros., namely Francis and the late Patrick, so also with the late Tony Call. All his songs were meaningful and social and family issues. The beauty of his songs concentrated mainly on his beautiful and melodious voice

FX is seen in Kuwait with Prince Jacob.

Being a highly respectable and dignified man in society and in the community as well, he lived a decent life with his family till he left for UK. As a compassionate and charitable man, he helped many boys in getting them employment at Ahmadi Oil Center and always participated in any activity organized for any good cause mainly the Konkani.

Seen attending a high profile meet in Kuwait of Goa-Kuwait Solidarity

In early seventies he shot into limelight with the above mentioned two songs and before coming to Kuwait in 1977 working at Ahmadi KOC Center where he won the hearts of Kuwaitis and Westerners too under whom he worked, he won first prizes for being best solo singers in the competition organized by Kala academy, Panjim. In Kuwait Ahmadi Church he was very active in conducting especial prayers on every Friday in Konkani where he used to sing the different beautiful hymns with his melodious voice.

FX is seen in the middle during one meeting

He was a great lover of Goa and Konkani and when we started our movement in Kuwait under Novem Goem Pratishthan Kuwait Somiti to raise funds for the people’s daily “Novem Goem”, he volunteered to stage his Tiatro “Kon Zait Tho” where not a single participant charged a paisa and thus we collected over a lakh of rupees major share coming from the excellent Souvenir we released. He was very helpful in participating in any activity done for the cause of Konkani. He was one of the few Tiatrists whose contribution in the promotion of Konkani will remain written in golden letters. May his soul rest in peace and may the Heavenly God give courage to his wife and children to bear this colossal loss. His death is a big loss to Konkani Stage. May his soul rest in peace.

The beautiful Souvenir
A.Veronica Fernandes.

August 30, 2019

SHAMELESS MINISTERS AND MLA'S TAKING MEDICAL TREATMENT OUTSIDE GOA.

The Konkani saying “KHAPURLEAK THANAIM SARKIM ANI KULEI SARKE” applies to our government that sends its Ministers and MLA’s outside Goa for medical treatment, even if you say anything to them they will not care because everything is the same for them like Khapurlim. Their attitude is “let us enjoy ourselves the best of benefits for us only and let the others go to hell”. This is the socialism of India where “all are equal but some are more equal”. When there is no proper bed at GMC for some patients, the few privileged Ministers are given most luxurious treatment abroad spending crores of rupees and yet these ministers are not even ashamed to enjoy the luxurious treatment when their own brothers are longing to get proper medical treatment in the government hospitals in Goa, mainly the GMC.

That in the government hospitals in Goa the medical treatment is not good is a hard fact and because of this fact the few privileged ministers are running away from Goa to better hospitals elsewhere at taxpayers cost when in fact these privileged few can afford the same treatment by spending their own money from their own pockets which they accumulate mostly by unfair means. Otherwise how can they accumulate crores within a few months of acquiring their ministerial posts? They may say anything to show their innocence with crocodile tears saying they never received the bribe even of 10 Payse. They are liars number one. They know the “Khazur” of ministerial power and precisely because of this they are resisting their dethroning from ministerial positions by their Chief Ministers. If necessary some of them even dole their wives and daughters to their superiors even if they are seated in Delhi in the High Command Office to protect their ministerial posts.

When they own the Bungalows and Limousines and other luxuries costing crores of rupees then can’t they afford to pay their own medical bills? In this case why they have to be at the mercy of government money? The money government spending after their treatment outside Goa can instead be spent after creating more and better medical facilities in the government hospitals for Goans.

The disclosure of their heavy expenses and exposure of their expenditure at government cost is condemnable, thanks to Herald for its boldness to expose them. During election time when they come to our places like beggars minus the “Bikechi Kotti”, they say they are all equal but when taking treatment outside Goa, are they not equal? At the time of begging for our votes they identify themselves with the common people but otherwise they don’t especially while taking medical treatment abroad. Their shouting at the time of electioneering at the top of their voices that they are as common and as simple as any other commoner and simple person is just a pure “BONDDOL” With the power associated with them they forget their traditional past and acquire the robes of local Maharajas. This status they indicate by their display of their new Bungalows or Ministerial high profile Bungalows at Panjim Altinho, government provided vehicles with security personnel or top luxurious foreign brand Limousins like Mercedes – Audi – Porsche etc makes them proud. Are these amenities within the reach of simple person and commoner? But in actual terms they are totally different because once they are elected they acquire excessive amount of easy money and with their official power associated with their official status they automatically become aristocrats and hence they fall into the category of high level and not remain in the category of simple nor common person’s category.

If the government is worried of the health of its ministers and MLA’s then the government must forget about it, they are not dying so soon if you look at their physiques and other activities. However, if they die, they will surely die at the destined time and place just as the big stalwarts of BJP namely Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jetley and Manohar Parrikar have died recently. Heaven will not fall if more are gone, it is in the hands of God who takes away the troublesome first so that others live in peace.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

August 23, 2019

THE BOOK "ALFRED ROSE THE KING OF MELODY" RELEASED.

The book - Cover Page

During these days lot of news is circulating among Goans mainly the Tiatro lovers to impress upon the Goa government to name the main Hall in the Ravindra Bhuwan to be built at Mapusa shortly, after the late Alfred Rose. While this move is on, on 21^st of this month at Art & Culture venue in Panjim – Patto, a new book “ALFRED ROSE THE KING OF MELODY” written by Isidore Dantas was released thru the hands of Minister of Art & Culture Govind Gaude.

During his speech he showed his total love and admiration for the late melody king for his beautiful songs rendered in his melodious voice. Lending his total support for naming the Mapusa Hall after the late singer Alfred Rose, he said he will leave no stone unturned in naming the said hall after Alfred Rose.

Among others who spoke so well there uelogising the superlative qualities of Alfi, were Adv. Aires Rodrigues, Tomazinho Cardoso, Isidore Dantas, Rita Rose and Joshua D’Souza – the Mapusa MLA whose late father Francis was the hardcore supporter of Alfi and a great lover of Alfi’s song. All these speakers vowed to support the proposal to name the Mapusa Hall after Alfred Rose.

Before the start of the actual meet, Johny and Bushka rendered some popular songs of Alfi where Rita Rose too rendered one of her solos.

The book is beautifully written giving lot of information on the life of the late Tiatrist and decorated it with beautiful photographs. It was sold there on that day for Rs. 300/- a copy whereas the actual price is Rs.400/-.

The entire proceeding was beautifully compeered by Pradeep Naik.

The following are some of the photos of the function.