Sangeet Sammelan - ethnic, original, festive...

Sandesh Prabhudesai
9 February 2002  

Filled with Konkani souls and hearts, the Mogubai Kurdikar Nagar here in Margao began a historic process of recreating Konkani music at the hands of Gansamradni Padmavibhushan Kishori Amonkar, in the presence of chief minister Manohar Parrikar.

The young and creative organisers, gathered under Konkani Bhasha Mandal, not only succeeded in pulling music lovers from all walks of life keeping aside their linguistic bias but even creating a real festive atmosphere in the Nagar, which actually looked like Amchem Bhangarachem Goem.

The four-level Chris Perry Machi, giving full justice to his musical life, came alive with Fr Peter Cardoz, director of Pilar Music School, presenting a fusion as a welcome song. It was rather a statement made for the sammelan which began with Rag Bageshri and took the audience through all the musical trends of Konkani, whether Lisboa, Mando, Dhalo or popular songs of Lorna, Chris Perry or Ulhas Buyao.

The Laybhaskar Khapruman Parvatkar gate was also not a mere structure in a traditional Goan style, but on top of it was the group of Shantilal playing Shenai-Chowghudo.

Enter the Nagar and right in the middle of it was the logo - the ghumat right below with a Pakhwaj and a violin looking like a flame on it - the creative mind of Prasad Shinkre.

Kishoritai was literally in tears when Parrikar unveiled the bust of Mogubai Kurdikar, placed right at the entrance of Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki Mandap, prepared by young Goan artist Valentino from Verna. She was also later honoured at the hands of Parrikar for receiving Padmavibhushan.

"This is not a honour of one individual but the music of Goa and musical knowledge within my Goan soul", said Kishoritai. It is the greatest honour in my life, she added, that Goans were beginning a process by inviting her to inaugurate the event.

"Goan land is filled with Satyam Shivam Sundaram and I expect only love and affection from my Goans", she said in a choked voice, while wholeheartedly appreciating efforts of the young brigade for organising the event in such a creative and thoughtful manner.

Whether it was a layman, editors of Goan dailies, music scholars, writers or normal music lover, everybody was full of praise the way whole Nagar was designed.

There was a special angan prepared on one side for folk event, with a baila gaddi and a haystack instead of a curtain. The exhibition khopti having displayed several traditional equipment and instruments, prepared by Lokved Sanvardhan Manch of Sattari, pulled hordes of crowds. Similarly, the stalls of khajekar as well as cassette shops added real flavour to the festive atmosphere.

"I have come here after flagging off the Carnival parade in Panaji. But to tell you frankly, this is the real Goan culture what I witness here and not that Carnival", said the chief minister amidst applause from the gathering.

"I may not be a music scholar nor having an ear for music. But I have a thirst for music, and among all, the Konkani music. The effort to uplift this music was thus a necessity of every Goenkar", said young industrialist Srinivas Dempo, the chairman of organising committee.

Damodar Mauzo, president of the Konkani Bhasha Mandal, however emphatically said that the efforts to organise such a mega event would be fulfilled only when this inspiration leads to formation of Konkani Sangeet Natak Academy, to document, research and recreate the Konkani music based on rich folk music.

Perhaps this is the reason the organisers have given more stress on real ethnic original folk dances and music, throughout two days, in the main pandal and the angan. May be a surprise for some, but the folk presentations have been equally pulling crowds, creating hopes in the minds of the organisers that they could achieve what they intend to.

Your Comments Please