Why is Ravindra Bhavan Margao silent on Pai tiatrists’ birth anniversary? : Vishal pai cacode
Margao : Today marks the birth anniversary of Pai Tiatrist Joao Agostinho Fernandes, a pioneering figure who laid the foundation of Konkani tiatr and played a decisive role in shaping Goa’s cultural and theatrical identity. However, this significant occasion has been met with institutional indifference, as Ravindra Bhavan, Margao has failed to acknowledge the legacy of this towering cultural pioneer whose contribution continues to inspire generations of Goan artistes, stated Vishal Pai Cacode, former Member of the Goa State Cultural Development Committee.
Despite the importance of the day, Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, has chosen to remain in complete silence. No programme has been scheduled, no tribute announced, and no formal acknowledgment planned to commemorate the birth anniversary of the father of Konkani tiatr, said Pai Cacode.
This silence cannot be brushed aside as a mere oversight. It points towards a deeper and recurring pattern of institutional indifference towards pioneers who laid the very foundations of Goan performing arts, particularly those associated with Konkani tiatr. Pai Cacode further charged that the focus of Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, appears to be increasingly tilted towards promoting non-Goan artistes, at the cost of neglecting Goa’s own cultural icons.
The main auditorium of Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, is dedicated to Pai Tiatrist Joao Agostinho Fernandes, making this neglect even more glaring. Ignoring his birth anniversary exposes the cultural insensitivity of the present Executive Committee, he said.
Ravindra Bhavan, which functions on public funds and is mandated to preserve and promote Goan culture, must urgently introspect on its priorities. Goa’s cultural icons deserve consistent respect and timely recognition, not silence and selective remembrance, Pai Cacode concluded.
