. What is a society without culture, will people be happy or in pain, when our Konkani artistes are made to suffer?
. When our finest artistes have to leave their beloved Goa and go abroad for survival, it’s a sword through our cultural heart
. Our stage artistes have shown the state how self-employment can be done, without depending on govt. They only don’t want their work to be stopped. Is this too much to ask?
A society that cannot respect cultural artistes who serve as a direct link with the people is an empty society. If a land cannot support, care for and be sensitive to those who preserve our language and our culture and entertainment for the benefit of all, then we should all hang our heads in shame. Sadly, that is the case in present-day Goa, with the entire community of stage artistes without work and support.
They are looking for respect and dignity, what they deserve. And they are not going to anyone but only pointing out the truth. Their plight is Goa’s plight. If they are suffering, every person in Goa should look inside and feel their pain. It is also Goa’s pain.
Cultural artistes do not want government jobs. All they want is an environment to perform professionally
Says the great stage artiste and actor Rajdeep Naik referring to the government’s decision to give 16,000 litres of free water each month to each household. “We do not want 16,000 litres of free water. We want work. We want to practice our profession and earn and be self-sufficient.”
Political parties following the same path may offer free water and electricity, but ultimately professional artistes want their art to be respected and a platform is given for them to earn.
For the last five years, including the entire period under the Chief Ministership of Dr Pramod Sawant, the Film Finance Scheme where Goan films are financially supported by the government, is non-existent. The scheme is supposed to fund up to Rs 50 lakh, Rs 30 lakh and Rs 20 lakh for different categories of films. But for five years not a single rupee has been given for this.
Pained artistes and film-makers are asking if so many white elephant projects can be passed at inflated rates, can’t a scheme meant to encourage and keep alive film making in Goa, be kept alive.
Each stage director gives support to at least 25 families
Rajdeep Naik also points out that each director, in many ways helps 25 families to earn. Apart from artistes, there are musicians, light boys, drivers, transport helps, costume designers and tailors, suppliers of musical instruments. With 40 odd directors, we are looking at 4000 to 5000 people who benefit from the performances on stage, this figure could even go up depending on the number of shows or if outstation travel is involved.
Are Konkani cultural artistes, the last priority of the state?
Rajdeep Naik further adds, “During the entire period of the pandemic our cultural artists, were without work, as theatres were shut and all shows banned. Yet they sat at home and saw weddings, parties, fully functioning, nightclubs open and functioning for the major part. There were morchas and rallies and other political events. Also allowed. Was there no pandemic then? Why did they think of keeping only cultural activities stopped when we would have certainly taken all precautions?”
Incidentally, the ISL a national football tournament was conducted in Goa as well as an Asian level football tournament.
No one objects to the economy being supported and people earning to feed their families. But then why was the drama, tiatr, plays and music-loving Goans, and not tourists, deprived of culture and entertainment, which is part of their lives? So it is not only about not giving an opportunity to our artistes, our cultural jewels to perform and earn, you are also depriving the people of Goa, of such an important part of their lives, which enriches them.
This denial to the people is like a sword cutting through their cultural lives.
And what do we give them in return? FIR. Inquiries, threats when they speak the truth which is unpleasant to the ruling forces? When you do not care for artistes and give trouble to them, it’s like running a sword through the heart of a land. It is the government’s duty to promote culture, films, drama, music.
Why have so many top artistes left the land? Because they were forced to since the State did not care for them
When an artiste, writer, poet, singer, actor leaves his or her land, their place of origin, their families and their peoples and go to a different country far away, with a different culture to find jobs that are not connected with their art, it’s a very sad reflection of the land they come from.
So many artistes and directors have gone abroad because the State did not do its job of ensuring the financial stability of its artists. The finest artistes have left. They work in stores or in mid-level establishments and airports, some set up businesses but very few get to earn from their passion and their real talent. Their bodies are in foreign lands but their heart and souls, deeply saddened remain at home in Goa.
Does anyone have the right to hurt our artistes? When they have demanded nothing from the State? They only give back. When shows are planned, the government earns for the venue. It earns from the taxes that the show organisers pay.
Says, Francis De Tuem one of Goa’s best Tiatrists, much respected for his political songs. “Visionary artistes have already migrated. People have suffered. And the government is responsible. We have no support and yet we artistes preserve our culture. We also perform in Konkani and promote our precious mother tongue. Artistes communicate with society and send messages about many social, cultural and political issues that need to be addressed. Nobody has a direct link to the people as much as artistes do.”
Francis De Tuem further adds, “One of the main functions of any art form like tiatr is to spread awareness, veteran tiatrist William De Curtorim had said many years ago that one day the government will bring about a law favouring migrants. And now look what has happened. Even if the Bhumiputra bill was introduced just to get votes of migrants and would never really be done to actually benefit they, or pass the legal test, William De Curtorim, predicted this possibility years ago.
Our art and culture can be preserved only when cultural artforms are taught in schools
Comedian Sandeep Ambe makes an important observation when he says that culture in the form of arts should be taught in schools and colleges, but especially among young children. “Drama specialists, tiatrists and natak performers must be employed by educational institutions to teach as a part of the curriculum.” He explains that when that happens, the young will look forward to a professional career in the arts. When culture is looked at in this way, it will not be easy for any government to ignore it
He said, “By depriving young children of knowledge and access to culture and the arts, you are depriving Goa and Goans.
Most importantly, every voter has a sentiment liked deeply by cultural artistes. If you do good to them, people will be with you. If you hurt them, the pain will be felt by people.
