Last works of Rosary Ferns:'Thank You Kuwait' Video CD released in Kuwait

By Gasper Crasto

Kuwait, Sept 5: ‘Thank You Kuwait,’ a Konkani songs video album by renowned singer and playwright Late Rosary Ferns was released at a function held at Kuwait’s Village Inn Restaurant on Thursday 1st September 2011.

The album produced by Queeny Productions & Publications (Goa) has songs set to music by Maestro Josinho, Goa’s famed musician while the videography and editing works are credited to Ignatius Fernandes.

The album comprising the last works of Rosary Ferns before his untimely death in January was released at the hands of Lawry Pinto, an ardent admirer of Rosary among the large Konkani speaking communities of Goans, Mangaloreans and Mumbaikars. Fidelis Fernandes, Rosary’s eldest brother attended the presentation and addressed the gathering.

Prominent personalities and media from Kuwait were present on the occasion.

Mr. Veronica Fernandes, a well-known Goan writer, social activist and a close friend of Rosary convened the function. In his brief note, Veronica spoke on the greatness of Rosary Ferns who was famous for his remarkable dramas, ‘wisdomatic’ lyrics, and an unparalleled singing prowess. Salvador Dias and Albino Fernandes also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, a minutes’ silence was observed as a mark of respect to the singer. A number of hymns and fond mandos of Rosary were sung in remembrance. Aggie Dias performed one of Rosary’s most touching mandos on the clarinet accompanied by Denis D’Costa on the guitar, while a song from one of Rosary’s audio CD was also played to audience.

Rosary Ferns, who died an untimely death on 12th January 2011 while on holidays in Goa, left a permanent legacy and will be remembered for a long time for his contribution towards drama and art in the form of VCDs, CDs and cassettes. Konkan people who were fortunate enough to see Rosary Ferns on stage will perhaps never ever see another star of his calibre – a great playwright, philosophical composer and singer.

It should be noted Rosary’s last drama ‘Kuwait Soddun Vetana’ (Whilst Leaving Kuwait) was staged both by the Goan and Mangalorean Community.

Rosary hailed from Colva, Salcete, Goa and resided in Kuwait since1985 till his death. Rosary was, in his own way, instrumental in improving the overall standard of tiatr and took the Konkani art to new heights. During his years in Kuwait, he staged 12 tiatros some of them for the cause of charity.

In all, Rosary wrote and directed 21 full-fledged Konkani Tiatros. Some of his well received and popular ones include ‘Mhojem Dusrem Ghor’ (My second home), ‘Tumkam Lagon Jielom’ (I lived for you), ‘Sukh Khuim Asa’ (Where is Happiness), ‘Bhurgim Mai Paichem Sukh’ (Children, a joy of parents), ‘Devachea Marak Avaz Nam’ (Justice of the Almighty reigns Silent) ‘Ghor Bandlem Ghorabo Moddlo’ (A House Built, A Home Broken), etc.

Rosary was gifted in writing tragic stories and his forte lied in composing tragic 'cantos' (songs within the premise of the story narration). Among the expatriate tiatrists Rosary Ferns was the only person who was known to be a vivid composer of traditional 'Mandos'. Some of his golden, original Mandos feature in his audio albums.

In the year 2009, Rosary created history when his Konkani Drama "Kuwait Soddun Vetana" was staged in Kuwait by the Mangalorean Konkani community in a Mangalorean dialect. The original drama was in Goan Romi Script Konkani which was well received by the Goan audience as one of the classic dramas of the great writer.

Throughout his presence in Kuwait, Rosary Ferns strived through Konkani stage and cultural programs to bring about fusion of all the Konkani speaking people in Kuwait, Mangalorean and Goans in particular. He wrote and directed Songit Sanz (An Evening of Songs) under the banner of Kuwait Konknni Kendr.

