JOE ROSE – THE WELL KNOWN
TIATRIST.
One of the best intellectual Tiatrists that I came across on Konkani Stage is none other than Joe Rose as he goes by his Stage name otherwise his real name is Jose Maria Mathias Ignatius Thomas D’Souza born on 31st July, in 1946 in Bombay and brought up also in Bombay only. I am sure many of the readers of this column will know the beautiful and glamorous lady, a Konkani Stage artiste in late sixties and in seventies, Carmen ROSE who dazzled the Konkani Stage in Bombay and in Goa and mesmerized the audience by her sheer beautiful looks, superb acting and melodious voice, is his sister. This relationship with his sister Joe Rose disclosed when he staged his Tiatro "Guneaum Konnacho" directed by Carmen Rose which was her maiden name and after her marriage "Lobo" was added to her maiden name. Earlier the stage name of Joe Rose was Master Joe because of his young age. According to elders, Master Vaz was the youngest Tiatrist to step in on Konkani Stage and precisely because of this he was called MASTER Vaz and after him came Bab Lipo in Airestedes Dias' DOIA Tiatro.
I saw Joe Rose first time on Konkani Stage somewhere in late sixties in the Tiatro at Narvenkar “Mattou”, Mapusa, he was then accompanying one of the Bombay troupes encompassing in its fold some of the topmost professionals when he as a handsome young man with his powerful voice rendered one of the beautiful songs on the great Goan Parliamentarian Dr. Francis Luis Gomes who represented South Goa in the Portuguese Parliament where he created a name and a fame for him. In fact when Dr. Gomes went to Europe he demanded from the Europeans not only the liberation for Goa but also for the whole of India and that too much before the Ghandis and Nehrus were born. For this song the Editor of UZVADD, the Konkani daily in Goa, Evagrio Jorge presented Joe Rose with one book "Eminent Goans" written by Mr. Evagrio Jorge only.
Then I started thinking how this young man became an apostle of Dr. Gomes? In fact I said to myself that he must be a real intellectual man in the midst of intellectually bankrupt class of Tiatrists many of whom lowered the Konkani Stage by washing their dirty linen publicly using cheap topics for their songs when the audience is least bothered on these topics and using vulgarity mainly by the third grade comedians. Then when I went deep into this matter, I came to know that this young man, this young dazzling Tiatrist, a songster, a composer and a playwright was the Student of St. Xavier’s High School, Dhobitalao in Bombay and also of St Xaviers College, Bombay from where he completed his graduation in English Literature – a great achievement indeed and then went on acquiring one more feather in his glittering Cap of educational background, that is B.ed and immersed himself in the dignified profession of a Teacher at Our Lady of Dolours, Marine Lines. While talking to him, I could recognize the power of his language and knowledge where he indicated that he was very well read in Shakesphere’s Dramas, French literature mainly Victor Hugo and many other world renown authors. At. St. Xaviers College he revived the dormant Konkani Mandal and was its elected Secretary for 2 years. Such an intellectual man should have been the president of TAG but I don’t know why he was not elevated to the presidency last time when he was already its vice-President. Only an educated and intellectual giant with his clean image and decent character can give dignified picture of TAG . This position is not meant for any Ladru – Pedru type of Tiatrist, especially a morally corrupt and intellectually bankrupt even though some of our corrupt politicians, it seems, are pushing unworthy candidates to the post of its presidency. According to my information, political pressure is working very hard to install unworthy candidates to occupy the chair of TAG presidency. The Tiatro fraternity must in unison raise its voice to put an end to this "chamchagiri" done by the cheap Tiatrists to occupy the top position in TAG. According to me some of the Tiatrists enjoying a little respect only because they are Tiatrists otherwise they are fit for nothing. It is time now for the Tiatrists to elect somebody from among them, the one who is really capable of doing this job well and not to escape from attending important meetings with the excuse "I am having my Tiatro today and hence I will not come for today's meeting". If you have your Tiatro and other functions then you be there only and not get involved in TAG. Those who got no time to devote for TAG then they have no right to be in TAG.
Thru his educational and intellectual achievements Joe Rose gave a booster to Konkani Stage then because in the absence of such intellectual giants the grandeur of Konkani Stage suffered thereby giving a low image of our Tiatros. Precisely, because of this, Tiatrists during those days were considered as low grade people lacking not only in good family background but also lacking in educational, social, moral and intellectual background and thus lacking in good character and good discipline. See how some of the current comedians exposing all their dirty characteristics because of the vulgar terminology they use on the Stage. By doing this they indicate first and foremost their hoi-polloi family background where they lacked good home discipline because of the defective parents. I have seen Joe Rose so many times on the Stage playing different roles including that of the comedian but never he used foul and vulgar language as few of our third class comedians use now to entertain the third class audience.
