The Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) and the tiatr fraternity have warmly welcomed the Goa government’s official assurance of support in securing a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage tag for tiatr, a unique and long-standing dramatic art form of Goa.
The announcement was made on the floor of the State Legislative Assembly, where a private member resolution received unanimous support across party lines.
TAG expressed its deep appreciation to all the legislators who backed the resolution, with special acknowledgment to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, who introduced the proposal.
The Academy also recognised the contributions of several other MLAs, including Jennifer Monserrate, Delilah Lobo, Venzy Viegas, Vijai Sardesai, Altone D'Costa, Cruz Silva, Viresh Borkar, Digambar Kamat, Carlos Ferreira, Rudolf Fernandes, Nilesh Cabral, Antonio Vas, Ulhas Tuenkar, and Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao.
TAG highlighted that it had already initiated the nomination process a few months ago. However, the formal resolution by the government was an essential step to move the application forward. A dedicated task force under the Department of Art and Culture is currently preparing the necessary documentation and groundwork for submission to UNESCO.
Renowned tiatrist and task force member Tomazinho Cardozo hailed the development as a proud moment for Goa. “Tiatr is a unique Goan art form with no parallel in the country. This recognition will give tiatr the global visibility it deserves,” I thank the Goa government and Tiatr Academy of Goa for their tireless efforts, he stated.
TAG President Anthony Barbosa described the Assembly’s support as a historic and unifying moment. “The bipartisan support for tiatr is a great encouragement. The government’s commitment will help us confidently move ahead with the necessary procedures,” he said.
Barbosa added that the BJP-led government under Pramod Sawant is fully committed to uplifting and preserving tiatr and its 133-year-old cultural legacy for future generations.
Fr. Doel Dias, a TAG member, noted that the initiative led by the TAG President has brought much-needed attention to tiatr. “The UNESCO tag will help preserve this rich tradition for future generations,” he said.
TAG Vice-President Marcos Gonsalves emphasised tiatr’s global reach through the Konkani-speaking diaspora and reiterated that the UNESCO tag would be the highest recognition of its cultural value.
The tiatr community now looks forward to a smooth nomination process and hopes for international recognition of one of Goa’s most treasured cultural traditions.