Rosary also encouraged and promoted young and budding artistes and developed them into full fledged artistes. He is on record to have staged more Tiatros (Konkani dramas) in Kuwait than any other artiste and all of his tiatros have been well attended and appreciated by the audience. Besides tiatrs, Rosary wrote a number of One Act Plays, Operettas, Mandos & Dulpods and countless songs. As a matter of interest Rosary was the first person in the history of Goan-Konkani world to produce the first CD of songs which was made in Kuwait. In all, Rosary has produced 13 Konkani Albums in the form of Audio Cassettes & CDs. ‘Kuwaitche Dinar’ (Dinars of Kuwait), ‘Raag’ (Anger), Dinarcho Valor (Value of Dinars), Sirvis Kor, Bhangarachem Kankonn (Golden Bangles), etc, were some of his famous audio cassettes and CDs. He was known for his powerful solos with a message of good morals, upholding religious doctrines and traditional beliefs in family, friendship and social aspects.

Rosary’s last Album 'Dinaracho Valor' (The value of Dinar) was his last audio CD. Additionally, he produced 2 VCDs 'Kanvllo Roddlo Lozen' (The Crow cried in Shame) and 'Mogan Tujea Lasota' (Burning in Thy Love). It is interesting to note that the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) organized two events in the memory of Late Rosary Ferns in Goa, the latest being just a week ago, focusing on the young Goan singer and director, amongst a galaxy of Konkani stage artistes who are no more among our midst.

Rosary’s voice will forever remain etched in the memories through his songs and compositions. ‘Thank You Kuwait’ is sure to provide a lasting reflection of the great artiste as a composer-singer for which he became synonymous among the Konkani masses.

:::The above News Report appeared in Kuwait's Arab Times dated 05.09.2011:::

COMMERCIALISATION OF CHURCH DOCUMENTS & CHURCH SERVICES.

Vatican wanted to construct St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and for this job money was required. Taking advantage of the ignorance of the Catholics the then Pope issued religious Bulls for the faithful to purchase them with the excuse that those who purchase these Bulls their sins will be forgiven. Martin Luther was the top Cardinal or ranking Church leader in the Vatican hierarchy. He brought objection to this business of selling Bulls to the faithfuls by the then Pope in the name of remission of sins committed by the faithfuls. Martin Luther said this business of selling Bulls is anti-Christian act by the Christian Catholic Pope. Martin Luther forcefully protested against this anti-Christian form of taxation of the faitfuls by the Pope. He further said that to construct a Basilica or to repair a Church Pope need not go for selling the Bulls instead Pope should go for some other better means, even asking for donations but surely not taxing the faithful by means of anti-Christian Bulls. Martin Luther in this Bulls business found total chicanery by the Pope and commercialization of Christian doctrine to gain material benefits and not spiritual. Somebody close to Martin Luther even remarked it seems that selling Church documents and services to make money is like doing prostitution by the Church leaders.

Because of his protest over the selling of Bulls the dictatorial Pope got angry and in collusion with the State thought of punishing Martin Luther the way Galileo was punished by the Pope. But Martin Luther was double clever and double cunning, sensing the mood of the Pope he disappeared from Rome and took shelter elsewhere from where he formed his own religious denomination known as Protestant Religion coming from the word Protest. Originally Martin Luther was from Germany.

Selling of Bulls was in existence in Goa during my younger days when Goa was under the Portuguese rule and even I remember purchasing the same. It was nothing but daylight robbery by the Church leaders to amass illicit wealth not only for the Church expenditure but also for the luxuries of the Church leaders namely of Bishops and disgraceful priests who at many times found involved in vices. To quench their thirst of vices such as illicit sex, liquour and such other forbidden fruits many of the Church leaders are taxing the faithful by charging every service that Church provides without taking into consideration the poor financial status of the faithful. For this reason many of the Catholics are deserting Catholicism and embracing other Non-Catholic denominations and yet still our Church leaders are not sensitive to this point and unfortunately they will never because they are immune to the difficulties and sufferings of the faithful.

