CHURCH FIGHT FOR JUSTICE IN SOCIETY.

While delivering his landmark judgment on Pe. Chico Monteiro in a Panjim court in mid sixties, Justice Jetley concluded saying “Fr., You being a man of God , you must confine your activities within your religion only without interfering in politics”. Pe. Chico was insisting that Goa was invaded but according to the landmark judgment of Supreme Court of India, “Goa was conquered by India” and as such we officially all Goans are conquered people. Justice Jetley was expert only on legal matters having Zero knowledge of Christianity which otherwise allows clergy and Church leaders to fight against the injustice as we see all around the globe.  Pe. Chico’s fight according to him, against the government of India was the fight against injustice done to Goa by Nehru’s government by interfering in Goa militarily thru  violence.

 

Priests and Bishops are known to take active part in politics to fight for justice in society especially for the weaker section.  In Nicaragua the Sandinista government of Daniel Ortega had priests in his Cabinet doing so well against injustice.  However, while serving the government they never neglected their pastoral duties. 

 

Fr. Torres some years back in South America removed his priestly robe when it was obligatory to wear, took a gun and threatened the bandits who were harassing his mission of giving shelter to the street boys.  He took this step when he found the political will wanting from the local politicians to allow him to do his charitable work.  He was fighting for justice for these poor boys.

 

When Ferdinand Marcos was committing all the excesses in Philippines, it was Cardinal Sin of Philippines who revolted against Marcos and got him defeated in the ensuing election by bringing in Corazon Aquino. This revolt of Cardinal Sin even had the approval of the then Pope who noticed lot of injustice done by Marcos to his people there.

 

Martin Luther King in USA, used Pulpit to preach politics against injustice and thru this method he brought in changes in society.

 

The former Polish Pontiff had actively worked against Communism till it collapsed in Russia and in Eastern Europe.  Under communist regimes people faced lot of injustice then.

 

These are just a few examples where priests and church leaders took active part in the political, social and other aspects of society to bring about justice in society.

 

Coming back to Goa where Fr. Eremito Rebello is leading a movement against Mopa Airport, there are lopsided voices against him saying he must as a priest desist from involving in such activities which should be left into the hands of politicians.  As for me I see no reason for him to withdraw just because he is a priest.  Priests are bound to fight for justice and since Mopa Airport is going to do injustice to Goa, Fr. Rebello must fight and  in this fight every Goan seeking justice must support him. Even Jesus Christ fought against injustice.    

 

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

TIATRO "AKANTVADI - PART II".

 

On 19^th of this month  at Pai Tiatrist Hall, Margao, at 3.30 PM, I saw the Tiatro “AKANTVADI –PART II”.  Though it was an excellent script but sadly attended by only half the capacity hall crowd. Maintaining his tradition of challenging the government machinery, once again the young writer and director Tausif de Navelim fully exposed the chicanery of Goa government headed by Parricar first and  by Parsencar now.  To make it more authentic, Tausif even introduced two characters having resemblance of Parricar and Parsencar as shown in the pictures here. 

 

Seen in one scene  Annie de Colvale in the centre

 

Earlier when Bandodcar was sucking Goa, to hit him hard and to expose him fully, the late Nelson Afonso introduced a character in his Tiatro exactly having the same looks like that of Bandodcar.  Tausif followed in the footsteps of Nelson Afonso and he succeeded in his endeavours in baring the misdeeds of both the Chief Ministers.

 

Ashton singing his powerful political solo

 

Among the political Tiatros of this season, Akantvadi Part II till now is the best scoring 4 out of 5 Stars.  It was very bold and courageous play and the artistes also played their roles very well.  In this Play Tausif describes how the Ministers support the wrong doers and how also the Policemen in Goa dance to the tune of the ministers.  He shows both the good and the bad aspects of Goa Policemen and  holds the Ministers responsible for making slaves of the policemen.

 

Seen Edward & F. Rodrigues

 

Edward the son of yesteryears Tiatrist Tony Sax plays an excellent role of a Police Officer though he lacks the art of singing unlike his father who was very good in singing with perfect clarity. 

The role of a mentally deformed girl played by the young girl F. Rodrigues deserves highest compliments.  She brought her role to the highest perfection and being new to the Konkani Stage and that too at this young age means something extra ordinary feat. 

Both the comedians Nato & Hortencio

 

Annie de Colvale also deserves compliments for playing her role very well.  With her beautiful looks and majestic personality she brought an extra flavour to her role.  It is long time now since I saw her last but always I find her doing her role very well.

 

Tausif with Parricar

 

Tausif de Navelim like a captain of the Cricket team played his inning very well.  Since this Tiatro is going to be staged in other parts of Goa, I desist from giving full details of the story but only disclose here that this story is highly political touching every aspect of Goan politics and the corrupt ministers and politicians.  Such a story none of the Goan directors staged before.  Precisely because of this daringness, Tausif de Navelim is become what is he now in Tiatro world.

 

Parsencar in the centre

 

By playing loud music by the musicians much of the shine of the songs affected.  Next time this aspect should be noted.

