walter menezesGoeant Konkani Romi Lipi Khoimche Suvater?

Goeant Konkani Romi Lipi Khoimche Suvater?

Ganv-bhoin Brenda Menezes hachi 'one-act plays in Konkani' hem pustok Goa
Konkani Academy hanchea asrea-khal porgott zala tem vachun jivak khos bhogli.
Mhojim un-unit porbhim bai Brendak, tachea hea molladik vaurak.

Ojeap dista bai Brenda-n, hem pustok Romi Lipin-n kaddinastanm Nagri Lipi-n
porgott kelem tem polloun. Ho mhuzo ek xinn koso taka, zalear ho ek amkam Romi
boroiteleank okmann koso zaun asa. Goeant aiz Romi Lipi-k mannacho dhorzo favo
korunk nam. Anim dista Goa Konkani Academy aiz Romi lipik bhed-bhav korta xi,
anim dista Academy fokot Nagrik tenko dita xi.

Hi Romi anim Nagri lipimchi dusmankai, kednam punn nopoit zait ghai? Kiteak
azun passun donui lipi-nk ek sarkho dhorzo kiteak favo zaunk nam? Unnench
mhollear aiz ponchvis vorsam odhik torui zalim, him lipink lagon Goeant
dusmankai cholta.

Mhojea bhurgea ponnar anvem zaitinch borovpam keleat, Goeant anim Bombaim
porgott zatelea soglea potramcher anim masikamcher punn soglim mat Romi lipin.
Punn aiz ponchvis vorsam odhik somplim punn azun Romi-chem kestanv azun jivem
assa tem polloun ojeap dista.

Zorui tor bai Brenda-n hench pustok Romi lipi-n porgott kelelem zalear koslem
unnem ponn aslem ghai? Nagri-n boroilem pustok Romi vachpeanchea athan
zobor-xem poddonam anim ugttea ponnim anv sangtam, anvui Nagri vachinam, karann
bhurgeaponnim thaun anv Romichi boroin anim vachun ailam. Romi-n boroilelim
pustokam aiz pordhesant vetele Goemkar mogan ghetat, vachtat anim pordhesan
vhortat. Nam zalear polle adle amche Konkani Romi boroinar zoxe porim
Romanxincho raza Reginald Fernandes, Joao Inacio de Souza, Bonaventuro Pietro
anim adi. Adle Tarvotti bhav tarvar vechea adim Reginald Fernandes-achi romanx
ghetlea bhogor tarvar vochonaslo. Aplo vell kitem torui mogan vachun sartolo
mhunn anim tenvui zalear amche Konkani Romi lipin.

Urbha mhaka bhogta polloun amchea tiatrist bhav-bhoineank, je dis-rat Romi
lipichi seva kortat ti polloun. Osoch ho Konknnicho anim Romi lipicho bhavtto
tumi unch dourunk mhuzo anvddo anim otreag zaun asat. Xabaski tumkam,
tiatrist bhav-bhoineank, Romi lipi tume azun jivi dourunk vaur kortat dekhun.

Khoim pavli amchi Konkani Romi lipi? Kiteak tika khas apleach putam-dhuvanim
pois dovorlea? Anim kednam Romi lipik favo to mhannacho zago mellot ghai?

Konknnicho Romi Borovpi,
Miguel Barreto, Kepem-USA


Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2007 02:40:02 -0700
Subject: BOOK ON HUMOROUS KONKANI PLAYS

To: goanet@lists.goanet.org

Book on humorous Konkani plays
by J P Pereira


‘Natt Yangann’ is a collection of humorous one-act plays in Konkani, written by Brenda Menezes and published by Cindy Publications, Quepem through the sponsorship of Goa Konkani Academy. The book comprises of five plays, written in a simple yet delightful language that is normally used everyday.The first play titled ‘Eka Lognak Sotra Vidhna,’ narrates the tale of an elderly spinster who refuses all proposals
and when she finally accepts one, other hurdles crop up. ‘Aai Bhandavelean
Dhanvli’ is about a mother, her naughty kids and a ‘good for nothing’
husband. Frustrated at not being able to control the misdeeds of her family,
she contemplates suicide... In ‘Hantrun Polleun Paim Soddunk Zai,’ a poor
peon, in an office, is under great tension. His sister-in-law is getting
married, his children want new clothes, and his wife wants to buy an
expensive gift and he has no money! ‘Eleisanv’ tells about corrupt
politicians and the new candidates who also will become corrupt while the
last play, ‘Aplem Thoddem Chintchem Papia’ warns a retiring employee to save
the terminal benefits or face the consequences.