Charging fees for every service provided by the Church is like looting. Imposing exorbitant fees universally to collect money for the construction and repairs of the Church premises is like looting the poor faithful who face lot of hardships in the first place to meet their day to day expenses. As a matter of fact the Church collection should be made transparent otherwise part of it will go for the luxuries of Bishops, priests, deacons and other Church helpers who are known to be corrupt. Because of the corrupt practices by the priests the faithful have lost their confidence in priests and other Church leaders.

As told to me, one Bishop noticed one girl selling Lottery Coupons in the Church premises. When he asked that girl why and who is behind this Lottery business, the girl replied saying “I am doing this on behalf of my village Parish Priest who need money to construct a new Church”. Then the Bishop asked that girl “Do you have a house for you?” When the answer was negative, the Bishop replied, “first collect money to construct your own house and stop this Lottery business which is one form of Gambling that is forbidden in our religion”. It gave an impression thru the statement of the Bishop that Lottery business by the priests is anti-Christian.

During Portuguese time in Goa, there was Lottery system done by Goa Government to raise funds for Provedoria to assist the old aged people. But when Bharat invaded Goa, the first thing Bharati government did in invaded Goa was to abolish this Provedoria Lottery system saying it was a form of gambling. Now Church authorities are rampantly making Lottery system to raise funds for unknown reasons but openly declaring it is for Church benefits. What benefits? Since there is no accountability and no transparency, one is at a loss to know the exact details. And since our priests are become corrupt faithful have all the reasons to doubt their sincerity. Why people lost their confidence in priests now? Because many priests treat priesthood as profession and not vocation. When priesthood is become profession then priests act corrupt in which case they don’t care for their priestly duties but like to perform Satanic duties as we see these days among us.

That Church requires funds for its expenses is certain but surely not the way it is being collected in some churches. It is wrong to tax the faithful exorbitantly in the name of collecting funds for the maintenance of Church premises. According to one very holy priest, “where there is sex in the premises the Blessed Holy Sacrament is kept, God will never allow peace in that premises and even to the faithful congregating in that Church”. Allowing married couples to live in the Church premises means surely indulging in sex which is sinful especially near the place where Blessed Sacrament is kept. Having such thing is a curse not only on the Church but even on all those who are congregating in that Church. As a Catholic it is my obligation to raise my voice on such curses because I am also a part of the Church. Church is not the monopoly of the Pope, Bishops, Priests, Deacons and Grave Diggers. The hallmark of Catholic Church leaders is abstinence from sex whether by the Pope or Bishops or Priests or Deacons.

And the Church that taxes the faithful to the extent that these taxes in the form of services provided by the Church pinches the pockets of the faithful, that Church will never have peace. And also, those priests and Bishops responsible for imposing these taxes will never enjoy God’s blessings.

Because of Bulls selling by the Church our Church was splitted and because of selling of Church services exorbitantly to the faithfuls, will there be an exodus of our faithfuls to non-Catholic denominations? Time lone will answer this question.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

POLICE STATIONS IN GOA ARE UNSAFE FOR WOMEN.

By Nisser Dias.
1st Sept 2011

The police department has to hang its head in shame for bringing disrepute to Goa and Goans once again by molesting and sexually exploiting a 22 year old vulnerable girl at the Mapusa police station. More than that Ravi Naik has to resign from the government as the Home Minister owing moral responsibility as he has utterly failed to bring about discipline among his policemen or rather thugs and criminals who have infiltrated the Goa police force in recent times. Today it seems that the Home minister and the criminals in uniform have tacit understanding of ‘you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’.

Since Ravi Naik’s tenure as the Home minister the disciplinary force has been sunk to the lowest ebb in self control and discipline. Police officers and constables are involved in all sorts of illegalities from drugs to counterfeit currency to improper investigation in heinous crime to molestations of women. What moral right does the Ravi Naik has to continue as Home Minister. Of course I do not even expect our spineless chief minister Digambar Kamat to demand his resignation from the cabinet nor even strip him of the Home portfolio.

With the incident of a young girl being subjected to sexual torture at the police station, I can say without hesitation that police stations in Goa have become unsafe for women. Not that they were any safe for any women to step into at night and that was the reason for directives to be issued that no woman could be arrested from sunset to sunrise. But the men in uniform have got around it by not showing the arrest during this particular period.

