Photo Credits: tiatr
On Monday December 14, we celebrate the 144th birth anniversary of Joao Agostinho Fernandes of Borda- Margao, who along with Lucasinho Ribeiro, Caetaninho Fernandes, Agostinho Mascarenhas and Fransquino Fernandes, presented the first ever tiatr Italian Bhurgo scripted by Lucasinho Ribeiro on April 17, 1892 at the New Alfred Theatre at Bombay.
Joao Agostinho Fernandes was born on December 14, 1871 to Conceicao and Maria Francisca Fernandes. After his initial studies in Goa, as was the practice of the day, he went to Bombay and enrolled himself at St. Xavier’s in Dhobitalao from where he passed out his matriculation examination taking up a job of a chemist at Phillips and Company for quite a few years. Getting richer in knowledge and experience, he partnered with a Parsi and started a drug store called Shorabji Hormusji and Co at Crawford market, Mumbai. But when the Bristish banned the import of drugs from France, the business was forced to shut down.
Initially known as ‘Comic Fernandes’ probably due to the funny roles he portrayed, Joao Agostinho gave nearly 5 decades of dedicated service to Konkani tiatr. And although he was called Pai Tiatrist during his lifetime, the title of ‘Pai Tiatrist’ was officially conferred upon this great artiste posthumously by one of his prodigees, J P Souzalin, on 25 January 1957 during the presentation of his tiatr Bebdo at Princess Theatre at Bhanguadi, Bombay.
And though he reiterated in various advertisements of his tiatr that he was the co-founder of tiatr
along with the other four artistes, in an article written on Ave Maria on November 28, 1943, to
celebrate the golden jubilee of Konkani tiatr, he minces no words as he declares Lucasinho Ribeiro as his teacher of tiatr. He ends the article titled Tiatrancho Bhangaracho Jubileo with these words
Poili monadic suat favo dubaunam somplolea Sr. Lucasinho Ribeirac. Aum moji tocli bagoitam Sr.
Ribeirachea fondar zo vortouta mozo mistir hea theatrachea caman ani tacho marog aum azunui choltam moriadic ani xicounheche theatr dacoun mojea ganv bhavanc.
Well read, he could read, write and speak English, Portuguese, French, Hindi and Latin with ease. Stalwarts of Konkani tiatr, Souza Ferrao, Minguel Rod, Anthony Mendes, Jacinto Vaz, Kid Boxer, AMB Rose, Alfred Rose, M Boyer, Anthony Tooloo, Dioginho D’Melo, J P Souzalino, C Alvares, Saib Rocha, Karachiwala, etc were all introduced on stage by Joao Agostinho. He was the first person to record a Konkani song on gramophone (Mog Mirmireancho, Goencheo Zati, Gupit Mog etc), the first to print his tiatr in book form, to introduce local culture like Kunnbi dance etc on stage, to bring his entire family on stage, to get the first lady, Regina Fernandes (his first wife, along with his daughter Sofia and Regina’s sister Luiza) on stage.
Joao Agostinho’s aim in presenting a tiatr was to get respect to Konkani Stage. He never staged a tiatr for his personal benefit. He would pay his artistes well without ever worrying about his own pay. Most of his tiatr were staged in aid of some charitable cause or the other. In 1941, when a cyclone had caused misery and devastation in the coastal villages of Cansaulim, Arossim, Utorda, Majorda, Betalbatim, Colva, etc, the Goa Flood Relief Fund Committee staged his tiatr Vauraddi, at St Xavier’s College hall, Mumbai in aid of this cause. Joao Agostinho Fernandes breathed his last on August 29, 1947 at G T Hospital Bombay.
During his lifetime, Joao Agostinho wrote 30 tiatrs. 26 originals and 4 translations
Belle of Cavel or Cavelchi Sundori (1893)
Revolt de Sattari or Ranneanchem Traisanv (1897)
Cazar Mhatarponnar (1943)
Bebdo (1942)
Batcara- I (1904)
Batcara II(1905)
Dhotichem Kestaum (1908)
Pandurang Cusmonncar (1910)
Nid Naslolo Bomboicho Telegrafist (1913)
Profesor Leitao (1914)
Geraldina (1925)
Rukmibai (1926)
Noureamcho Bazar (1927)
Dhongui Voiz (translation, 1931)
Khapreanchem band (1909)
Josefina/Paichi dusri bail (1932)
Vauraddi/Leopold ani Carolina (1933)
Kunnbi Jaki (1934)
Ven. Padre Jose Vaz (1936)
Mhozo Khapri Chakor (1939)
Dev naslolo communist (1940)
Goan Ponch-I (1941)
Kunnbi Jaki II (1941)
Hirmigild vo Modian Raticho Denvchar (1942)
Tandlanchem kestaum (1945)
Goan Ponch II (1945)
Sociedade de Rom Tom (before 1909)
Teg bondukkar (Translation), Mothes Tiu ( Translation) & Henry VIII (Translation)
