JIVIT DEVACHEM DENNEM.

Jivit Devachem dennem.

Daniel F. de Souza.

Inglez bhaxen oxi kitem ek mhonn asa; ‘ Life is God’s gift to us and what we make of it, is our gift to God’ . Hacho orth oso zata; Jivit amkam Devachem dennem ani tacho ami koxe toren labh ghetanv tem amchem dennem Devak. Dor ekleak amkam Devan kheritponnim rochleant ani kherit gunn dileat. Hea gunnacho vapor korun ami amchem jivit sartanv ani jivitant yes melloytanv. Zaite pautt ami jivitachea rattavolint guspon astana Devachea denneam ani Devan dil’leam gunna khatir Devak dhinvasunk ani vakhannuk sap visortanv. Amche azu-bazuk zor tor ami ek chaltich nodor firain tor amkam sabar mon’xam distolim jim torekvar bhaxen zolmant savnuch ophangull asat. Kaim zannam kurd’ddim zalear kaim zannam monim…thoddim thonttim…adi. Punn soglleank Devan jivitant koslem nam koslem karia dilam ani tanchi kuddichi oskotai legun kodek marun hem Devan dil’lem karia tim xarti pavoitat ani somazant nanv meloytat.

Fevrerache 12ver sanje velar hanv Ponnje Kala Akademi vosreant Jose Feliciano hacho songit konsert polleunk gel’lom. Jose Feliciano ho ek Puerto Rico-cho sonvsar bhor namnna zoddlolo songit kolakar. Tannem sov pautt ‘Grammy’ puroskar jikhleat. Natalam somoiar ‘Feliz Novidad’ natal git ami gaitanv tem tannem rochlam, songit dilam ani gailam. Vosreat lok khub chikar bhorlolo. Zaite Vascokar songit mogi thuim mhaka zollkolet. Ho konsert khub unch dorjeacho aslo. Torekvar pod’dotichem songit aikonk mel’lem. ‘Feliz Novidad’ natal git legun tannem thoim gailem. Konsert dhedd vora uprant somplo torui lok vosreantlo bhair vochunk kobul nam zalo. Talliancho xinvor korun ube ravon (standing ovation) Jose Feliciano-k xabaski dili. Konsert sompoun bond kel’lo porddo tannim novean ugoddcho poddlo ani lokanchea magnneak man diun Jose Felieciano portun machier yeun anik ek git gailem ani soglleank dadhoxi kele. Oslem hanvem hea poilim khuinch polleunk nam. Hea poilim hanvem Abba, Osibisa, Boney M, adi hanche show polleleat, punn 65 vorsanchea Jose Feleiciano-k lagpi konn nam hem koslich otitai korinastana mhojean sangunk zata. Guitar vazovpachi tachi pod’dot ani takot veglich. Tache hat ani bottam guitaracher taktiken sull’sullit dhanvtat tim polleunk kovtuk diso.

Hem borounk karonn mhollear, Jose Feliciano zolmant savn nibel kurd’ddo. Taka donui dolleanim kainch disona. Machier to ekach zagear bosun guitar vazta ani gaita. Tem guitar pasun taka dusrean haddun tachea hatint diunk zai. To don toranchi guitram vazoita, ek ‘electric’ zalear dusrem ‘Acoustic’. 65 vorsanche piraier legun tacho avaz itlo okhondd ani nivoll ki to aikoteleak sapuch dipkaun udoita. Mhaka-i uddoilo. Devan taka zolmant savn kurd’do kelo punn songitacho gunn taka dilo ani to lhan tin vorsancho astananch savn songita vangdda tacho sombhond zalo. Sonvsarant songit mollar vhodd namnna zoddlele anik kaim songitkar asat zoxe porim Stevie Wonder, adi. Beethoven zannem sundor songit rochlam ani aiz legun tem gazta to zolmant savn bhero aslo.

