Recently in one of the Tiatros, Marcus Vaz rendered a solo indicating the sad plight of three renowned tiatrists, namely Anthony D’Souza, Jr. Rod and Ben Evangelisto. He elaborated their plight saying they are now neglected by their own colleagues who do not even care to pay a visit to them and find out about their wellbeing. According to what I heard from Marcos’ song was that they need assistance. Was it financial or some other? Are they sick and need financial assistance for medical treatment?
Tiatro is a big industry and tiatrists are the power not only now even before but now their financial power is increased tremendously. That they are a financial power was noticed when within a very short period they joined together and organized their Tiatros to raise fund for the Kidney Operation of their colleague, the late Antonette de Calangute. That they collected (according to my information) over 15 lakhs of rupees for this fund shows the power of Tiatrists. It is true that this fund finally remained unutilized because meantime Antonette de Calangute expired without undergoing the operation for Kidney transplantation as planned. Even though a small portion of this huge fund collected must have been used for the initial expenses for her medical treatment but surely the major part of the collected money is remained unutilized.
Since this is the case, I suggest that the prominent senior tiatrists must come forward and form a committee to create a fund for the aid of poor tiatrists during their sicknesses. The money remained unutilized from the fund collected for Antonette de Calangute should be used as a base amount for opening an account for this fund. In this way the financial problems of the ailing tiatrists could be solved if not fully then at least partially. Towards this goal, every director must make a commitment to stage his one Show annually for this fund. In this way the amount of this fund can be easily enhanced benefitting the members of Tiatrists fraternity especially the ailing poor.
I know a lot of people were involved in raising fund for Antonette de Calangute but I don’t know up to now where this unutilized fund has gone and where and in whose kitty it is lying idle. Its interest must have gone high thereby increasing the capital amount tremendously. I was told that it was lying in the account of one committee specially formed to supervise this fund. Those who are involved in holding the custody of this fund must throw some light on this subject so that the exact clear picture is exposed and all the doubting Thomases are kept silenced.
In the past many of our senior tiatrists who worked so hard to develop the Konkani Stage during their prime age have died a very pitiable death for lack of financial help during their ailing old age. During their peak form they were adored like heroes but once sick by old age they were totally neglected not only by the very same society that praised them earlier but even by their own children and other family members. To avoid the same fate for the current heroes, this fund is imperative because nobody knows what is in store for us tomorrow. Tomorrow is unpredictable and today’s hero can easily become tomorrow’s ZERO.
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.