In every country, icons are celebrated and their legacies are kept alive through various
initiatives. In India, Goa’s very own Mario Miranda was bestowed with several
honours, including the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan and the lifetime
achievement award from the All India Cartoonist’s Association. He received a
posthumous Padma Vibhushan in 2012, a few months after he passed away at the
age of 85.
However, when this calls for befitting tributes by his home
state, a recent decision has done the very opposite. What’s even more
disheartening to note is that this has occurred at a place where Mario Miranda
put in all his efforts at the later stage of his life.
To many, the Reis Magos Fort is synonymous with the efforts put
in by the legendary cartoonist in restoring it. Sadly, the same fort has
decided to remove Mario Miranda’s paintings that were displayed at its
galleries even though the likes of architect Gerard da Cunha had appealed
against such a decision.
“ I am in the management committee, and this decision to move
Mario’s paintings out was never discussed. There is little point in the
Government appointing an Autonomous Management Committee and then foisting
decisions from above. If the Government had a valid suggestion, they should
have made it and left the committee to make the final decision.
“Personally, I feel that moving the Mario Exhibition out of the
Reis Magos Fort displays a complete absence of vision by the Government.
Hundreds of visitors come specifically to see this exhibition in a wonderful
setting; they are going away disappointed and angry. Mario was Goa’s most
popular artist and was instrumental in restoring Reis Magos Fort. I plead with the
Government to retain the Mario Gallery at the Reis Magos Fort,” says Gerard.
Gerard had worked with Mario to restore the fort and even
campaigned with Mario against the opposition to the fort from certain sections.
“For some reason, this Fort, with its acute angles, was Mario’s
favourite monument in Goa and its abandonment upset him deeply. From 1999, he
kept on urging well known restorer and philanthropist Helen Hamlyn to sponsor
its restoration. Then finally in 2007 an MoU was signed between the Government
of Goa, INTACH and the Helen Hamlyn Trust for the restoration of the Fort and
it’s subsequent management. A year after the restoration began, there was a
threat to the project from a group of people who mistakenly believed that it
was a hotel project and that heritage was being destroyed. The protests were
vicious and threatened violence and the Government of Goa meekly retreated.
Mario was the only public figure who came to the defence of the restoration and
visited the Fort in the face of physical threats. He was 81 years old at the
time. Fortunately, the restoration was completed and the Fort was inaugurated
in June 2012. Alas, Mario had passed away in December 2011 and did not see his
dream realised,” recounts Gerard.
“As an architect, I wanted to present to the public a complete
monument with all the spaces used. Having worked so extensively with Mario, I
suggested to use two of the halls for an exhibition entitled ‘The World of
Mario 1949, an Exhibition and Retrospective’. The exhibition was a great
success and had become very popular, becoming synonymous with the Fort. Last
year, the exhibition in the larger Gallery was removed to make way for a
freedom fighters Gallery. About a month ago, the remainder of Mario’s paintings
in the second Gallery were also removed and the Gallery is being used to sell
paintings on a consignment basis,” adds Gerard.
Not just the gallery but other plans such as a proposed
restaurant and other suggestions have now been ignored despite the years of
work that was put in for the same.
This move led to considerable outrage among Goans and even
visitors to the fort and the same can be seen on the visitor’s book.
Recently, renowned fashion designer and author Wendell Rodricks
took to social media to lash out against the authorities for their decision.
“Tourists who went recently to Reis Magos Fort were disappointed that Mario
Miranda’s works have been removed and replaced by other paintings. Considering
the history and passion Mario had for this fort, it is sad and depressing that
today the works and legacy of a gentleman who did so much to save a crumbling
fort from falling to total ruin is not remembered and has no resting place for
his legacy. Bring back the paintings please and respect this internationally
known artist and Padma Vibhushan who has brought so much pride and honour to
Goa,” says Wendell.
Several Goans and art aficionados have also expressed their
great disappointment with the development.
As of now, until the situation changes, the paintings are stored
at the fort and the exhibition that belongs to the Helen Hamlyn Trust will have
to be returned.
The
fort is owned by the Goa Government, and is listed under the Goa Ancient
Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. It’s the oldest fort in
Goa.