On his 101st birthday, the late Romansi writer and musician Reginald Fernandes was remembered in his birth place Siolim. The King of Konkani Romansi, as he was called was remembered by about 100 fans of the late author when they, some of them coming from distant places in South Goa, congregated at his residence in Siolim, Bardez, yesterday, Sunday 14thof this month at 3.30 PM.
An author of over 160 Konkani Novels besides being a gifted musician playing Violin and Trumpet, Reginald Fernandes was born on 14th June 1914 and after undergoing basic schooling at Parochial School in Siolim, moved to Bombay and began writing in 1932 while playing music at Maharaja’s Palace in Gujarat. He also played music at the Palace of Maharaja of Mysore. He wrote over 160 Konkani novels (Romansi), “Lindorf” being his first novel while “Perdida” was the last.
My first contact with him was when I was a very young boy somewhere in 1958, at that time I as a member of our village Choir group went to Panjim at Emisora de Goa to record some Motets. When audition test was going, he was present there and seeing me singing well he patted on my back. At Emisora de Goa as a full time employee, it was mandatory for him to prepare some songs and Tiatros of 30 minutes duration, weekly thrice. These Tiatros were aired on Sundays at 7.30 PM, Tuesdays at 5.00 PM and on Thursdays at 6.30 PM. Besides, he was responsible to script one programme of 30 minutes on every Saturday at 6.30 PM known as “Antu Babachi Gozal” directing against Bharat Serkar. Then again I met him at Siolim in 1968 when he organized a Konkani Show at Holy Cross Convent along with Cruz Noronha and others. Though not many but at least some romansi of his I read when I was a school going boy. Being a very good friend of my father who was his great admirer, Reginald used to send copies of his novels to my father and used to discuss with him finer points of his stories. After discussing with my father, he penned down his finest Romans “Nimanno Ugddas”, the story of this Romans begins in Candolim near the Cemetry.
He was not only an author but also a teacher because by reading his novels many Goans learnt Konkani in Romi script. In fact he was an institution by itself of Romi Konkani. His work in the field of Konkani writing was not to make money and in fact by writing Romansi he did not make money but only for the love of Mae Bhas. By nature he was a very humble man with no pride inspite of being a great author and a great musician. A great number of Goans Hindus and Christians learnt Romi Konkani by reading his Romansi which were very interesting. To give taste of his Romansi to the present generation, Tiatro Academy, Dalgado Academy and Konkani Academy must reprint some of his Romansi for the benefit of the new generation.
On this day 14.6.15 Dalgado Academy has already named its Hall after Reginald Fernandes and also taken a decision henceforth to mark this day annually at the Academy’s premises. This is a very good decision of Dalgado Academy. In Siolim close to his house where this function was organized a road was named after him. If the local Panchayat had to organize this function on its own it would have been much better because thru Reginald Fernandes the name and image of Siolim brightened. He was an asset of Siolim. It is an honour for Siolim to have such a great son and as such local Panchayat should have taken up this job of organizing this function. Good that his well-wishers like Joel D’Souza, Brazinho Soares, Alister Miranda, Bonaventure Pietro and others came forward to organize this function otherwise this man would remain as a forgotten hero like many remained. As it is, he was a forgotten on his 100th birthday.
During the function a beautiful Exhibition of his Romansi, letters and other such materials was organized by Brazinho Soares who is another independent institution that preserved most of the published materials in Romi Konkani. Brazinho Soares displayed around 100 Romansi of Reginald Fernandes besides Reginald’s letters and Post Cards.
To entertain the guests, some of his songs were also rendered by his friends and relatives including the wife of Johnson with the accompaniment of musical score provided prominently by the son of Johnson, Bonaventure Pietro, Alister's son and others.
During the function some of his admirers eulogised Reginald’s works and prominent among them were Reginald’s son, Dale Menezes, Mario Menezes, Fausto D’Costa, Joel D’Souza, Bonaventure Pietro, Jessie Dias and others. Among others, Cyriaco Dias, Wilmix and Sharon also attended the function.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.