*PRESS NOTE* IN FAVOUR OF PUBLICATION
*Meet Bonaventure D’Pietro at TAG’s “Meet the Tiatr Artiste” on 28th May.* Every month Tiatr Academy of Goa invites artistes of repute to interact with their fans/followers and other tiatr loving people. Such a meeting helps the audience to know more in detail about the artiste. It also helps TAG to create documentation for its library in order to preserve it for posterity. A well known tiatr writer, Bonaventure D’Pietro from Anjuna will be the “Artiste of the Month” in this monthly programme to be held on Thursday, 28 th May 2015 at 4.00 p.m., at Conference Hall, Tiatr Academy of Goa, AS-1, 2 nd Floor, Campal Trade Centre, Campal, Panaji Goa. *BONAVENTURE D’PIETRO * Bonaventure Peter Fernandes, popularly known as Bonaventure D’Pietro is a well known figure in the field of Konkani and Goan culture. He was born on 14th July 1943 in the village of Anjuna in Bardez. While pursuing his primary education in Portuguese, he learnt to play violin and solfeggio from a parochial music school. At the age of 14, young Bonaventure, saw a *tiatr* for the first time in his village Anjuna. This made him restless and there and then he made up his mind to write his own *tiatr* thus aspiring to become a *tiatrist*. He made several efforts to write a *tiatr* to his satisfaction and finally he penned a *tiatr*, entitled *‘Birthday’* which was staged at Margao. In the same year, 1961 he wrote his second *tiatr*, *‘Boro Gonvlli’* (Later renamed as *‘Devachea Rajeant Tukai Apounnem Asa’*). After the liberation of Goa, in 1962 he left for Mumbai to take up a job in a printing press, where he came in contact with various writers and publishers. Right from his childhood, D’Pietro was a keen observer of any happenings that took place in the village or in his surroundings. He had the ability to analyze the incidents and the capability to narrate them in a befitting manner. It was this attitude which compelled his tender mind to write his first novelette *‘Soitanacho Ghutt’* (The Mystery of Satan) at a very young age of just 15 in 1958. Since then, he went on writing short stories and novelettes but finally found his niche in writing novels. He has 14 publications to his credit which includes novels on various issues related to our society viz, ‘*Kallea Vistidachi Choli’*, *‘Clara’*, *‘Mhojea Paicho Fondd’*, *‘From Goa With Love’*, *‘Ek Bhett Mungllurachea Xharak’*, *‘Jimmy’*, *‘Tichea Mornna Uprant’* and *‘Janya Celli’.* His other literary work consists of short stories and novelettes namely: *‘13 Numbrachi Kottri’*, *‘Mog vo Patok’* and *‘Mhaka Jiyonk Zai’*. His books in other category include *‘Gupi’* for children, *‘Nazaretkar’* on his experiences and *‘Songit Doulot Goykaranchi’*, a research work on Goan music. In this book he highlighted the rich heritage of Goan music for posterity. His another book *‘Sankholl’* has been bestowed with Dalgado Akademi Award this year. This multifaceted artiste’s contribution to the field of *tiatr* is noteworthy. On his return to Goa after spending 15 long years in Mumbai, Bonaventure restarted writing *tiatrs*. He wrote and staged several *tiatrs* then. His *tiatrs* like *‘Dhunvor’*, ‘*Chitrakar’*, *‘Patang’, ‘Rogtacho Thembo’, ‘Girannacho Put’, ‘Sorgar Thavn Apounnem’, ‘Vatt Chuklelim Suknnim’, ‘Faxi’ *(not released),* ‘Boroinnar-Director’, ‘Mhozo Podon To!’, ‘Amche Zomnintli Girestkai’, ‘Adeus Mhoje Maim’ *are well appreciated by the audience. Besides this, he composed hundreds of *kantaram *and* mandos*. He has also written many *Songit-khells* for All India Radio. *‘Tum Khoim Tori Chuktai’* and *‘To Amger Ietolo’* are a few to name and participated in its popular programmes, *Bolkanvar Gozali* and *Sahitya Jhelo* for many years. Bonaventure D’Pietro is not only a creative writer but also an excellent musician who plays numerous wind instruments. When he was in Bombay, he had formed bands *‘Bonaventures’* and *‘Bob Brown Combo’* (B.B.C.). After returning back to Goa, he also formed a band named *‘Pietros’* which comprises of his two sons. Occasionally he has also provided music to some *tiatrs*. He is also a regular contributor to numerous dailies, weeklies, monthlies in Konkani in Roman script. He has also served as Assistant Editor of various newspapers and magazines in Konkani Roman script. He has several literary awards to his credit, the noteworthy among them being of Kala Academy Goa, Konknni Bhasha Mandal, Thomas Stephen Konknni Kendr and Lifetime Contribution to Literature Award by Dalgado Academy. He was also felicitated by Kuwait Konknni Heritage and is the recipient of prestigious State Cultural Award in the field of literature in the year 2008. All the lovers of tiatr and fans of Bonaventure D’Pietro are invited to attend the said programme and interact with him. *Jose Alexandre Rodrigues* Member Secretary