To site some examples PSI Hiru Kavlekar was hauled up for harassing a lady over the phone asking her to be present at the Cuncolim police station late at night. Another police officer Gajanan Prabhudessai while officiating as a police inspector of Maina-Curtorim police station had slapped a lady in my presence and it was reported in Gomantak Times but as of today he has been promoted as DySP. Another police sub inspector under the guise of investigating a prostitution racket escorted two young girls to Mumbai and instead of keeping them in custody of their counterparts there, booked into a hotel with obvious intention. Can we forget Miramar sex scandal where one police inspector who is presently a DySP was allegedly involved. These same criminals in uniform have not only thrived but continue to be on the police force even after commission of grave crimes.

Coming to the present case of the victim who was subjected to sexual torture by constable Vishwavijay Digambar Parab in the presence of other colleagues at the Mapusa police station. She should have not only been protected but commended for having the courage to escape from the clutches of promoters of sex trade, but no, this filthy man in uniform subjected her to further trauma by initially molesting her in the patrol vehicle in presence of a lady constable and another colleague and then bringing her to the Mapusa police station only to condemn her to oral sex. The question before the police department today is why did the other staff present at the Mapusa police station at the time of the incident turn a blind eye to this horrendous act. To which politician does constable Vishwavijay Digambar Parab owe allegiance that forced others to keep mum while the act was on?

Why is police inspector Uttam Raut Dessai’s role to hush up the matter is not being questioned. Though he is the PI of Pernem police station, he is also holding charge of Mapusa police station from the where the victim was picked up subjected to torture, molestation and oral sex and then transported to Pernem. In Pernem PI Dessai conducted a mock raid to show that the victim was arrested there while soliciting customers. The incident occurred on 11th August and came to light 15 days later. Was PI Uttam Raut Dessai unaware of this incident, if so he is not fit to be a police officer. This was a cover up act to save constable Parab. PI Dessai is equally responsible for encouraging such horrendous acts at the police and hence has to be suspended and questioned. An FIR should also be registered against all the police personnel present at the time of the incident.

Further cover-up is on. SDPO of Mapusa Sammy Tavares has been made in-charge of the enquiry into the matter. He is sure to be influenced by PI Uttam Raut Dessai as both are batchmates. I am sure that Sammy will manage to keep his batchmate out of trouble. Of course it would be more fodder for Sammy Tavares to produce another music CD.

In my opinion suspension and arrests of police indulging in such horrendous acts have not conveyed a strong message. Otherwise how would one explain repetition of the 2009 act again in 2011. In 2009 constables Santosh Naik during patrolling restrained an alleged sex worker and asked her to perform oral sex on him in a police patrol jeep which was filmed by another constable and circulated. Santosh stands suspended for more than two years but still avails part salary. The enquiry into the matter was handed over to DySP Nilu Raut Dessai to be conducted within a month. But after more than two years have elapsed it is yet to be completed. Should Nilu Raut Dessai not be hauled up for dereliction of duty?

Ironically DySP Nilu Raut Dessai also has a chequered past. He has been allegedly involved in drunken brawls at Colva beach. More than that he had attended a 96 hours nonstop dance party at a starred hotel in Varca way back in 2004. Nilu Raut Dessai then police inspector attended it in a drunken state and misbehaved with the female participants and then with foreign guests forcing them to leave the venue. He was so drunk that he slept in the hotel lobby and Colva police were called who bodily lifted him and dumped him in the police jeep. This was filmed by me and shown on GOA 365. Of course it still remains in the archives of news channel GOA 365.
When we have such police officers entrenched in the police department how can police stations be safe for our women or for that matter any citizen of this land? DGP Aditya Arya has his plate full and he needs to do a lot of cleaning up in his department if he wants to restore the faith of public in his force.

Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS 9422437029)
(Nisser Dias writes a regular column in GT every Thursday).
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