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Siolkars remember Reginald Fernandes

On June 14, Siolkars celebrated the 101st birth anniversary of their covillager, the late Reginald Fernandes (Romansincho Patxai), known for writing a record number of around 190 Konkani novels, besides being an accomplished musician, lyricist and playwright
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Friends of Reginald’ converted the evening into
a memorable event. Renowned cartoonist
Alexyz lit the flame with his welcome words inlaid
with jokes as he recalled his deep friendship
with the late Reginald Fernandes. Alexyz said
that Reginald wrote “almost 190 thrilling novels
in Konkani, purely out of nostalgia while away
from Goa, playing music elsewhere in the country”.
He also introduced Juvencio Carvalho and
his mother Rosy, son and wife of the famed
Joaozinho of Johnson & His Jolly Boys band respectively,
musician-poet-singer Braz Fernandes
along with Siolim’s promising talents –
Syerilda Carvalho on the violin and little Nathan
Miranda on the djembe.
Reginald’s friends, fans and readers, including
tiatrists, musicians, book lovers et al from all
over Goa, gathered at his Siolim residence, were
regaled with nostalgic numbers by Juvencio and
his delightful group – ‘Sorbhonvtim Uzvadd
Charneancho’, ‘Vetai Tum Sanddun’ and ‘Adeus
Korchea Vellar’.
Everything revolved around Reginald Fernandes
and his varied contribution to Konkani
culture. His famous violin and Louis Armstrongautographed
trumpet were on display besides
the little table used by him to write most of his
romanses. The show resembled a birthday party.
The birthday cake was cut by Brazinho Soares
Kalapurkar, Reginald’s devoted fan and collector
of all his works, in the presence of Salvador and
Irene, son and daughter-in-law of the writermusician.
The musicians and the audience then
burst into the birthday song ‘Dis Tujea Zolmancho’
composed by Alfred Rose, for whose band,
RoseBuds, Reginald played his golden trumpet.
The musicians included Joaquim D’Souza (sax),
Bonaventure D’Pietro (sax), Willy Goes (guitar
and harmonica), Pio Esteves (guitar and harmonica),
George Vaz from Colva, Lawrence
Coutinho from Navelim and others.
Compere Alister Miranda retained the animated
atmosphere smartly. Some of those who
had come from far and near narrated the experiences
of their encounters with the mellow
music, song, romans and Reginald.
Popular actor and playwright Mario Menezes
said that his acquaintance with Konkan was
mainly through Reginald’s romanses. Goans
abroad or travottis on board the ship today prefer
their families to send the CDs of Konkani
songs and the DVDs of tiatr, while years ago their
requests were for Reginald’s books. Mario also
appealed to Goans to take a leaf out of the celebration
to encourage and support exponents
of Konkani culture, especially of the Romi
flavour.
Other speakers included veteran actress
Jessie Dias who had acted in Reginald’s tiatr ‘Prijent
Festacho’, editor of Gulab Fausto da Costa,
who said, “If we intend to keep the memory of
Reginald alive among us, there is a need for the
new generation to read his romances.” Konkani
activist Anthony Veronica Fernandes, researcher/
writer Dale Menezes, who said, “Reginald
was a master of twist and surprised his
reader every time” and “it is a tragedy because
nobody has done a PhD on his extensive corpus
of writing”. Konkani writer Felix B D’Cruz said
“Reginald was the humblest among humble persons.”
Former actor/singer Bond Alfonso added:
“The cover of his book Simitirintli Bhasavnni was
illustrated by me, and which I found in Brazinho’s
exhibition here today…”
Renowned Konkani novelist Bonaventure
D’Pietro and Siolim Sarpanch Sylvester Fernandes
also spoke at the function.
The ‘Friends of Reginald’ honoured Brazinho
Soares with a memento at the hands of Irene
and Salvador Fernandes. Brazinho, who had put
up an interesting exhibition of around 96 outof-
print Reginald potboilers besides other memorabilia,
recalled his earliest impressions of the
‘Romansincho Patxai’. He said that he was surprised
to find Reginald short and simple unlike
the tall and start he had imagined Reginald
would be.
Another positive outcome of the entertaining
evening was the proposed publication of
Reginald’s three unpublished novels by Salvador
Fernandes; the DKA could surely hasten the
process with their support.
Herald Goa
www.heraldgoa.in