Written in the Devnagiri script by a lady who was weaned in Konkani from her childhood by her parents and uncles, especially a maternal uncle who won laurels for his poetry, the five plays make for great reading. Besides the humour that is present, there is also a message in each play. The book would be a great buy for
individuals and schools, which could perform the beautiful plays for variety
entertainment programmes and annual days.

With great support and encouragement from her husband, Walter Menezes, who is also a writer, Brenda will continue writing more plays. Maybe someday, the lady will write a full-fledged Konkani drama.

All the best to Brenda, keep on writing.

http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=092951>>>>>>

Sanny de Quepem

Konkani Kovita "SOPON"

S O P O N



Tujea mona deger
Goribsannichim lharam mhojim
Tujea dolleani udelim
Tujea kallza vonttir
Koixttanchim chitram mhojim
Tujea vonttar ful'lim
Eksurim gitam mhojim....

Sopnant mhojea hanslom hanv
Koddu he jinnent mhoje
Eksuro naslom hanv

Ponn fantoddechea hanxea borobor
Jedna uttlom hanv
Tedna..... tedna
Mhojea dolleant mhojich dukham
Mhoje eksure jinnent
Mhojich eksurim gitam.


Walter Menezes
Kepem
(GULAB - Otubr 1987 - Pan 35)

Quepem-based Walter Menezes has been working to promote the tiny Konkani language for a long time now. Some of his experiences.
http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com/2008/12/24/697/

COLLECTION OF KONKANI BOOKS TITLES.....

COLLECTION OF KONKANI BOOKS.....


Contact Fausto V. Da Costa at email fausto@vsnl.net



HANSAT GAYAT NACHAT (R)
- by Pratap Naik, S.J.
It contains lyrics of Konknni nursery and children’s songs in Roman script, found in Hansun Khellun Gavum-ia Vol. 1 and 2 audio cassettes and CDs. pp. 52.
Year published: 2007 Price: Rs. 20/-




























Him Konkani Pustokam tumchea nodren hadpak Walter Menezes hancho sohokar asa
teach porrim TSKK (Fr. Pratap Naik, Fausto V. Da Costa, Micheal Gonsalves, Micheal Gracias, adi.)
Amchea kherit dinvas.

gaspar almeida
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Fausto’s FUTT: Vintage Wine!

Fausto’s FUTT: Vintage Wine!

Review of Fausto V. Da Costa’s award-winning Konknni play, Futt (the crack), in audio CD and book-form.

By: Walter Menezes


A week ago, I came across a collector’s item(s): the audio CD and the book in Romi script of Fausto V. Da Costa’s award-winning Konknni play, Futt (the crack).

The play immediately took me down memory lane. Some twenty-five summers ago, when one had to ‘book’ a Bajaj scooter and then wait for ages for your turn to come, the public transport was the best way to travel, especially the mini-buses, famous then as they are now, for the music that they played to make the journey comfortable. Futt, I still remember, was quite a hit those days and I must admit that I must have heard the play a number of times as I commuted to work from Kepem to Sanguem, a 15 km stretch with a long break at Curchorem, the mini-bus staying put till another one literally pushed it from behind!


The audio CD together with the book makes an excellent combination. A one-act play in the beginning, Futt was later developed into a full-fledged tiatr and staged for the first time at Patkar Hall in Mumbai in aid of Novem Goem, the Konknni daily in Romi script. Besides Mumbai, this tiatr was also staged in Goa and Pune and by the time Futt was nearing the ‘fifty-shows’ milestone, Faust-bab decided to release the audio cassette of the same. Incidentally, Futt received the ‘Man of the Year Award’ in 1983, instituted by Murli Deora, then President of BRCC(I).

Not many would know that Fausto V. Da Costa, the editor of Gulab, Goa’s popular Konknni monthly magazine in Romi script and The Goan Review, a bi-monthly Konknni-English family magazine, was once a professional tiatr ‘prompter’. Those were the days when the ‘prompter’ was much sought-after, coming as he did to the ‘rescue’ of many a singer and actor on stage. This experience, as also that of acting in a few dramas, held him in good stead. Faust-bab sure knows how to weave a story and keep the listener / reader glued to his seat.

