The fourth edition of Semana da Cultura Indo-Portuguesa(Goa) is being held in Lisbon, Portugal from October 10 to 15. The idea behindorganising this festival in Portugal isto showcase Goa’s cultural heritage in the European country which ruled Goa forover 450 years. The activities planned to display Goa’s culture in Portugalinclude art, music, cuisine and cinema. However I sincerely feel that the mostpopular dramatic form of Goa - Tiatr “ should have been included for stagingduring the Goan cultural week in Portugal.
Tiatr is a unique dramatic form of Goa which was evolved inGoa during the Portuguese domination over Goa in the 19th century. Although thefirst tiatr ‘Italian Bhurgo’ adapted from an English opera by Lucasinho Ribeirowas staged in Bombay yet it flourished in Goa during the Portuguese rule. Theword ‘Tiatr’ was spelt as ‘Teatro’ during that time. The Portuguese word‘Teatro’ means Theatre in English.
Why should the tiatr have been a part of the culturalpackage to be showcased in Portugal? Simply because tiatr is truly a part and parcel of Goa’s culture. Tiatrfocuses on each and every important happening that takes place in Goa. It deals with all aspects of life such associal, religious and political. Tiatr has been very successful in convincingpeople against the merger of Goa into Maharashtra during the Opinion Poll in1967, it played a very important role in making Konkani the official languageof Goa in 1987 and it became a very effective tool in creating awareness amongthe people to oppose Nylon 66, SEZs, Regional Plan and so on.
In brief the Tiatr has taken deep roots in the Goan societyparticularly among the Catholic community of Goa. In fact it is the mirror of the Goan societyand hence staging of a tiatr during the ‘Semana da Cultura’ in Portugal wouldhave been most significant and meaningful activity. Unfortunately theorganisers preferred to neglect such an important cultural aspect of Goa.
Yet another important part of Goan culture that does notfind place in the ‘Semana da Cultura’ is the Goan Mando as well as the Dulpods.Goan Mando is the fusion of both East and West which adds to the uniqueidentity of Goa. By side-lining the Goan Mando, I feel, we tend to project incompletepicture of Goan culture.
I always feel that showcasing Goa’s culture meanshighlighting the cultures of both the communities of Goa “ Hindus as well asChristians collectively. It is because of the fusion of these two cultures thatwe proudly state that Goa is unique from the rest of the states in thiscountry. This balance needs to be maintained in order to present Goa and Goa’sculture in the true spirit.
‘Semana da Cultura Indo-Portuguesa (Goa) is organised everyyear, which means Goa’s culture is showcased every year by the organisersthrough ‘Semana da Cultura’. It will be prudent on the part of the organisersto include a Goan Tiatr as well as a Goan Mando while showcasing Goa’s culturein their programs in the future.
