They are our cultural ambassadors and warriors. They voice what Goa feels on stage. They compose, sing and act. As actors, singers and comedians, they send strong messages to society and its ruling powers. They entertain with their hearts. They are Goa’s performing arts exponents – tiatrists, producers and actors – in Konkani nataks, musicians and the entire industry which supports Goa’s traditional art forms. In terms of reach and popularity, tiatr has its stars and foot soldiers and many upcoming and future biggies. Each of them is respected, honoured and loved not just in Goa, but actually revered by the Goan community abroad, recognised and felicitated.
Goa’s politicians though have often used tiatr to score political points and take potshots at their opponents. But as Goa observes and celebrates 60 years of Liberation, it has failed to protect and preserve an art form that survived and thrived not just during the Portuguese-era but for the next 60 years and counting. When the pandemic stopped, the need to revive every profession and small business was discussed, from taxi drivers to hoteliers to nightclub owners. Casinos were almost regarded as essential service. But no one spoke of our stage performers.
IT IS A SHAME ON THOSE WHO GOVERN GOA THAT MANY PERFORMING ARTISTS WHO ARE PROTECTORS OF GOA’S UNIQUE ART FORMS ARE WONDERING WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL IS GOING TO COME FROM.
Today some of them are on the roads selling fish. Many cannot afford to pay fees for their children’s education or their EMIs to service their loans. In turn the allied professions supporting performance artists like fabricators, production assistants, light and equipment suppliers etc are all facing penury. Did you hear a single voice of support for our cultural ambassadors? Did a single politician across political parties speak of the need to protect the community of performing artists who are our assets, our treasures? Was there even a hint of a suggestion encouraging performing artists to work on shows and performances which the government would support, to be shown online?
But as one of the doyens of Goan tiatr had once lamented, ruling parties have seen tiatrists as the “other”. As foes who expose them. If only they were seen as messengers genuinely conveying the feelings and needs of the people, a little bit of empathy towards our cultural warriors would have been shown.
But here you have an art form that not just earns for itself but gives to the State. Let the government come clear on how much they have earned from taxes from tiatrs in the last decade. One of the main sources of income for government-supported auditoriums is plays of all kinds. Isn’t it time to give back?
While the pandemic has made everyone who are custodians of Goa’s culture realise that they don’t really have any backing, let us also look back on how unique cultural traditions and events are now being seen as ‘business’ by a government. We are aware that during the carnival, the contract to organise is given to one ‘big fish’ who in turn allots work to local artists across towns and villages. Those in the know speak of how 30 to 35 per cent is charged as fees by event companies or other big fish when works are allocated. At the same time, we forget that the carnival is a simple tradition harking back to the ages, followed by Christians. This is solemn. These are time tested traditions followed by the community. Hence when work for carnivals is allocated this needs to be respected before giving the work of holding one of the biggest cultural events to be handled by a professional events company. At the same time, the Shigmo festival’s organisation should be in the hands of traditional Hindu artists locally with no ‘big fish’ cornering the funds. They should directly get funds locally and not through middlemen. Or big daddy event companies.
Let us ask this to the powers that be: 1) Are we respecting our artists and cultural ambassadors? 2) Do we care when they are struggling financially? 3) Do we treat these art forms as State treasures or as businesses?
The custodians of Goa’s culture are indeed gasping for oxygen. Let us also not forget that these are emotional communities and take decisions from their hearts. If they feel betrayed or cheated, they will express themselves when they next choose who should govern their State which they love more than their lives.
