Goa State Cultural Award is a huge achievement. You can ask any of the 12 recipients of this year’s Goa State Cultural Award and they will tell you with a huge smile, that it one of their greatest awards being conferred by the State of Goa. When Linda Alice Diniz Braganza from Panjim got the news that she is awarded the Goa State Cultural Award, she was at a Mando Festival. With the excitement, she rushed to her mother, Sebastiana Diniz’s house to give her the good news. “I was expecting the award but I was so happy that I wanted to share the joy with my 89 year old mother, who still plays the mouth organ. I was so proud to tell her that I won the Goa State Cultural Award and I am grateful to the Directorate of Art & Culture for this honour,” says Linda, who still trains children to play the piano.
The reason Linda went to her mother first is the same as most of the awardees. They all were encouraged by their parents to pursue their dreams. Linda’s parents, late Mariano and Sebastiana, made sure all four children learnt to play musical instruments. “Since I was the third born in the family, I had to patiently wait for my turn to practise playing the piano at home. I have won numerous awards in school, college and different competitions. I was trained by late Elsa Martin, Philomena Afonso and by late Philomena D’Cruz, who trained me to complete Grade 8 in piano through the Trinity College of Music, London,” says Linda who was part of Goan bands like ‘The Bees’ and ‘Ecstacy.’ She has also performed for Mother Teresa and His Holiness Pope John Paul II during their visit to Goa. “I would like to advice parents to encourage their children to learn at least one musical instrument. It will help them in many ways and music removes stress and tensions. It is important to practice every day,” says Linda, whose students include Pearl Viegas, a music teacher at Kala Academy and Alister Menezes who plays in the band, Brothers-in-Arms.
The recipients of ‘Goa State Cultural Award 2022-23’ include Ashwini Zambaulikar and Surya Shetye in the field of Indian Music, Linda for her contribution in Western music, Jose Antonio Augustinho Fernandes and Pedro Ciriaco Barbosa in tiatr, Tulshidas Kavlekar and Gopal M Raul for drama and Devidas Kadam and Venkatesh alias Anil Kamat Shankhwalker for their contribution in literature. Suresh Mayekar will be awarded for Bhajan, Anita Kundaikar for folk art and Mauricio Fernandes for fine-art (handicraft).
Mauricio is no stranger in the world of arts in Goa. Looking at his father, Lawrence mastering carpentry, Mauricio found thermocol as a great medium to start his artistic journey. A former government employee in the PWD, he loves to work on creating works of wonder on wheels, through the Carnival floats, village serenades and even mesmerising the tiatr audience with his beautiful stage deco. A resident of Fondvem, Ribandar, he joined the team of Francisco Martins, and has created some of the best floats for the Republic Day Parade since 1961. In 1982, he was appointed as the Art Director for Cultural Troops Camp ASIAD - 1982 in Delhi. He also was instrumental in decorating the altar for Pope John Paul II's visit to Goa in 1986.
Anita Kundaikar has been in the field of folk dance and drama for the last 43 years, encouraged by her husband and a dramatist himself, Ajit Kundaikar. A Yashadamini awardee, she has trained many children to dance as an instructor at Bal Bhavan centres as well as through Nav Durga Kala Darshan in Kundai. She has been a resource person to many Mahila mandals and institutes where she has taught them to dance the Dhalo, Dekhni and other forms of folk dances. “I feel this is a huge victory for my hard work. I am happy for this honour by the Government of Goa and this now motivates me to complete the future challenges,” says Anita, whose daughter, Aditi and granddaughter are also learning the art of folk dance. Through her folk dances, Anita has travelled across the country with her dance troupe and even won the Republic Day Parade best folk dance award in 2003.
Not many are aware that Ashwini Zambaulikar is the only woman foot harmonium (paim petti) player in Goa, a musical instrument that requires the coordination for both, hands and feet. A singer, musical composer, director and TV and radio artist, she has students ranging from the age of 5 to 80 years, learning music with her. Inspired by the dedication to the arts by her mother, a noted actress, Lila Adnekar, Ashwini started performing in nataks and orchestras from the age of six years. Over the years, she has received 119 felicitations for her contribution to the world of Indian music. Her most recent music composition can be heard in the video, ‘Tu Dislyabagar,’ directed by her son, Ugam. “This award is a fruit of my labour and I am honoured that the state of Goa thought that I deserve this award. It’s my good fortune and blessing to receive this award,” says Ashwini humbly.
Devidas Kadam from Canacona retired as a English and history teacher at Shree Shradhanand Vidyalaya, Poinginim. However, as a writer, he has enriched the world of Goan literature with 14 books in Konkani, English and Marathi. His first book, ‘Dika’ was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Konkani book was later translated into English, Hindi, Marathi and Kannada. From novels, short stories, drama and poetry, he has written books on various social issues that he has observed at the grass roots level. “I started reading when I was in class 7 and that habit of reading from childhood really helped me as a writer. I draw inspirations from the different people I meet in life and the issues that have troubled me and them. The next books will include, ‘Nagin Bhool’ and ‘Chukiche Paval’ in Konkani,” says Devidas, who has won many awards including the Best Script award for ‘Sangeet Damanyanti’ by Kala Academy.
Anthony San need no introduction for Konkani music lovers. His great voice is so distinctive that anyone will be able to guess the singer without even looking at him take the stage. Jose Antonio Augustinho Fernandes has been singing on the Konkani stage for more than 55 years. He started his career as Anthony de Sanvordem, a tribute to him village which later was shortened to Anthony San. Anthony’s father, late Sebestiao, was a violin and trombone player and accompanying him for tiatr, he fell in love with the performing arts. He was also a part of the English operetta by maestro Lourdino Barreto, ‘Princess Aida’ and he also performed in the English operettas in Margao, ‘Gypsy Love’ and ‘La Belle Helen’. He has won numerous awards for his contribution to tiatrs, including the Lifetime Achievement award by Kala Academy and Tiatr Academy of Goa. “It is a great honour to get the top most award in the state for Art and Culture and to be recognised for our work by the Government of Goa,” says Anthony San.
Recipients of Best Cultural Institution Awards 2022-23 are Pandurang Prasadik Natya Mandal, Sankhali-Goa.