Vasku xarant osoch donui dolleamnim sap kurdd’do ek Hindu bhav asa. To zolmant savn kurdd’do nhoi punn taka kurdd’deponn mat bhurge piraier ailem. To kurd’do zavn torui aplea hati payamcher ubo asa. Kodelink ani volterank rotesanv korpachem kam to xikla ani aiz konnachoch sohakar nastana nazukponnim nitoll ani nivoll hem rotesanvanchem kam korta ani aplo dis’poto choloita. Hanvem hem dolleanim dekhlam. Hanchi tokhnnai kortana, ani tanche koddsun jivitak ut’ tejon ghetana…amkam Devan soglle kuddiche sande vevosthit dileat dekun ami Taka vakhanndunk favo. Zorui tor sonvsarache rattavolint revddun astana hea vostuncher tuka lokx ghalunk azun vell mellonk nam zalear….ho prachit kall tuka hem korunk anik ek bori sondhi dita. Ticho labh ghe. Jivit ek Devachem dennem mhunn mandun ghe ani Devan dil’leam kiddicheam sandheam ani gunna pasot taka argham diun jivitant yes melloy ani jivit folladik korun tujem dennem Devak bhettoi.

Alfred Rose Legacy lives on …at ‘ Alexyz e os Amigos’

By Daniel F. de Souza dannyboy04@rediffmail.com (Goa)

The Konkani Day at ‘ Alexyz e os Amigos’ at the Fundacao Orient premises on Monday evening was a evening to cherish and remember for a long time to come. The pace for the evening of Konkani song and music was set by versatile Tomazinho Cardozo the popular tiatr celebrity together with his talented and musically oriented wife Irene Cardozo. Tomazinho who has carved a niche for himself on the Konkani stage with his several prize winning tiarts at the Kala Academy tiatr competitions was the right choice to make a presentation on the evolution, roots and development of the Konkani songs and music in Goa.

Tomazinho Cardozo presented the growth and development of Konkani music in Goa in its various genres encompassing the religious music, folk music, mando music, tiatr music, Dulpods, Konkani rap music which made its debut on the Konkani stage in the 1940s, and it’s slow but steady progression to its present state of fusion music blending admirably with the western musical influence. With the backing of young and talented Rabin Pietro on the keyboards Tomazinho along with his wife Irene rendered various vocal renditions of Konkani music of yester years from Young Menezes to Minguel Rod, Alfred Rose, Chris Perry, besides a glimpse of folk songs, Mandos, dulpods, etc. Irene singing in the second voice with a soft touch added much beauty to the evening.

Renowned musician, novelist and Konkani writer Bonaventure Pietro, chipped in with a special rendition of traditional songs sung at the time of wedding ceremony and ritual of ‘Ros’ and ‘Zomin Jevonn’ or wedding lunch etc. Tomazinho’s informative narration on Goan konkani music and song and intermittent rendition of selective tracks to substantiate the text including Mandos and dulpo, which also included some fusion tracks, patriotic and others, with Indian classical touch from his own audio albums were lapped up by an appreciative and elite audience. The husband-wife singing duo of Tomazinho and Irene has always regaled Konkani music lovers for a long time, and on 25th Feb they were once again at their best.

The second part of the ‘Konkani Day’ was again a musical jam-up with the Pietro’s and acclaimed konkani stage artist Rita Rose who specially came down to Goa from Mumbai to regale her fans. Bonaventure Pietro set the ball rolling for reviving Alfred Rose’s memory with an especially composed song on the late singer. Rabin Pietro then followed with two fiery solos of late Alfred Rose ‘Kalchi Koddi’ and ‘Diana’ making the audience hunger for more. The musical score for the songs were sequenced and scored by Rabin himself. Later Rita Rose who along with here husband the late Alfred Rose has taken Konkani music to Goans settled across the globe rendered two songs composed by her husband. The first was a foot tapping solo and later ‘Jivit Goykaranchem’ together with Irene and Rabin Pietro. Fans of Alfred Rose and lovers of Konkani music could have asked for nothing more as the evening came to an end with a loud bravo for all those who helped to make the evening a memorable one. The resident delegate of Fundacao Oriente Paul Varela himself was overwhelmed with the response the programme received from konkani song and music lovers. And in his brief speech admitted that the presentation made by Tomazinho Cardozo helped him a lot to gain a first hand knowledge and insight into the rich and vast repertoire of Konkani music. The show was compered by Alexyz himself in his inimitable style.

Speaking on the sidelines of the programme a beaming and happy looking Rita Rose confided to me that she was very much happy to be part of the week long event ‘Alexyz e os Amigos’ under the auspices of the Fundacao Orient. ‘I am thankful to Alexyz and his friends for having specially invited me to perform at this event. It gives me much pleasure to get back to the stage and fulfill the wishes of my numerous fans who like to see me perform more often’ said Rita with a look of satisfaction written all over her smiling face. It is pertinent to point out that it was the late Melody King Alfred Rose who first introduced the concept of Konkani musical shows onto the Konkani stage in the late seventies performing with his entire family. He even went on to the extent of presenting a ‘Rock konkani musical show’ on a minus one audio track a musical concept that was unheard till then on konkani stage.