Futt is the story of Hasten who leaves behind the wealth and riches of his father and marries Brenda, daughter of a carpenter and love of his heart. Ten years later when Hasten meets with an accident and is bed-ridden and Brenda goes to work to keep the fires burning, there is another fire which engulfs Hasten: he begins to doubt his wife!

The story takes another twist when Lovina, Hasten’s secretary, ensnares him. Marriage is on the rocks and there comes that moment when Hasten must now decide. Will he divorce his wife for Lovina or will love emerge victorious once again, through the rough and tumble of life? For answers, you will have to either listen to the CD or read the book in tiatr-form.

The dialogues have been carefully scripted. Sample this one when Hasten tells Brenda, “Mhojea papache polasint diamanti asat tachea von ek vorti diamant hea tumchea gorib ghorant asa ani dekhununch hanv sogllem soddun hanga ailam…” (There is this diamond in your humble home which is more precious than all the diamonds in my father’s palace and that is why I have left everything to come here…)

The cast of Wilson Mazarello (Hasten), Sharon Mazarello (Lovina) and others like Xavier Agapito, Bab Peter and Fausto Da Costa have put up a superb performance. But it is Deodita Da Costa as Brenda who really makes a difference. Her voice and the intensity with which she sings some of the cantos (story-related songs between acts), set to music by Babush, makes your heart skip a beat! Not to be missed is Zatam Fugar and Noxibak Roddtam.

We have not seen many tiatrists in recent times putting their scripts in book-form but with the establishment of Tiatr Akademi and a well-known tiatrist like the former speaker of Goa Assembly, Tomazinho Cardozo heading the institution, one hopes that others will soon follow Faust-bab’s footsteps.

And to Fausto V. Da Costa, all I can say is this: On(c)e more! On(c)e more!!

The book:
FUTT
Author and Publisher: Fausto V. Da Costa
Pages: 64
Price: Rs. 30/-

The Audio CD:
FUTT
Story, Dialogues, Lyrics: Fausto V. Da Costa
Music: Babush
Produced by: Dinfa Productions, Mumbai
Price: Rs. 150/-

Available at: (Book) / Goa Konknni Akademi, Panaji, Zito’s, Margao and other outlets. (CD) / Manfa Music, Margao, Goa.

Fausto V. Da Costa can be contact at fausto@vsnl.net

[This review has been published in the Gomantak Times and the writer,
Walter Menezes, can be contacted at walter_menezes@yahoo.com]

http://waltermenezes.blogspot.com/




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QUEPEM CHURCH - Part One (By Walter Menezes)

QUEPEM CHURCH

By: Walter Menezes

PART ONE:


DIOCESAN COMMISSION FOR SACRED ART
VOTES FOR HERITAGE


More than 183 X 2 days after the three-instalment article, Quepem Church: 183 not out! Should it be pulled down? appeared on Gomantak Times (see issues dated 8-10 May, 2008), Rev. Fr. Mario Vaz, the Parish Priest of Holy Cross Church, Quepem made public on May 24, 2009, the findings of the Diocesan Commission for Sacred Art and Heritage. A delegation of the Commission headed by Rev. Fr. Nelson Sequeira had visited the church on a fact-finding mission in the middle of November 2008 and had later submitted its report to the parish priest in January 2009. Fr. Sequeira was accompanied by conservation architect Ketan Nachinolkar, engineer Sylvester Souza and architect Jose Noronha.

But first, a brief background about the church.

The Quepem Church
The Holy Cross Church of Quepem was founded in 1825 by the Cathedral Dean Rev. Jose Paulo da Costa Pereira de Almeida. A chapel in the beginning and filial to the church of Paroda, it was made a parish by provision of 5.2.1833. After repairs the church was re-opened for the worship on 6.7.1889.
Rev. Almeida or ‘Deão’, as he is respectfully known in Quepem even today was born to Faustino da Costa Pereira de Almeida and Margarida Ignacia da Encarnação Netto in the City of Braga in Portugal. He arrived in Goa in 1779 and in 1787 shifted his residence from Old Goa to Quepem and founded a hamlet. He established, at his own expense, a public market, hospital, other facilities and the Church for the benefit of the inhabitants, as inscribed on the pyramidal structure in the churchyard. The Deão died on the 10th of January 1835 and is buried in the Se Cathedral in front of the altar of Nossa Senhora da Dores.

