On the tiatr stage, we come across hundreds of tiatr artistes who have written, directed, and acted in tiatrs and achieved tremendous success in life, but one finds very few tiatr personalities, who have not only written, directed or acted in tiatrs, but have also spent considerable time in doing research on tiatr and documenting the lives of tiatr artistes. The first among them is John Claro Fernandes, who passed away on Sunday, August 18, at his ancestral house in Quepem.
His mission on the tiatr stage was to present tiatrs of better quality and provide good entertainment to the tiatr lovers. He did succeed in his mission because, as time passed, it was observed that tiatr goers loved to witness his performances. He has the credit of being the first writer and director to complete hundred performances of one of his tiatrs – ‘Portugez Kolvont’. In all, over 200 shows of this tiatr were staged in Goa, Bombay and elsewhere.
Going through his journey on the tiatr stage, we find that he started his career on the commercial tiatr stage in the year 1953 when he staged his first tiatr entitled ‘Camil Bottler’. His first attempt – staging of ‘Camil Bottler’ – was a grand success, which gave him much needed encouragement to write, direct and stage more tiatrs. He served the tiatr stage actively and sincerely for over four decades — writing, directing and staging over 15 tiatrs and simultaneously documenting the contribution of most of the popular tiatr artistes of yesteryears. He published these articles in a local daily way back in the 1980s. His research articles on the lives of popular tiatr artistes of yesteryears are now preserved in a book – ‘Stalwarts of Tiatr Stage’ – published by ‘Omor Prakasxon’ in 2020.
Certainly, it was John Claro Fernandes, who through his research, found the exact date of staging the first tiatr – ‘Italian Bhurgo’ on April 17, 1892, in Bombay. In fact, it was he, who helped to write the history of Goan tiatr which we know today. It is because of this type of work that he can be called a tiatr artiste with a difference.
Born on December 5, 1930, John Claro Fernandes, as a youth, always showed keen interest in Goan culture.
He was attracted to tiatr. His idea of tiatr was not only entertainment, but he was also of the opinion that tiatr is the best medium to spread values of life in the society. He also saw that tiatr goers are educated through his tiatrs so that good values are inculcated in the tiatr goers.
Besides being a tiatr artiste, he was an excellent writer in Konkani in Roman script. He started writing in Konkani in Roman script since his childhood. As he grew up, he started contributing articles and short stories to numerous Konkani dailies, weeklies and monthlies. He also published a novel titled ‘Norsicho Mog’ in Konkani in Roman script in 1966.
Besides writing, directing and producing tiatrs, he has contributed a lot to Konkani tiatr through his radio plays at All India Radio, Bombay, before the Liberation of Goa and at All India Radio Panjim after the Liberation of Goa.
He was a dedicated protagonist of Goan tiatr and Konkani language, particularly Konkani in Roman script. Goan tiatr was his passion, and Konkani language was his identity. Even in the present times, at the age of 93, he was very enthusiastic to listen and to react to anything that was related to tiatr and to his mother tongue Konkani.
The Government of Goa honoured him with the ‘Goa State Cultural Award’ while cultural and literary institutions such as Kala Academy of Goa, Tiatr Academy of Goa, Dalgado Konknni Akademi, Gulab and other institutions awarded numerous awards and recognised his contribution to Goan culture and Konkani literature.
May his soul rest in peace!