Translation of a column by Hemacharya, the novelist, dramatist who hails from Karnataka, but also known in Goa, Mumbai and elsewhere for his long association with Konkanni literature & culture. He has published Konkanni books and won awards including Konkanni Bhasha Mandal, Goa, for his much acclaimed novel "Bai" in 1981.
The column appeared on Dajiworld (Amchi Mati, Amchi Monxam) and depicts the true personality of Alfred, whom Hemacharya knew closely.
Alfred Rose: The True Konkankar
'T was the midnight of October the 21st. I was not least surprised when Walter (Nandalike) of DaijiDubai.Com informed me of Alfred Rose' death. I was aware that he had since long been confined to the bed and sort of gone into an oblivion. The unfortunate physical state had deprived him of his most valuable gift, his voice, his wit, his physic failed him from his aspirations for a better tomorrow, for himself, Rita and kids, personally, and to the Konkanni world at large.
And in no sooner all the live memories folded into a distant past, the glorious tiatro days, the many accolades such as 'he was the first one, he was the only one' many 'first time' were credited to his blank account, the proceeds which he could no longer en-cash.
The Goan Tribute
I happened to read through some prominent pieces written over his life and times, and his remarkable achievements. He was rightly called the 'the melody King of Goa', 'the man with the golden voice, the living legend of Konkanni music, and so on.
He rightly reserved all these sobriquets, and may be more. He also deserved a state level award for he rose from the Goan soil, which was not to be. Not to get worried, Mahatma Gandhi was never given a Nobel Prize. Yet he remained a Mahatma. For its in Bible we read -'No prophet has ever been recognized in his hometown'.
But I had my reasons to get annoyed when none of the above writers made any mention to his rapport with Konkani’s beyond the boundaries of Goa. Probably very few from the Goan circles know of the fact that Alfred was one of a very few artists, besides H. Briton, who was associated with the programmes ventured by other groups including Managaloreans.
He was not the one to be restricted within the boundaries of Mangalore, Goa, Karwar or Cochin. He gave performances in the company of Mangalorean stalwart singers such as Wilfi Rebimbus, Henry D'Souza, Jerome D'Souza, Lawrence Saldanha to name a few.
He sang in between the scenes of dramas of Francis Fernandes, Cascia, Baptist Mendonca (Bams), Henry D'Silva and others.
A Person closer to heart
We all his old pals will miss him surely, we will miss his place Mahim, his shop and the vicinity where we used to frequent after a good days drama practice. We will miss the nearby country liquor bar which was our joint, where the well known activities from Mangalorean stage, Harryboy, Leo Rod, K.E. Stanley, Dany Coutinho and others would join us over a sip of peg or two, and then all of them would settle down for a serious discussion. The discussion was never went beyond 'Konkani stage and the people associated with it, including Bab Alfred, as affectionately called by all of us.
Some of the above artists were even active on Goan Tiatros and were investigating on the ways and means how both the types of forms in terms of music, dance, and dialogue delivery could possibly be integrated into a common form of stage performance.
Alfred was like a bridge between the households of two sisters: one lived in Goa, the other was married off to a distant land called Mangalore. Both loved each other but could not live under one roof for they had their own families to look after. Someone has referred Alfred, as the Konkani’s Ambassador'. I see no reason to dispute on this.
Attitude and Approach
Has he ever restricted himself to be called as a Goan Melody King ?
I beg to disagree. In my opinion, Alfred had a broader vision and a much bigger perspective. He wanted to go beyond the state boundaries and become international, not only through his performance but also in his approach towards Konkanni and its rich heritage.
He had realized for sure that it’s our petty mind that confines us within the boundaries and eventually hampers us into planning something bigger, greater. I am afraid it’s the agony and irony of this blessed language. Probably the State Government of Goa is right in not giving Alfred Rose a state award for they knew he belonged to all the other states. Why only a state award, he was befitted a national award, no less than a Sangeet Natak Academy Award. Certainly he belonged to a league of a Girish Karnad of Karnataka or a Vijay Tendulkar of Maharashtra.
Ami Sogli Ek
I still hold the memory of the day when we saw him standing tall on the stage of Shanmukananda Hall, Matunga, alongside Wilfi Rebimbus, the other Melody King who is also called the 'Nightingale of Konkan'. This was some twenty years ago, and to immortalize an evening which was rightly named as 'Madhur Sangeetachi Sanz'.
Families of both the eminent’ were on stage, in full attendance. The audiences, who had no leanings whatsoever to a Goan or a Mangalorean group were there in full attendance. They were listening to a melodious Konkanni music and witnessing a great event to commemorate the association of two great societies, hitherto driven apart by 'opportunists' who had least regard or respect for any religion, language or culture for that matter.
And together they sang that beautiful song: Ami Soglim Ek, Hanv noi Goinkar, Hanv noi Manglurkar, bogar Hanv Ek Khoro Konkankar.
The Berlin wall
It was the year 1987 and I was long been driven out of India to a distant land called Salalah, thousand miles south of Muscat city. We had a united Konkanni association then which presented varied Konknanni programmes for some years. But for the same reason that the rift is common between two sisters, the united association saw a vertical split. Never mind a foreign land, never mind a small thousand plus konkanni speaking populace, never mind a few affluent leaders who called the shots, yet the members felt the need of two different camps. They formed a wall between them, which was stronger than a Berlin wall.
And then Alfred Rose came all the way from Bombay with his group that consisted of Mangalorean and Goan artistes. The group was a part of a thiatro written by Meneno De Bandar, which was rightly named 'Ami Sogli Ek'.
Bab Alfred came to see me in my office. He was looking young and cheerful. But he was not impressed when I told him that I have disassociated myself from the Konkani stage and literature. But before leaving he said: 'Please come on time in the evening, don't miss the opening chorus." And I knew which song he's in store for us.
It was Bab Alfred we knew. For this very reason it pained me when I read the 'obituaries' that appeared on websites and on print media, when Basilo Magno from Spain, among others, said on Alfred Roses' death: A great loss to Goa and to konkani?
I beg to disagree with you Basilo, it was not the Goa, but the whole konkanni world lost a role model, a person par excellent and a great entertainer.
We were never united before, can we not come together at least now after Bab Alfred’s departure. And behold, as I wind up my column I get to hear that Rita is coming to the Gulf to carry on the mission of her beloved and how ? Very soon she will be appearing on Kuwait Konkani stage alongside Wilfi Rebimbus to revive the memories of the past and probably to sing ‘hanv noi goinkar, hanv noi manglurkar, bogar hanv ek konknankar.
And I am sure as they do this, they would miss Bab Alfred to a great deal, the true Konkankar and we all will miss him too.
-Hemacharya
(Courtesy: Goaworld site)
