PANJIM: It was a birthday gathering like none other. The amphitheatre of the museum Houses of Goa at Torda in Porvorim was a packed house. On stage was the Cotta family crooning some of the favourite songs of this humble man who has touched the lives of many through his quirky art that has earned him accolades the world over. The evening of May 2, 2016 saw people gather in large numbers for one purpose only – to commemorate the 90th birth anniversary of one of Goa’s most precious sons of the soil, and perhaps the most underrated of them all – Mario de Miranda. And when the birthday song was sung, Mario was right there looking at the gathering from up there, perhaps in the company of yet another jewel that Goa recently lost and the heavens gained – Mario’s favourite musician and friend Emiliano da Cruz.
The makers of the evening had roped in two of Mario’s favourite musicians – The Cotta Family and Sonia Shirsat and her group – to sing some of Mario’s favourite songs. Sonia, minutes before her performance, reminiscing about Mario, said, “I had the privilege of knowing Mario Miranda, unfortunately only for the last few years of his life. He was a very sweet person to meet and to talk to. He had promised me once that he’d draw me, unfortunately that never happened. Something that will always stay with me is the fact that although it was very difficult for him to walk and he had to be on a wheelchair, he still came all the way to Kala Academy and attended my concert. He sat through the entire concert. This was in 2011. It was very special for him to come, of course with Habiba by his side always. He is fondly remembered and fondly missed as well.”
Mario Gallery, the organisers of the evening, had also put up an exhibition selling Mario’s original art, at the venue. The evening also saw the release of a book, ‘The Life of Mario 1949’ where some of Mario’s friends and family members have been featured. When asked to comment about Mario, Gerard da Cunha, Curator of Mario Gallery said, “It has given me a great pleasure to be doing what I’m doing – editing his books, bringing out his diaries, and so closely following his works – it has given me a lot of pleasure. It has also given me a great insight into life – into looking at the humorous side of life instead of looking at a side that is harsh and so violent. I have travelled with him to a lot of places. Mario was a quiet man. He was the observer. He never talked much. I don’t think he was a very vociferous kind of a guy. If he had to be here today, he would probably be saying, ‘What’s the big fuss about?’ That’s Mario.”
Life of Mario 1949:
The book ‘The Life of Mario 1949’ is the latest in the series which include 1950 and 1951. In this diary, Mario is 22 years old and is studying at St Xavier’s college in Mumbai and is busy studying between watching films. He takes frequent trips to Daman and Goa and starts getting small commissions. The Diary is the centre of his life and it is in the latter half of this diary, that Mario displays an originality which will catapult him to be a great artist.
