On Saturday, 28th January, 2006 (coincidentally the 67th birthday of Goa's longest serving Chief Minister Mr Pratapsing Raoji Rane b: 1939 ) the Goa Cultural & Social Centre will be organizing the 39th "Mando festival competition" of Mandos, Dulpods etc at Hotel Majestic at Porvorim.
This time two service providers in the field of entertainment Hype Entertainment and iCOE Creative Resources will assist in the organisation hopefully to upgrade the otherwise poor quality of the presentations seen in the last few years. Despite the indomitable spirit of the organisors to stage this competition for the past 38 years, paucity of funds and lack of Governmental support has been the complaint of the organisers Executive Body Goa Cultural and Social Centre Mr Antonio Barreto President, Mr Issac Dias, Vice President Mr Simplicio Fernandes General Secretary, & the dimunitive suited and booted Mr Octavio Rodrigues, Treasurer. But many do not realise why this step motherly treatment at the hands of the Government when it comes to these functions. This writer has made an indepth study of the entire issue and is strongly convinced that successive governments in power in Goa through both its Department of Culture (now represented by Mr Digamber Kamat MLA Margao and Minister for Culture ) and the Department of Official languages, (now headed by Chief Minister Mr Pratapsing Raoji Rane & MLA Poriem ) have clandestinely been promoting "only pre-advent of Portuguese - 1510 culture" viz Indian culture in Goa and they fail to recognise the historical reality of cultural assimilation by Goans mainly of the "Velhas Conquistas" viz the Old Conquests (1510-1961) which has given birth to Mandos, Dulpods, tiatros khells cantaram etc. In short anything with Roman and Western slant is looked down upon. This despite the fact that Goa is known worldwide for its ' East meets West' (not "kashi of the south" ) fusion of culture and its mainstay economy viz Tourism all depends on this face or cultural image of Goa (also not present day "party" zone)which has resulted in the communal tolerance of all communities unheard of in the rest of the country. In fact when Konkani in Devanagari script was on 21st November, 1981 "unanimously" adopted by a majority of the Advisory Council for Konkani of the Sahitya Akademi New Delhi as the 'natural script' for Konkani --- (incidentally majority members were pro devanagiri votaries ) though only the uppercaste Hindus alone are familiar with this script this section CUNNINGLY imposed their script (devanagari) on those familiar with Roman script when the Official Language act was enacted in 1987. Lest the Roman script votaries demand at a later stage recognition of Roman script for Konkani they also included it in the VII schedule of the Constitution and got the Konkani language in the devanagari script included on currency notes etc, to make things a little difficult. The consequences of this mischief viz sidelining the Roman script resulted in a) all vacancies notified by the Government of Goa placing a demand for knowledge of konkani -means "only in devanagari" script b) the budget allocation officially (Rs. 1.28 crores for 2005-06) can allot funds only for Konkani in devanagari script; though after much hue and cry since June 2005 ---demanding for recognition of Roman script the Government partially bowed down and promised only 'ASSISTANCE' "NOT GRANTS for "improvement" of Roman script which implies assistance for promotion of language and literature in the Roman script c) the Department of Culture again provides financial assistance for promotion of arts .. music (vocal/instrumental) classical dance drama etc preference for Indian culture to schools and others in Goa for purchase of musical instruments, music teachers accompanists. d) lavish grants for the Sangeet sammelans, (Samrat Club of Ponda is a case in point) "nataks" (concerts musical recitals in both Marathi and Konkani (which features the devnagari slant)ample funds are made available. Even outstation groups are given these grants and cultural troupes - Konkani (devanagari slant ) have been sent to New Delhi expenses all found e) funds are alloted by government to those desirous for purchase of tabla harmonium dholak etc f) for temple groups similar funds are made available It is owing to this "ground reality" a clear bias, which many are unaware of, that deprive lovers of Roman script, teatros, khell, mandos, dulpods,cantarams, "igorjeche" band etc of financial grants --- from the Government of Goa leave aside getting it from the Central Government Ministry of Arts and Culture. There is niether financial grants to schools nor does the Govewrnment have any scheme for tiatrists musical groups dance groups orchestras promoting the east/western fusion culture. There is no funds provided for musical instruments viz violin drum set mandolin guitar tamborine organ trumpet saxaphone base drum side drum. The Choirs or the six piece bands that partake in rfunctions get not support from the Goa Government. There is no pension scheme or financial grants for tiatrist musicians. No Government recognised schools which can promote and train teachers and students in tiatrs mandos dulpods or church groups. This writer spoke to the Vice President Mr Isac Dias on this issue to ascertain the "assistance" recieved from the Government of Goa and he stated that though an amount of Rs one lac was requested from the Minister of Culture there is no word on the amount sanction till date. Mr Dias was ignorant of all that is set out above and the reasons why the Government was giving mere "lip sympathy" to their demands he stated that earlier the the Minister for Culture Mr Ramrao Desai had sanctioned some money in the form of advertisements on the brochure. The ex Chief Minister in the presence of Mr Filipe Neri Rodrigues had assured of a premise to house the association --- a long pending demand but that too did not materialise. Another promise by Mr Parrikar to make provision for funds exclusively for this festival and similar east/west fusion in the then Budget did not see the light of the day because the Government collapsed. This writer also had a teletalk today morning with Mr Gopalkrishna Padgaonkar Director of Official Languages and he stated that the Goa Cultural and Social Centre could approach the Goa Konkani Academy for funds from the Rs 8.27 lacs which is earmarked for the development of Konkani in Roman script and the Goa Konkani Academy could consider funds for the festival. Incidentally his department provides funds for Goa Marathi Academy as well. Later this writer also had a teletalk today morning with Mr M V Naik Director of Art and Culture and he stated that demands for Rs 1,00,000 has been made but amount to be sanctioned is unknown it would depend on the Government meaning the Minister for Art & Culture. Considering that just less than a week remains for the function this writer finally had a tele talk this morning with the Minister of Culture to ascertain the amount sanction. Mr Kamat confirmed that he had already sanctioned the requested amount of Rs one lac and the matter is being processed. He assured to release the cheque by Monday 23, January, 2005. Notwithstanding this goodwill gesture, it is time that Goans worldwide realise the implications of this stepmotherly treatment. and therefore there is a strong need to demand the recognition of Roman script as well in the official language act to see that justice is done. It is also necessary that the present secular Government in Goa should announce its cultural policy keeping in mind the historical background of this State which includes the pre 1510 era and post 1510 era. Preferring only the pre 1510 era culture is doing a section of the Goan population over four lacs of them a gross injustice. What is hurting the sentiments of Goans worldwide is that with Rs. 2.50 lacs sanctioned for the Youth celebrations at Pilar Goa and now 12 lakhs for the All India Konkani Parishad celebrations on 11th 12th 13th February, 2006 an "unregistered" collective Surely there is need to fight the injustice. Meanwhile the Centre is being requested to seek funds from the Government to compile a CD recording of all the Mandos and Dulpods for posterity so that these immortal songs are popularised worldwide as an essence of Goan culture besides cultural traits of the Novas Conquistas (1763 to 1961) GODFREY J I GONSALVES Borda Margao Goa [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send instant messages to your online friends http://in.messenger.yahoo.com