Ron seen singing his solo

 

As far as Side Show songs are concerned, the director failed in this segment.  Side Show is the most important part of the Tiatro and Akantvadi Part II failed to come to the expected level as far as Side Show is concerned.  With the exception of 2- 3 songs, the Side Show lacked the required punch though Ashton stole the show in all his 3 solos especially his political solo.  He is like a new finding as far as political songs are concerned and as a matter of fact I can easily equate him with the current top political singers. In the absence of variety in Side Show songs, it looked empty. Ron and Ortencio too rendered their solos.

 

Parsencar mocked at Police Station 

The comedy part lacked nothing, it was done to its perfection by both the ace comedians Neto and Ortencio.  I can easily rate both these comedians together as the best, they jelled well and thus gave their best.  Young Neto is exceptionally talented and because of his flexible body moves his comedy becomes more attractive.

Well done Tausif de Navelim.

 

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel:7507394349.

   

 

VULGARITY & INDECENCY IN TIATROS.

In the Facebook yesterday, prominent writer/journalist Daniel D’Souza wrote thus:

“As a senior writer director and playwright, I have high regards for Patrick Dourado. It was with this respect, after a fairly long time I ventured to go and see his latest tiatr ‘Mhozo Sangati Tho’ showing at the Ravindra Bhavan Baina, Vasco this afternoon. It was shocking to see the comedy sequence between comedian Brayan and comedian Luis Bach’chan wherein they openly display a ladies nightie, a black coloured ladies slip, and a red ladies brassier to evoke cheap laughter...”

There was a time when this beautiful art of Tiatro went into the hands of third grade Tiatrists who used the Tiatro Stage to release thru their  filthy tongues and actions nothing but filth and vulgarity.  It was during this period that educated and elite class of Goans stopped from going to see the Tiatros.  So much so, the decent people even stopped moving with Tiatrists and also stopped having their friendships.  Good and decent families then stopped getting their daughters married to Tiatrists because of their low caliber discipline.  These Tiatrists were Drunkards, Sex maniacs, ruffians, rowdies, jobless and irresponsible. 

Seeing this state of affairs of these Tiatrists,  Joa Agostinho Fernandes who is called Pai Tiatrist, sitting on the grass ground at Azad Maidan in Bombay was found crying   When asked why he was crying, replied Pai Tiatrist thus, “I am crying to see to what level our Tiatros are brought by the “Rostad” Tiatrists.  This art of Tiato is a great art which was created by  Lucazinho Ribeiro and we carried it forward  with noble principle for noble artistes and for noble audience.  But sadly it is gone now into the hands of “Rostad” Tiatrists who bring it a very bad name”.

During those days  the decent and elite parents would never easily allow their sons to act in the Tiatros.  Acting in Tiatros means lowering one’s family status.  During those days Tiatrists were equated with prostitutes in the sense that the way the services of prostitutes are  sought for few hours, in the same way Tiatrists were admired for few hours till the end of Tiators.  They were called the Kings of three hours but after this period they were rejected by the decent society because of their indecent acts and vulgarity displayed on the Stage.

Once in my village, my father as a contractor organized one Tiatro of Bombay troupe where the late C. Alvares rendered a duet with Philomena Braz.  In this duet Alvares sings one line thus “Aum poddlam tujea mogan pun azunui shot marunk na Golan”.  Listening to this statement, Rostad audience applauded Alvares but decent ones condemned it,  so much so, some decent persons from the audience came to my father and told him to convey their disgust to Alvares saying such a terminology does not suit him especially when Alvares is enjoying top status in the Tiatro world.

In Kuwait nobody wrote reviews of Tiatros as I did, both in Konkani and English. When I landed first time in Kuwait, our Tiatros were full of vulgarity and indecency because most of the Tiatrists were of third grade having no education, no proper manner nor proper family background.  Vulgarity and “Zupatti” were routine and audience loved it. Xavier Gomes had a very dirty habit when singing his solo as a female, to pull up his dress while going out and thereby giving cheap pleasure to the cheap audience who immediately blow their whistles to call him back.  Then I used my pen to oppose this vulgarity till he stopped it.

Once while singing their trio in the Church Hall, Cajetan-Marcus-Xavier, they displayed ladies undergarments, namely Panty and Brasiers.  Seeing this, the decent people got disgusted on this Trio even complaining to the Bishop to stop renting the Church Hall to stage Tiatros.  Immediately then I wrote my review in Konkani Weekly condemning this vulgarity and  mentioning thus “Eklean Cheddi dakoili aple Naikinnichi, dusrean Body dakoili aple bailechi ani tisrean aple dhuvechi”. Though I gained ill will from the culprits but I succeeded in halting the repetition of such vulgarity.

What I observed from those Tiatrists who used filth on the Stage was that their family background and family discipline were very low.  They are brought up like “Rostad” without any parental guidance, without proper educational background and without decent surrounding. Once because of his double meaning solo, I refused the late H. Briton from participating in one of our Shows in Kuwait.

Even recently I directly pointed out on his face to one comedian of Roseferns Tiatro that he should stop doing vulgarity on the Stage.

Currently only the cheap, the third class and Rostad type of comedians make use of vulgar and indecent comedy.  It is they who bring the standard of Tiatro down.  They must know that they are not the owners of this art to do what they want. As a director, Patrrick Dourado must stop vulgarity in his Tiatro with immediate effect and must apologise for this goof.

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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