Over a period of time, with the faithful having increased manifold, a move to construct a new church on an adjoining plot was initiated by the then parish priest Rev. Fr. Michael Rebello. The plot in question was however ‘gifted’ by Cabido, trustees of the Deão estate, exclusively for the purpose of constructing a commercial complex. Unlike other churches in Goa, Quepem church has no assets at all and the motive behind the ‘gift’ was to generate the much-needed income for the church. Fr. Rebello’s move, therefore, ran into troubled waters.


Pulse of the People

Last year, from 22nd April to 3rd May, Fr. Vaz, in a fresh attempt, visited each and every ward of the parish to know the ‘pulse’ of the parishioners. In some kind of a referendum, there were three choices before the parishioners: a) should a new church be built at a new site? b) should the old church be demolished and a new church built in its place? and c) should the old church be saved and extensions made?

In the meantime, the GT article was creating ripples in Goa. Fr. Antonio Costa told GT (May 9, 2008): It should be renovated but the original structure, especially the façade, should be kept intact. Heritage activist Percival Noronha was up on his feet. ‘If this church goes down, it will be a big blow to heritage protection in the state,’ he said in another paper (TOI, May 11, 2008).

Margao and Two Churches

Derek Almeida, GT Editor, in a touching editorial (May 28, 2008), against the backdrop of the commencement of restoration work of Telaulim church, wrote, ‘There is something endearing about the churches that dot this tiny state of ours. The elaborate altars painted in gold, the numerous candles, the cherubs, statues, arched windows and wooden roofs are a marvel. These churches have provided material to several writers and photographers and have been the subject of numerous books.’ He further says, ‘Walk into the Holy Spirit Church in Margao and then take a trip to Grace Church, also in Margao and you will begin to appreciate the huge difference between the two.’ The editorial ends up with a message: ‘…the least we can do is think clearly before we sever our architectural links with the past.’

Report of the Commission

And now, for the ‘findings’ of the Diocesan Commission for Sacred Art and Heritage:

• The Commission found the Quepem Church of immense ‘architectural value’ and gave the opinion that the same should be preserved.

The church, by the way, was built during the Rococo period, famous for ‘the conchoidal forms sometimes changing into leaves and the leaves into flames’ (José Pereira, Professor Emeritus, Fordham University, NY, while participating in a symposium on ‘Amchem Goem’ in 2004.)

• The four-tiered altar with a cupola, carved of heavy wood and finished in gold, as also the intricate flooring, should be safeguarded.

• Of the other suggestions made by the Commission, one pertains to the reconstruction of the choir-loft. Such an exercise, the Commission felt, would increase the capacity of the church to accommodate another 150 parishioners.

Relics of the ‘barefooted friar’?

• The Commission also disclosed that in one wall of the nave they found a crypt containing the relics of an important dignitary. The inscription on the wooden lid covering the crypt having worn out, identity of this dignitary has become difficult, the Commission has said in its report.

www.palaciododeao.com throws up an interesting possibility. We are informed that ‘the Deão, Jose Paulo, arrived in Goa in 1779 along with the Archbishop, Dom Frei de Santa Catarina, famously known as the barefooted friar, who died in the Palácio do Deão and whose mortal remains are in the Church of Quepem.’

Food for thought: Could the relics be those of the Archbishop, Dom Frei de Santa Catarina?

As for the result of the ‘referendum’, majority of the parishioners ‘voted’ that the old church should be saved and extensions made.

Percival Noronha and other heritage activists can heave a sigh of relief!





1. The main altar


2. The pelican above an arch in the nave




3. The intricate flooring


4. The central arch


5. The grave of Deão inside Se Cathedral, Old Goa


Pics: by Dale Menezes

END OF PART ONE

(The above article appeared on Gomantak Times, Goa on 3rd and 4th July, 2009)

http://waltermenezes.blogspot.com/2009/07/quepem-church-part-one.html

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QUEPEM CHURCH - Part Two (By Walter Menezes)

QUEPEM CHURCH

By: Walter Menezes


PART TWO:


A new plan for Quepem Church:
HOW THE OLD CAN ‘C0-EXIST’ WITH THE NEW


Yesterday we read about the ‘findings’ of the Diocesan Commission for Sacred Art and Heritage (DCSAH) regarding Quepem Church, details of which were made public by the Parish Priest, Fr. Mario Vaz in the second half of May, 2009.
While heritage activists all over Goa may have heaved a sigh of relief, parishioners of the church were not upbeat although a majority of them had ‘voted’ that the old church should be saved and extensions made in an ‘exercise’ conducted by the parish priest in the last week of April 2008.
The suggestion of the Commission that the existing choir-loft be repaired to accommodate another 150 parishioners did not strike the right chord in the minds of the faithful. This writer who spoke to a cross-section of parishioners found this oft-repeated question being asked, ‘Is the choir-loft the only solution to increase the capacity of the church?’

