It is a hard fact that Konkani Tiatro since its inception or birth on 17th April 1892 proved to be a strong weapon to fight against injustice in diverse fields. In the beginning stages it fought against the social evils existing among us in Goa like discrimination based mainly on caste system. The effect of caste system getting diminished to a large extent now was due to the tireless campaign from the Stage by our elder Tiatrists, during those days. Secondly lessening of the arrogance and pride of Bhattkars against the Mundkars was also due to the fight vehemently carried forward by the Tiatrists. Besides there are so many other unjust events against which the Tiatrists have fought from the Stage, even the arrogance and discrimination the Church has practiced in the Church against the lower segment of the faithful, sadly with the silent nod of the Church leadership. However, the greatest fight the Tiatrists did and still doing and in all probability will do even in future, is the political fight against the government machinery that is malfunction. This political battle was started in Goa after the invasion of Goa by Bharat on 19h December 1961. During the Portuguese regime in Goa, Tiatrists were prohibited to handle this issue by the dictatorial Salazarist regime. Other than politics and critics against the government, Tiatrists were allowed to criticize anyone and anything. The political campaign in Goa against the Goa government first time started on Goan Konkani Stage was immediately after Indian democracy took birth in Goa in December 1962 when in Mapusa the greatest political singer Tiatrist in the Tiatro history, the legendary Kid Boxer and the Trio Kings namely Conception-Nelson-Anthony were arrested for rendering political songs critical of the new Bharati government. Earlier, in Bombay the mighty Kid Boxer in late fifties was arrested, tortured, sentenced, imprisoned and deported to Goa for criticizing Bahrati government for showing its lust for Goa. Besides, M. Dod de Verna and M. Boyer also joined in singing political songs. During the Opinion Poll, in the absence of strong Konkani and English media help we won the Poll because the Konkani Stage and Tiatrists were in unison used the Stage to campaign very hard against the merger even though the top English and Marathi Press was supporting the merger. The work during this time done by the Tiatrists to save Goa from getting merged with Maharastra, must be kept written in golden letters for posterity to know. The scripting of political Tiatros started with the staging of Tiatro “NATIONALIST” somewhere in 1964 by Nelson Afonso and the crescendo for singing songs against Goa government headed by Dayananda Bandodcar reached in mid sixties and to arrest this trend in late sixties Bandodcar introduced entertainment tax on Tiatros only to punish Nelson Afonso of Trio Kings for his anti-MGP campaign from the Stage. Bandodcar and his MGP government were terribly afraid of the fury of Tiatrists against him and his government and he was deadly afraid of Nelson Afonso and his Trio because they were all three powerful politically. To pacify Nelson Afonso who was the main brain behind the Trio Bandodcar was ready to do anything. According to one source closer to Bandodcar, once Bandodcar even sent some feelers to Nelson Afonso asking him “whatever you want I will give you but stop your tirade against me and my government”. But Nelson was Nelson, true son of his true Goan father, for him his principles were more important than the illicit material benefits and thus Nelson Afonso declined this rosy offer of Bandodcar. That was the integrity and quality of those days Tiatrists In fact, Bandodcar was more afraid of Tiatrist and especially the Trio Kings than all the 12 MLA’s of Opposition party UG. And to pacify Nelson Afonso and his Trio Kings, like a coward, Bandodcar withdrew the entertainment tax for Nelson’s Tiatro “Dolorosa” which was staged on moving Stage first time in the history of Konkani Stage. Now there is lot of noise in Tiatro circle because the government has introduced GST to Tiatros as well. How much is it? 18% to 20% ? I am sure Tiatro goers will not care for this GST because for the love of Tiatros they will undergo any sacrifice and hence this GST will not have much negative effect on Tiatros though it is not correct to impose GST on Tiatros. Hence, the government should withdraw it immediately., otherwise, the campaign of Tiatrists against this government will surely force the government to withdraw it. A.Veronica Fernandes.
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