Coming from an affluent family background Joe Rose’s father was wielding lot of influence during those days in Bombay since he was owning in partnership with his friend a big Restaurant and a Bakery and many of the renowned Tiatrists were frequenting there as his customers. Hence, the Tiatro circle was not strange to Joe Rose because he was also mixing up with them. Besides this his father was the sole owner of Hotel Olympia situated close to Race Course Matheran. His father loved him too much and on one occasion for his birthday presented him as a birthday gift a lovely Pony.
“Tiatristpon” is the natural gift of God to Joe Rose and making good use of it he entered first time on the Konkani Stage when he was barely 7 years - that was a very tender age, in the Drama “Fatima Saibinn” and then followed by “Bernadette of Lourdes” staged both by Dr. Simon C. Fernandes, the Editor of Konkani Weekly "The Goa Times". By the time he reached to 15, he acquired name and fame and offers started pouring in for him to play different roles in different Tiatros from different directorts. While still a student in School and College, he came in contact with his colleagues namely Jalal Agha, Anup Kumar Gangoly (Asokh Kumar’s son) and Vijay Sippy - the son of the director & producer of the Film "Sholay", later on Vijay Sippy became renowned Bollywood artiste. Joe Rose also during his scholastic career participated in extra curricular activities such as elocution, debates and dramatic competitions and won prizes.
“Tiatristpon” is the natural gift of God to Joe Rose and making good use of it he entered first time on the Konkani Stage when he was barely 7 years - that was a very tender age, in the Drama “Fatima Saibinn” and then followed by “Bernadette of Lourdes” staged both by Dr. Simon C. Fernandes, the Editor of Konkani Weekly "The Goa Times". By the time he reached to 15, he acquired name and fame and offers started pouring in for him to play different roles in different Tiatros from different directorts. While still a student in School and College, he came in contact with his colleagues namely Jalal Agha, Anup Kumar Gangoly (Asokh Kumar’s son) and Vijay Sippy - the son of the director & producer of the Film "Sholay", later on Vijay Sippy became renowned Bollywood artiste. Joe Rose also during his scholastic career participated in extra curricular activities such as elocution, debates and dramatic competitions and won prizes.
After serving as a teacher for 8 years in Bombay, he migrated to Dubai where he worked as a Night Auditor at Oasis Hotel and as a part timer he taught at St. Mary’s School, in Dubai. He could do any type of role with perfection namely of a hero, villain, landlord and comedian and compose any type of songs. This is the rare quality a Tiatirst can possess.
Joe Rose is also a very good Playwright, director and lyricist in which capacity he wrote and staged his so many Tiatros, about a dozen, in many parts of the Konkani world, the most popular of them were “Imtteache Bhognar”, “Sukh ani Dukh”, “Dussreak Lagon” , "Arbi desh Amcho desh" and “Ekuch Rogot”.
As a songster, he composed innumerable songs in different categories such as solos, duos, duets, trios, quarters and rendered the same in Tiatros, Audio/Video Cassettes and All India Radio. Incidentally, after Alfred Rose, Joe Rose happened to be the second Tiatrist to record a Konkani Cassette, these Cassettes were marketed by India Book House and were put up for sale for standard price @ Rs. 35/- a piece. As a matter of interest, his Cassettes were even kept for sale in Soviet Russia. Besides, Joe Rose also produced his own Konkani Albums and rendered his voice for the Albums produced by other producers as well.
Joe Rose had unique distinction of acting with some of the great Tiatrists of yesteryears not only in Goa and Bombay but even in other parts of the world such as Gulf & London.
Being an excellent performer, he received accolades and honours from different organizations and institutions, eg: Cine Times Award for best character actor in 1990 and Kala Mogui Candolim, in 1993 for the services he rendered to Tiatros and GRAF for being the best lyricist.
Joe Rose is also a social worker having done yeomen services for the cause of Goans in Bombay in particular and for the society in general. In this direction, in Bombay at Dhobitalao he was instrumental in doing the campaign successfully to name one garden after the topmost Goan sportsman Walter D'Souza who as a member of the Indian Field Hockey Team took the Gold Medal at the 1948 Olympic competition. Incidentally, both Joe Rose and Walter D'Souza are the proud sons of Aldona that produced so many great stalwarts of Goa in different fields.
In spiritual aspects, Joe Rose did not lag behind when in fact he helped in the promotion of our religious activities, for example he served for two terms as the Confraternity Secretary at Our Lady of Seven Dolours, Marine Lines and also as Secretary of the Parish Council.
His greatest ambition is to immerse himself in Goan politics by first entering into local politics in his constituency, Aldona so that he can serve his own constituents better. However, he may plunge into any type of activity but his dramatic activities will continue.
In spiritual aspects, Joe Rose did not lag behind when in fact he helped in the promotion of our religious activities, for example he served for two terms as the Confraternity Secretary at Our Lady of Seven Dolours, Marine Lines and also as Secretary of the Parish Council.
His greatest ambition is to immerse himself in Goan politics by first entering into local politics in his constituency, Aldona so that he can serve his own constituents better. However, he may plunge into any type of activity but his dramatic activities will continue.
A.Veronica Fernandes.