Herald Café: What is the subject of your documentation in Goa?
Rui Pires: I’m working on a documentary about the Portuguese heritage in Goa, material as well as intangible. These include sacred art, monuments, buildings, the Portuguese names of streets and houses, some reminiscences of Portuguese language between old families, the catholic ceremonies in the many churches, the dance and songs and also Fado.
HC: How did you come to do this documentary?
RP: Since 2007, I have been researching about the Portuguese heritage around the world. I was in Bhutan and Nepal these last two years, researching about the Portuguese Jesuit monks Estevao Cacela, Antonio de Andrade, John Cabral, Manuel Marques and other Portuguese Jesuits that were the first Europeans to arrive in these two countries in the Himalayas. In the beginning of the seventeenth century, they departed from Goa to Buthan searching for an old legend related to the ‘Gran Cathayo’ or ‘The Kingdom of Prestes Johan’, which was a very old Christian Kingdom believed to exist somewhere in Asia by the Europeans of that era.
Unfortunately, last year, my research was completely ruined by the terrible earthquakes in Nepal, of April 24 and May 12. I then used my work to help NGOs by producing videos and photography to be used to raise funds to help the victims of the earthquakes.
HC: Which areas in Goa are you covering?
RP: I spent most of my time in Fontainhas, the most “Portuguese” Neighbourhood in Panjim. I have also spent time researching in Old Goa. I ended my Goa documentary in Loutolim, where I interviewed Lady Maria de Lourdes Figueiredo Albuquerque, a live piece of Portuguese History. This lady’s life history lends itself to a great documentary. She lives in Figueiredo Palace, in Loutolim. In this palace we can find the best Portuguese heritage, especially furniture.
This would be an apt time to thank Sonia Shirsat, a wonderful Fado singer from Goa; the Cotta family, also Portuguese guitar players and fado singers; and Maria Inês Figueira, Director of Fundação Oriente Goa, all who have done great work in keeping the culture alive and have also helped me a lot with this documentary.
HC: Will Goa feature in any of your future works?
RP: I need to return to Goa in the near future. There is so much Portuguese legacy here that I think one needs to spend months to produce a complete documentary. The end purpose of my documentary is also to create some awareness in young people who see Goa as just a beach paradise with trance parties. I will also produce a book, some photography exhibitions in Portugal, a documentary movie and share most of this work with historians and researchers. I will start the processing work in May.
HC: Can you brief us about the other work you do?
RP: I have produced a documentary about the last rural villages in Portugal. From 2007 to 2014, I worked on a long term documentary about the nomad Berbere and Touareg tribes from Sahara desert and Atlas mountains in North Africa. This documentary about Berbere people will be exhibited nest July in Morocco, under invitation of the Portuguese Embassy in Morocco. Different exhibitions will take place in Rabat, Marrakech and Essauoira, where you can find a lot of Portuguese heritage.
I constantly produce history research and also work under assignment with many NGOs including USAID, MSH and CARE, producing photography to be used in reports, cause awareness about social causes, etc.
HC: What is your view of heritage in Goa?
RP: It is very important for the Goa and India Government to understand the importance of all this Portuguese heritage and to preserve it for future generations. This heritage now belongs to the people of Goa and India, but it also has great importance to the entire world. It needs to be promoted worldwide. The tourists interested in heritage tourism are the ones that spend more money in the local economy. I’m happy to see the efforts of the state government and concerned bodies to restore heritage monuments.
