Enrichment from Art Changing the world through fables & fairytales By Cecil Pinto
It's rambling time again. Time for some patting of backs, drum beating and cheerleading. Speaking of which there were newspaper photos of sexy cheerleaders from UK scoring with amateur Goan footballers. After seeing so many movies and TV serials featuring cheerleaders, I always wanted to encounter one in real life and clarify some doubts I have about the physical effects of repeated splits. At the end of Day #2 of the Alexyz e os Amigos Art & Culture Festival the congenial delegate of Fundacao Oriente, Paulo Varela Gomes, said in his Vote of Thanks. "At the end of a day I ask myself, have I enriched my life in some way or enriched someone else's life? Today I have indeed been enriched." He was referring to the talk/demo given by Tomazinho & Irene Cardozo on the origin of Goan Konkani Music and Song. Short explanations, followed by a representative song, took the appreciative audience through the gamut of Konkani musical styles and their evolution. Rita Rose, wife of the legendary Alfred Rose (Aldonkar!) then entertained us with a few songs. Music was provided by the extremely gifted and good natured Rabin D'Pietro, son of the prolific musician/writer Bonaventure. I am predicting right now that Rabin will soon be an international singing sensation. On Day #3 Norma Alvares and Maria Lourdes Rodrigues spoke about bestselling Goan books from different genres. Present in the audience were authors like Domnic Fernandes, Claude Alvares and Victor Rangel-Ribeiro whose books were featured. Definitely enriching, especially with Norma's well prepared presentation - with descriptions of each book selected and an explanation that justified its selection. Talking of a well prepared presentation Wendell Rodricks took the cake on Day #5 with his lecture on 'Interpreting Goa though Lifestyle and Fashion'. His interactive slide show was a real eye-opener as to how everyday objects around us that we take for granted (flowers, plants, kitchen items) can be used and interpreted in clothes and interiors so tastefully. Alexyz, Goa's much loved cartoonist and caricaturist, had described the festival as "a multi-faceted event exhibiting different art forms, music and talks/presentations on all things Goan". And yes it was a much needed event. I have nothing against festivals that feature cultures of other states and countries. But at a time when the Goan identity itself is under threat we should celebrate everything that is uniquely Goan. A point very tellingly made by Wendell in his brilliant presentation that totally awed the packed audience. Interestingly none of the presenters or performers were paid any money for their appearance. For example Tagore Almeida spent from his own pocket to come down from Dubai and give his talk on 'Peace and Humanity: The Goan Connection'. I must say Alexyz has very good friends. I am inspired to put up a 'Cecil Pinto & Family & Friends & Relatives Festival of Aldona Art & Culture'. But first I have to find friends and relatives willing to give of their time and energies – gratis. I wasn't able to attend all days or all talks/performances at Alexyz' festival but it was sad when the last day came all too soon. Dr. Francisco Colaco gave an educative talk on the technical evolvement of the dances that accompany Mandos. This was followed by a demonstration of the dances by an elegant middle aged couple attired in the appropriate Mando costume. It was fascinating to see the dance, now in a new light, with Dr. Colaco's accompanying commentary. I wish to thank Alexyz, his amigos and Fundacao Oriente for a most enriching week. As we say in Konkani 'pott bhorlem'. For the non-Goan Indians out there that is the equivalent of 'paisa wassool', but since no money was charged that is a bit of a misnomer. And now since this is my once-ever-few-months column where I just allow myself to ramble on let me also tell you about a play, staged by Dhempe College students, that I saw last week. Called 'Fables and Fairytales' it was scripted by Saba Sayed, directed by Elton Fernandes and encouraged by the indomitable Isabel Vas. The play entertainingly portrays the Nose-s (Dashing Nose, Pretty Nose, Button Nose, Sobbing Nose, Jumbo Nose…) and the Ear-lys. In just thirty minutes the play examines our differences, similarities, prejudices and insecurities. It works on many levels. My young sons enjoyed the colourful costumes and catchy songs. We adults enjoyed the deep thoughts that were being so simply expressed. I was particularly impressed by the young and talented performers because of how different an attitude they had compared to others I had encountered earlier in the same day. I had met a young girl who had taken up a part time job she didn't like just to accumulate bonus points to get into an MBA program which would eventually get her a high paying job. I had met another young man who had for the last few weeks cloistered himself away from everyone and everything (TV, phone, Internet) and was busy cramming (not studying –cramming!) for his 12th Std exams so he would get a decent percentage to get into Engineering college and study Information Technology, a field he has no interest in, just because there is good scope there. These are young people almost mercenary in their selfish competitive approach to career and goals. On the other hand we have Saba, Elton, Michelle, Neville, Joshua, Wilson, Stella, Erica, Chime, Nisha, Afsina, Vivian, Ashford, Nirmiti, Sneha & Seenia – who are cooperating and in their unique way are trying to change the world. I salute these wonderful young people and hope my sons can emulate their approach to life. I also want to congratulate the parents of these young people for giving their children the freedom to dream - instead of just being part of the rat race. When I see the Arts thriving, when I see young enthusiastic selfless people like this I know the world is getting better. Our generation screwed up Goa – mostly by electing the same crooks over and over again. This generation certainly has the brains and talent to salvage what we almost destroyed. Quite profound for a ramble, no? ------- The column above appeared in Gomantak Times dated 6th March 2008 ====