16 Goan personalities get cultural awards

16 get cultural awards
BY HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, APRIL 30 - State Cultural awards were bestowed on 16 personalities for their immense contribution to the field of art and culture, at an impressive function held at Kala Academy here.
The award recipients are: Damodar Mauzo (Literature), Dr Somanath Datta Komarpant (Literature), John Gomes Kokoy(Literature), Maruti Venkatesh Kurdekar (Music), Augustinho Costa alias August De Panchwadi (Music), Ramanand Baboirao Raikar (Music), Mahananda Babuamonkar alias Yelekar (Drama), Patrick Dourado (Tiatro), Maria C Cardozo alias Jessie Dias (Tiatro), Rama Bhima Perni Vaghurmekar (Folk Art), Benicio Vitorino Pereira (Folk Art), Madhusudan Krishna Chari (Bhajan), Madhusudan Gangaram Thali (Bhajan), Shripadbuva Ramkrishna Dhole (Kirtan), Paulino Fernandes (Craft) and Shyam Dulba Kalangutkar (Craft).
The Chief Minister Digambar Kamat who is also the Minister for Art & Culture was the chief guest and presented the awards.
Dr Somanath Komarpant and John Gomes Kokoy also expressed their views.
The CM congratulated the recipients on receiving the awards. He further stated that the directorate had worked really hard to organise the events. The main credit should go to the director and if the captain is efficient and who can bring out the output then the office and Government also runs smoothly. The CM also congratulated the Director of Art and Culture because under his leadership the Department of Art and Culture received ISO 9001 trademark. The CM further said that Government is providing help to the artistes to show their talent exposure in different parts of the country and in the world.
Development Commissioner and Secretary (Art and Culture) Anand Prakash, Chairman of Selection Committee Shreedar Kamat were also present. The Secretary of Art and Culture, Anand Prakash welcomed the guests with the bouquets.
The Chairman of Selection Committee Shreedhar Kamat Bambolkar presented his view on the occasion stating that culture is the heritage of the State and stressed the need to preserve it.
The Director of Art and Culture Prasad Lolyekar proposed the vote of thanks and Tripti Chari compered the function.

“Tiatr” must be given its rightful place - the BJP Cultural cell

‘Tiatr is cultural heritage of State’
MARGAO, JUNE 25 – Maintaining that “tiatr” must be given its rightful place, the BJP Cultural cell has expressed surprise at the step-motherly treatment given to Konkani tiatr by the Kala Academy by deliberately keeping it out of the Goan-multilingual drama festival this year.
BJP Cultural Cell Convenor, Siddhanath Ulhas Buyao said that Konkani tiatr is the cultural heritage of Goa and is by far the most popular drama form in the State today.

“Konkani tiatr today is no more a drama-form of any community, but belongs to all Goans. It is appreciated and supported by all Goans”, he said.
Buyao said during the Ganesh festival, one will find Konkani tiatr being staged in all the mandaps and the audience is from all the communities.
In fact, he said that Konkani tiatr has gained so much popularity in Goa that the name of “Konkani tiatr” should have appeared first in the list of the Kala Academy while organizing the festival.
Buyao said the Cultural Cell of the BJP believes that all drama-forms of Goa should get equal representation in all festivals, organized by the Goa government, without any bias.
“The Kala Academy is in full knowledge, that it’s highest revenue today is coming from Konkani Tiatr alone. Then with what justification do they drop out Konkani Tiatr from such festivals. Is this not a concealed communalism of the Congress. Is this not a Congress type of divide and rule policy”, he asked.
Saying that the BJP does not believe in playing politics with Art & Culture, Buyao said the BJP will take necessary measures with the help of Goan people to ensure the Kala Academy gives due recognition to tiatr.

CM throws open Ravindra Bhavan

CM throws open Ravindra Bhavan
HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, JULY 20 – Amidst showcasing of Goa’s diverse art and culture, the Rs 20-crore first phase of the Ravindra Bhavan was formally dedicated to the people of Goa at a glittering ceremony here on Sunday evening.
Flanked by South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha and Rajya Sabha MP, Shantaram Naik, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat led the citizens of Salcete to formally inaugurate the imposing centre of art and culture at Goa’s biggest air-conditioned 1150 capacity auditorium named after Pai tiatrist, Agostinho Joao Fernandes.
Union Art and Culture Minister, Ambika Soni could not make it for the inaugural ceremony due to political compulsions, but she was represented by Union Secretary for Art and Culture, Abhihit Sen Gupta, who appeared impressed with the stage setting as well as the cultural programme. “The creativity and talent of the artists is simply brilliant”, he said, while lauding the Goa Art & Culture department for getting the ISO-9001 certification.
In his address, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said the day will be written in golden letters as credit goes to Madgavkars for hosting the biggest Ac auditorium in the state. “Margao was not just the commercial capital, but the state’s cultural capital. But, unfortunately, most of the art and culture facilities were concentrated at Kala Academy, leaving Madgavkars and Shashtikars behind. The inauguration of the Ravindra Bhavan will put back Margao again on the cultural map of Goa”, he said.
Kamat made a humble appeal to the citizens to treat the Ravindra Bhavan as their very own and help in its maintenance. “Citizens too should share the responsibility on the maintenance of the cultural centre”, he appealed.
Kamat took digs at the opponents by saying all the artists who performed at the inaugural ceremony are all Goan “We have not brought any outsiders to perform”, he said and reiterated the government’s resolve to help local artists.
“Today is truly the day of art and culture’, remarked Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik and requested the citizens to treat the centre as their own house.
South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha said the dream of people of South Goa and Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat has finally come true. “When I was the Chief Minister, Kamat asked for the Art and Culture portfolio. He wanted to build the Ravindra Bhavan facility in Margao”, Sardinha recalled.
Director of Art & Culture, Prasad Lolienkar said the open air auditorium will be build in the second phase.