When asked if she has plans to come back with a musical show with her musically inclined children Schubert, Engelbert and Alria ? she said ‘ I would love to do that in future, and I want to do that, but, I have to work it out with my son who at the moment is busy with his professional assignments in Mumbai”.

It may be recalled that in January this year, Rita along with her singer daughter Alria Rose was specially flown down to Goa to perform in a Konkani musical show which had Goa’s renowned Mumbai based musicians and music directors. She and Alria performed at Taliegao and on the shores of the Baina beach in Vasco. Alria Rose like her legendary father Alfred Rose is a talented singer and has tremendous power in her voice and is already a hit with the audience wherever she has performed. She should enrich the Konkani stage with more participation in the near future, not only in special musical shows, but also tiatrs whenever possible. This would not only bring glamour to the Konkani stage but inspire many youngsters to follow in her footsteps.

In the meantime, the lovers of konkani music and konkani stage are keeping their fingers crossed that the Chief Minister Shri Digamber Kamat who is an ardent lover of Art and Culture will spare no efforts to recognize the lifetime services rendered to Konkani stage and music by Goa’s one and only true Melody King the late Alfred Rose by naming the Open Air Auditorium at the Kala Academy Panjim in his memory for not only having many firsts to his credit including writing and publishing Konkani novels, but by taking Konkani music to dizzy heights in India and at international level. Late Alfred Rose deserves it for the sheer and undeniable fact that there has been no one else like him on the konkani stage so far, and so far I see no prospects either. The void Alfred Rose has left behind will be too difficult to be filled in the near future. And the fact is, we have to live by this sad truth! I hope better sense prevails and justice is done where it is most due. Will our Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Digamber Kamat rise up to fulfill the just demands of the Aam Admi? Perhaps time will tell.

Gaspar Almeida - A multifaceted persona

By N.C.Mohandoss

Kuwait March 2, 2008: Gaspar Almeida's straight forwardness and ethical behaviour stands out among the vibrant Goan and the Indian community! There is hardly any Goan organization left where he has not contributed or assisted in some way or the other - be it for sports (football and cricket), cultural or social. "You see several Goans now in the forefront, he confides, "well, I nominated, groomed and guided them" over the years!

He studied at Victoria High School, Mahim-Bombay and completed S.S.C.E. St. Joseph's High School, Arpora-Goa at the age of 14 years, and later graduated at DM's College of Commerce, Mapusa-Goa. Gaspar landed in Kuwait in 1981 directly with the M.S. Al-Essa Group. His father, Geraldo G. Almeida worked in Kuwait since 1961 for the same establishment.

At this time he received training through Pitsman's Institute London, and later joined M.A. Al-Kharafi Industries and Establishments. Presently he works as the 'Department Head' for M.A. Al-Kharafi Group's international marketing division. He is simple, frank, open hearted, fast at the keyboards and a dedicated person, always in the forefront! It is these attributes that helps him to assist the community and through his social contacts.

Together with Ulysses Menezes of http://www.goa-world.com/ website, they pioneered the only online Konkani international music station in 2000, and the first Gulf-Goans e-Newsletter - the finest having the largest subscriber base for the Middle East-based Goans in 1994.

This tall and resourceful Goan was hand-picked for a special guest appearance role in the first Konkani e-cinema "BLACK" produced by the award winning director T-Bush. He was also the lead publicists with Gasper Crasto for the film. "Computer technology changes at lightning-fast speed. So it's no surprise that the way computer generated images depicted on the silver screen has developed rapidly in recent years".

And "BLACK" has created history for Konkani cinema, propelling it in futuristic film genre as envisaged by T-Bush Films International. Gaspar is the longest elected Hon. General Secretary of the Goan Welfare Society (GWS) - a unique record to-date for any Goan. "I am elected 'unopposed' always", he coyly smiles.

