DEATH OF A GREAT TIATRIST – ALEXINHO DE MASHEM.
With deep regret and sorrow I got the news of the sudden and untimely death of our colleague and friend from Mashem Cancona, Alexinho Fernandes popularly known as Alexinho de Mashem expired on 8.1.22. May his soul rest in peace.
Alexinho Fernandes was one of the stalwarts of the Goan community in Kuwait where he worked for about a quarter of a century coming to Kuwait in early seventies. He was a well known Tiatrist in Kuwait scripting, directing and staging the Tiatros which were seen by the big number of people, both the Goans and Mangoloreans and even Karwarees. As a Tiatrist cum writer and director he was liked by the people because the stories of his Plays were based on the then existing family life. In the seventies and up to mid-eighties he dominated the Tiatro and Tiatrist circle in Kuwait where he enjoyed good respect not only among the Tiatrrists fraternity but also among the audience. Normally Tiatrists in Kuwait were not involving in areas beyond their jurisdiction but Alexinho Fernandes who was known in Kuwait and elsewhere as Alexinho de Mashem was a rare type of a Goan having exceedingly great love for Goa and Goans.
He was a generous for Goan causes and also a charitable person who staged his one Tiatro for the cause of Goa Cancer Hospital when its representative one Dr. Vaidhiya came to Kuwait to request for the donation of funds. It must be noted that to raise the funds for this Cancer Hospital under the then powerful Goan personality the late Vincente D’Souza formed one special Association “Goan Arts Circle” to conduct different type of activities to raise funds for the construction of the said hospital at Dona Paula and all the activities in Konkani were done under the supervision of Alexinho de Mashem. In this way, according to one estimate and one reliable source the total amount then sent for the construction of this Hospital was 25 Lakhs of Rupees but according to Vincente D’Souza it was 20 Lakhs of Rupees. This huge amount was big no doubt but according to the current estimate it is much more. Incidentally almost everyone involved in collecting and sending such a big fund were totally dejected and disappointed because according to one source, the persons on forefront to do this job of Cancer Hospital did this as “tanni amchea kanan korpololem Tel ghatlem ani apleachem borem sadoilem”. But one thing is certain, up to now nobody knows whereabout of this fund coming from Kuwait besides so much of more funds came from other parts of Gulf. Even Alexinho de Mashem was totally disappointed when he told me “Tanni amcheam itleam lakahnchem kitem mhonn kelem re?”. From here one gets one more proof of how the “harakiri” of the donations given by the recipients of the funds`in Goa.
Alexinho de Mashem’s love for Konkani was exceedingly high and he was ready to do anything to get it recognised paving the way for the conferring of Statehood on Goa. In this direction he staged his yet another Tiatro in the Kuwait Church Hall to raise fund for the cause of Novem Goem Partishthan to start the Novem Goem Daily in Romi and Nagri scripts by spending Rupees 5 Lakhs which were donated by the Kuwait Goans only, in fact and sadly all those who were responsibe in running the show of NGP in Goa not only failed themselves but also they have failed us the donors and the entire Konkani community and shamelessly some of them still livng are shame;essly moving in society with their heads high. Seeing this tragedy our Alexinho de Mashem was deeply hurt and once asked me why we cannot get good and sincere people in Goa now. For this zi answered saying “Now we don’t get good people among Goans because good persons are not born now unfortunately since there are no wombs in the Goan mothers to give birth to good sons.
As a Tiatrist Alexinho de Mashem wrote and direted many Tiatros and composed innumerable songs. His wish was always to do charitable work for the cause of Tiatros and Tiatrists. He even asked me once my help to create fund for the construction of one House in Margao for the Tiatrists to spend their nights there after finishing their Tiatros at night time instead of sleeping in the Margao Garden. However he left Kuwait unexpectedly earlier than planned.
In his death Tiatro fraternity lost one powerful Tiatrist which is a great loss for our Tiatros. With my head down in grief, I pray to Heavenly God to have mercy on his soul. I also pray to God to give courage to his family to bear this colossal loss for them.
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE.
A.Veronica Fernandes.