It is over ten decades now that the beautiful art of Tiatro is in existence. I bow down my head in reverence to Lucazinho Rebeiro from Assagao, Bardez, Goa for penning down the first ever Konkani Tiatro “Italian Burgo” and staging it in Bombay. His follower and associate Joao Agostinho Fernandes from Margao, Salcette is equally to be adored for carrying forward the tradition of Tiatro almost in the beginning single handedly. Though Lucazinho Rebeiro was the initiator of Tiatro yet it was Joao Agostinho Fernandes who brought in revolution in Goan society thru the medium of Tiatro. If Goan society has made tremendous changes in its structure especially the middle and lower strata then it must be admitted that it was only because of the revolutionary attitude released from the stage by the great tiatrists, most of them are dead and gone. Though they are physically not existing on this planet yet the great work they have produced on the stage has helped change the ugly attitude of Goan society. If it was not for Minguel Rod the Bhattkarshai and high caste Banmonshahi would be still dominating and suppressing the lower strata of Goans. Minguel Rod brought in lot of changes in social fabrics of Goan society. What William Shakesphere did in British society thru Dramas our Minguel Rod did in Goan society thru Tiatro and precisely because of this Minguel Rod can be rightly called Goan Shakesphere. More than a priest tiatrist attracts the attention of the society. Which is that tiatrist now I am trying to praise? He is none other than the one who challenges the brute might of arrogant society, brute might of his fellow man and fellow colleague who with the help of his power, in whatever form it may be, tries to suppress and destroy others. Dayananda Bandodkar and his Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party was all out to dissolve Goa, get it swallowed into Maharastra and along with it liquidate Konkani from Konkani land. What a pity it would have been if it had to happen!! That it had not happen was due to the tremendous efforts and sacrifices made by the then tiatirsts also. They have made Tiatro stage as a platform to openly fight against Dayananda Bandodkar and his MGP. In one of his excellent songs, Remmie J. Colaco then challenges and humiliate Bandodkar saying “Are Pain bandlolea ghorak, nolle ghalunk zaina tor, vhoddpon tujem sodd re bhava”. And challenging the anti-Konkani tirade of Bandodkar, the same Remmie J. Colaco calls upon the masses and all true Goans singing thus “Amchem boll dakoumya, Konknni bhas zikomya, hangach nhoi pun Delhi Parliamentan”. Bandodkar died and gone and with him his anti-Goan, anti-Konkani MGParty was also collapsed but Remmie J. Colaco’s golden and prophetic words came to reality when Konkani Mae Bhas gained its rightful place and even spoken and heard in Parliament.
Kid Boxer has done yeomen services for the cause of Goa and Konkani by hitting the wrong person at right time. Kid Boxer also challenged the brute might even of his colleagues when they overstepped their authority. It was at Mapusa about 35 years back. “Lembddo Santan” was the Tiatro by the late Minguel Rod. His son Julie was playing a very good role in his father’s Tiatro. C. D’Silva and his partner were singing a comedy duo, the tune of which was similar to the one earlier used in their duo by M. Boyer and Remmie J. Colaco. Seeing this, on flimsy grounds, as spokesman of Boyer and Remmie duo, Boyer protested and tried to stop C. D’Silva and his partner from singing their duo. There was stoppage of Tiatro for few minutes but Kid Boxer refused to surrender to Boyer. For this reason Kid Boxer was admired for challenging the brute might of some of his tiatrist colleagues.
Conception-Nelson-Anthony trio was the mightiest trio that Konkani Stage has ever produced. It was on the pattern of Kid-Young-Rod of yesteryears. Con-Nel-Ant. Trio is on record to challenge anyone from commoner to the topmost official in the Government machinery. Bandodkar and his MGP was less afraid of 12 opposition MLAs in Goa Legislative Assembly but more afraid of the might of this trio of Con-Nel-Ant. Bandodkar was on record to depute Punaji Achrekar the MGP MLA and resident of Saligao to watch this trio what they sing at Mapusa and accordingly Bandodkar used to frame his strategy in Goa Legislative Assembly. In order to punish them Bandodkar once introduced entertainment tax on Tiatro but out of fear and to please the trio, Bandodkar gave concession to Nelson’s Tiatro “Dolorosa”. This was the might of the tiatrists. But how many of them are now existing with genuine spinal chord to challenge the brute might? Today’s tiatrists in general are money oriented and commercial in nature. For this reason today’s tiatrists in general are unable to challenge the injustice and brute might as it was done by yesteryears tiatrists most of them are expired. If we respect them then we must follow their principles by opposing the injustice some of the tiatrists are committing against their own colleagues by trying to destroy the art of tiatr in them. Worst still is the the manner in which when many of the tiatrists are blindly following the wrong steps of the initiator of wrong decision and yet they sing songs in support of justice which is nothing but fake. Everybody knows who destroyed Sucurrina. By hampering the dramatic growth of this lady the Tiatro has suffered, Konkani has suffered. Because of the brute might of her boss the Goan nightingale Lorna had to shut her mouth for so many years but where is her boss gone now? Lorna is nicely enjoying her God given gift while her boss was already devoured by our Kings. Who are our Kings? Yes, they are the Worms who are feasting on our flesh the moment we are put into the graves. Those who try to suppress the God given art of any person, they are committing a sacrilege against the gift of God and such persons will ultimately suffer the severest punishment from somebody who is supreme and provider of artistic gift. In the words of Robert Stevenson in Dr. Jeckeyl and Mr. Hyde, punishment comes and surely it comes but it comes lame footed.
There was a time in Kuwait we used to have only one Tiatro per year but by the grace of God we are now having not only one show per month but even two per month. It is a great achievement for Konkani promoters in Kuwait to see Konkani is getting so popular. The base for the promotion of Konkani laid down some years back is reaping fruits. Tiatro is one aspect of Konkani promotion. But on the other hand the criminals joining in gangs to suppress the dramatic art in their colleagues are committing the crime. To challenge such a crime is the duty of all the tiatrists who have got history of fighting injustice. They must stand by their principles for which they were adored in Goan society. In the words of John Milton, the tiatrists who are known to fight for justice and whom we admire for their guts they must tell the heavenly God from Hell through the mouth of Lucifer thus “ Oh God, I rather prefer hell to heaven because it is better to be a master in hell and express my opinion frankly than to be a slave in heaven and be a Ghantta Bhoil” of those who try to destroy other tiatrists”. When injustice is carried out in our presence we cannot be just silent spectators. It is our duty to fight against the injustice committed on innocents. When Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) asked “when there will be justice in this world”, replied Prophet thus “when everyone of us will gather courage to fight against the injustice committed on to others as if that injustice is committed on to us only and then only there will be justice in this world”. Are todays Tiatros and tiatrists worthy of fighting for justice?
A. Veronica Fernandes, Kuwait.
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