It's a rare honour for this Goan who is known for his simplicity and style. He has immensely contributed towards scores of Goan/Indian organizations including Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) as Vice President and earlier Gen.Secretary, as President of Saligao Sports Club (Kuwait), as Secretary of Young Goans Association (Kuwait), Member of Goans International Worldwide - a cyber organization since 1995, as committee member of CRY-Child, Rights & You-FOCC Kuwait Chapter, as member of Writers Guild Kuwait, and as coordination committee member of India's 40th anniversary celebrations in Kuwait, and PR & Exhibitions Coordinator in Kuwait and Lebanon, among others.

Events like 'Goa Day' in Kuwait has been promoted by him, and he fondly claims that it was through the internet media and the www.goa-world.com website team that this concept has now taken wings and is organized now in the Middle East, Europe, Australia, India and the Americas annually. A special mention has to be made on Gaspar - He assisted scores of Indians in the post-invasion period to get their previous assignments and jobs to many new comers. It was by sheer opportunity, having stayed back during the occupation period that he was able to do this yeomen service specially to the Goans in Goa and Mumbai.

Writing for Konkani and English publications in Goa and Mumbai, Gaspar says his favourite Konkani magazine is 'GULAB' - now in its silver jubilee year, and the Konkani weekly "V-Ixtt" and he loved Khuswant Singh's articles and RK Laxman's Cartoons. "I have been reading Konkani magazines like 'Dor Mhoinneachi Rotti' since I was 8 years", he recollects.

We are the third generation subscribers to this periodical! My favourite Indian English newspaper is "The Indian Express". Having contributed for English newspapers in Kuwait covering Goan/Indian sports, cultural and social events, Gaspar has also been nominated as the representative/special correspondent for Middle East Construction - a U.K. based trade publication. The best article penned by him in English titled "Another Sunday" depicting a short family story - summing up a day's throughfare based on his village lifestyle in Parra, Bardez, has been translated in over 15 Indian languages including Konkani (in three scripts), Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam, etc. and also in French.

He says. "I will publish it in print some day" when more translations are done. Presently it is online in 'blog' format and on several online writers' websites. He likes to contribute to websites which promotes Goans and Konkani. "At www.goa-world.com we are happy to have promoted several English and Konkani writers/poets/contributors and small business endeavours of Goans in Goa and abroad since 1994". As an example, he mentioned having contributed to a historic research paper "Goans Away from Home - Migration to the Middle East" by Fatima da Silva Gracias -Lusotopie 2000"! Having had the opportunity to visit many European, Middle East, Asian and the CIS countries during his official business visits and holiday tours, he says "I like 'Cyprus' and the lifestyle of Cypriots". They have vast similarities to the Goans in all walks of life.

When asked for his views on the Goan community in Kuwait, Gaspar proudly says, "Goans, have craved a name and prestige among our Kuwaiti brethren especially in business and the services industries. Goans have excelled in important positions as administrators/quality control managers in contracting companies, engineers/technicians/planners in construction and consulting enterprises, professionals/ marketing executives in trading, IT and consumer products industry, doctors/nurses/ medical professionals in hospitals, blood bank, health centres, as school principals and teachers, photographers, as executive/services personnel in the airline, travel and hospitality trade, and not to forget the services of those in the domestic sector since the early '60s!"

He has always strived to improve the Goan and Konkani image - more importantly of that of tiatrists (stage artistes), composers, sportsmen and musicians. He has been known to have countered those who create ripples and controversies in the community. "I go out of my way to get the facts right". When questioned if these had any impact on him personally, he laughed, "You see, I have no enemies of my own making". To a curious observer, many-a-times one sees him as 'special invitee' at social and sports events and Konkani dramas/musicals, both of the professionals and the amateur lot. "I like to call a stone a stone", his well known popular remark sums it all. And it is very much evident when he is specially called in to write a review for the press and internet media.

His wife, Dorothy DeSouza Almeida, excelled in studies being a second state ranker at the higher secondary Goa Board exam while at St. Xavier's College, Mapusa-Goa. Presently, she works as Administrator cum Business Development Co-ordinator for Parsons Brinckerhoff - International Engineering Consultants, having worked earlier for the British Business Forum (BBF) as Administrator. They are blessed with two children, son Dwane John and daughter Charmaine Melrose studying in Jabriya Indian School. While Charmaine is a studious girl with flair for painting and writing, Dwane is keen about cricket and sports. Gaspar enjoys life with full satisfaction and once back in Goa, wishes to establish a specialised PR firm to promote Goa's leisure industry. It's his ambition and I wish him the very best.

-Forwarded by gaspersWorld