The young architect
Parishioners of Quepem Church need not lose hope. Even before DCSAH could inspect the church in the month of November 2008, Ivor Gomes, a young architect from Quepem, was already spending hours surfing the net and leafing through churches-related journals. A Book of World Architecture showcasing the glorified structures of ancient, classical, medieval and other periods was his constant companion.
Struck by the heritage bug, Ivor is all praise for the magnificent churches of Goa that have withstood the test of time. When asked what was so ‘lasting’ about them, he summed it up in a few words, ‘Lime theory lasts longer than concrete theory!’
Working on a 1:500 scale survey plan sourced from the survey department, Ivor began designing a plan which would not only save the ‘heritage structure’ but at the same time increase the capacity of the church by about 500. After the drawings were complete, he worked tirelessly to prepare the 3D Model of the church using AUTO CAD, so that the common man could see how the church would look from all angles.
Ivor’s result is a stunning combination of how the old can co-exist with the new! In the process, the young architect has not only been able to increase the capacity of the church to meet the needs of a large gathering on a Sunday service, he has also incorporated two new bell-towers and additional façades to enhance the aesthetic look of the church.

The ‘feel of a cathedral’
Quepem Church was originally a chapel dedicated to Holy Cross and catered to the religious needs of the hamlet founded by ‘Deão’. The altar dedicated to Holy Cross still occupies a place of pride inside. The chapel was subsequently ‘converted’ into a church, but unlike most churches in Goa, the ‘transept’ was missing.
‘The survey plan gave me enough ‘space’ to plan a ‘transept’ which in no way harmed the nave of the church. This way the church will retain its heritage part while making the extension possible,’ explained Ivor. Only the copelmar (sanctuary) housing the main wooden altar dedicated to Our Lady of Piety will have to be demolished. ‘This altar will then move further by about 12 meters from the imposing ‘central arch’ into an opening in the wall of the transept,’ he added. Quepem Church, like the other churches in Goa, will then acquire the shape of a cross to symbolize the crucifix.
By introducing two bell-towers on either arm of the transept and the additional façades, the young architect has succeeded in giving the church the ‘feel of a cathedral’. ‘But they are there with a purpose. The way to the balconies on either side of the transept will be through these bell-towers. And the new façades will compliment the existing one!’ Ivor elaborated. With the stairs making access to the roof easy, these bell-towers would also make maintenance and other functions effortless.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
That is not all. He plans to convert the existing sacristy into a sacred place for the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. ‘The setting is perfect. There is an old altar against a wall which has a large antique painting showing Jesus on the cross and (I think) St. John and Mother Mary on either side. This wall-painting, and others in the sacristy, will have to be restored.’ Ivor said but is quick to add, ‘Let this plan be only the starting point, some kind of a diving-board to take the plunge.’
He knows that there will be changes and modifications. The views of the parishioners and those of the DCSAH will have to be taken into account. But like so many parishioners, Ivor Gomes is of the firm opinion that the ‘process’ which began last year should come to its logical conclusion and not be indefinitely ‘shelved’.
It is now time for the Diocesan Commission for Sacred Art and Heritage to ‘rise’ to the occasion and show the world that the ‘old can co-exist with the new’!




FACT FILE:
Seating capacity after construction of transept with balconies and repairs of choir-loft (conservative figures)

Nave

200

Choir-loft

125

Transept with balconies

475

TOTAL CAPACITY
800



Pics:

1. Plan of existing church



2. Plan of extension with dimensions


3. Sitting arrangement in extension


4. The additional balconies


5. The ‘old and the new’



6. Final look, NW top


7. Final look, NE view


8. The wall painting in sacristy (Pic: by Dale Menezes)



9. Ivor Gomes, architect


(The above article appeared on Gomantak Times, Goa on 3rd and 4th July, 2009)

Kindly send your valuable suggestions to Quepem’s young architect,
Ivor Gomes. His email address is: ivor7080@yahoo.com

END OF PART TWO

http://waltermenezes.blogspot.com/2009/07/quepem-church-part-two.html
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