Mauricio Pereira puts his Arabic language skills to good use for Goan community service in Qatar
Mauricio Pereira was honoured for his role as a ‘tiatr promoter’ at a function in January organised by Kala Niketan in Goa. He was among the few Goans across the globe to be conferred with the honour.
THE GOAN NETWORK | DOHA
Mauricio Pereira was caught in a situation, not of his own making but one which was thrust on him in Doha-Qatar. He was given a three-month ultimatum by his Egyptian boss to learn Arabic language and make the supervisor post his own.
He was new to the job and new to the language, but not for long. Not only did he make Arabic an integral part of his life but he is one of few Goans in Qatar who speaks the language fluently.
ARABIC LANGUAGE SKILLS
Mind you, Mauricio, who is the third generation of the Pereira family in Qatar, has not attended any school imparting Arabic language lessons before taking up the job or during the three-month job ultimatum. All his Arabic language skills are through his interpersonal interactions with former colleagues and later his friends from a wide world of native Arabic speakers.
Born in Sao Jose De Areal and later settled in Curtorim, Mauricio with Arabic language mastery under his belt works as a senior administrator and liaison officer, a job which involves liaising with several government officials with various ministries in Qatar.
Recalling his first few days as an Arabic language learner, Mauricio said: “When I took up the job in January 1985, almost all the people working in the company were Arabic speakers and from Egypt. I was the only Indian and thus was asked by my supervisor to learn the language fast, so that I can communicate effectively and rightly with my co-workers.”
“I took up the challenge and was successful, it was a lot of hard work. It was like going back to school. Keeping notes and practising them after work at home. But it was a sweet success.”
Mauricio knew Qatar from 1969, the year he landed in Qatar as a child and spent a few years in that country before he was sent off to Goa to do his school stories while his parents worked in Qatar.
“I was one of the four children who were born in Goa, while my two siblings were born in Qatar. As English medium schools were yet to be established in Qatar in the early ’70s, I was sent to Goa to attend school. So, my children are the fourth generation of my family in Qatar.”
Once in Goa, the child in Mauricio blossomed to the fullest, and one thing after another followed, whether it was playing volleyball for his school St Rita HS Maina or Maina Sports Club, he took thrills in them and cherishes them till date.
LOVE FOR TIATR
But one thing which stands out is his utmost dedication and love for the Konkani stage.
“My love for Tiatr and Khell Tiatrs took shape along with granny under whose care I spent my school holidays in Goa. We used to walk and go distances to watch Konkani Tiatr in and around Curtorim and Sao Jose de Areal,” recalls Mauricio.
Fired by the passion of the Konkani stage, he wrote a few one-act plays and Khell Tiatr which he staged in a few villages in Salcete and also in the government competition at Gomant Vidya Niketan Hall.
Once he landed in Qatar in 1985, his acting and writing of Konkani plays took a back seat but only for a few years.
The fire burning inside was kept on hold until in 2012, when he staged a Konkani Tiatr in Qatar for the first time in his individual capacity and not under association banner in 2012.
“Most of the top directors of Goa have performed in Qatar and all of them were brought to Qatar by us and all the arrangements were made by us. Jacob, Roseferns, Mario Menezes, Samuel Carvalho, Mariano Fernandes and Shanu Almeida Kuwait (musical show) have all performed under my individual banner.”
Mumbai singers Succorina and Nefi Rodrigues have also performed in Qatar, he informed.
“For all these years of service, I wish to thank Polly de Curtorim and late Caitan, both ex-Qatar residents and of course, my wife and family, who have been supportive and helping me promote Konkani stage artistes.”
He lamented that Konkani lovers in Qatar are feeling the absence of Tiatr for a variety of reasons.
“First came the Gulf blockade followed by Covid and then the FIFA World Cup, during which all the old halls were demolished.”
“Hopefully things will be better,” said the avid Konkani stage follower, who during his short holiday in Goa used to watch three Tiatrs in a day some 20 years back.
Besides Tiatr, Mauricio has been actively involved in community service and his language skills have come in handy in many a Goan in wrangling out of tight situations owing to miscommunication.
