Sunday 20th August,2000 / Herald


Goans to observe ‘Goa Day’ around the world today

Theme song Proud to be a Goan to be premiered at Bonderam

BY FRANCIS X RIBEIRO

CALANGUTE, AUG 19 — Goans all around the globe will be observing August 20 as Goa Day, an idea conceived by Rene Barreto of Goan International who is based in London, with the objective of bringing together Goans from different parts of the world. To mark the Goa Day, celebrations will be held from Kenya to Maryland (USA), London to Bahamas and Harare to Goa at the Sao Mathias island, Divar. To make this a memorable day, a special song (end of this story) has been composed by famed Goan songwriter Basilio Magno, residing in Spain. Basilio, who is still recovering from his long illness, was determined to produce something worthwhile. Within a week after being requested by Rene, this former "Irving Berlin of India," came out with the theme song for Goa Day, titled "Proud to be a Goan," a theme he always wanted to propagate to the younger generation, who very often are shy to say, `I am a Goan’.

Mario Fernandes speaking to the Herald, disclosed that through the Goa Day it is hoped that Goans globally will remember their past, the present and plan their future to maintain its traditional and unique culture. "We need to bring out the positiveness in us, shun the negatives and march forward in the new millennium," he said. It is a privilege that the musically-rich Sao Mathias community will be able to perform the composition of Basilio Magno, during the St Mathias’ Bonderam festival on August 20. Since the Bonderam festival is a centuries old traditional culture of the Goans which was celebrated on August 20, it was decided to to celebrate Goa Day on this day. To also mark this world Goa Day, a special presentation will be made to Victor Athaide for his immense contribution as a player and dedicated lover of football and cricket.

Victor retired playing at the age of 53 years. He has encouraged and has been a role model for the youth of Divar. This special presentation will be made by Goa’s greatest player Vasco’s Andrew D’Souza, of Vasco Sports Club. After the Bonderam festival, the celebrations will continue into the late hours of the night, with a dance being organised at the island. Basilio was born in Goa and educated in Bombay, where he studied at the private Horniman College of Journalism. He freelanced while he was in Bombay and Portugal, and in Germany among other things he edited a monthly newspaper "The Hessen Observer" for a company of the US army in Germany, working in its public affairs office. But be it in Bombay, Goa, Germany or Spain, he is better known for his
multilingual compositions.

He began composing songs in English way back in 1949, when hardly any Indian had indulged in the art of English songwriting. Besides, he published his songs under his East-West Music Co, and had them copyrighted in England. In 1951 he published his classic "The Song of Goa" now retitled "Rome of the East." In 1953 he did "Santa Maria" dedicated to Cardinal Gracias. In 1956 he composed his first `royal’ song for Princess Maragret of England, which brought him to the attention of the Bombay music critics. For this and some other songs of his, they dubbed him as the "lrving Berlin of India" Basilio has to his credit a 40 minutes operetta: "A Day In Goa" published with words and music. He is the premier writer of Goan folksongs in English, way back in the fifties, and in 1978 has published a booklet with 10 songs. Both the works were reviewed in the Goa Today magazine in the seventies. An ardent admirer of the late Princess Diana, he has done two songs for her, one of which he was invited to sing on the German TV RTL-Plus when the Royal couple visited Germany in 1987. In 1991 he composed "Viva el Rey" in praise of Spanish democracy. In 1997 he produced an audio cassette of his songs sung by an English singer Marcie Summers.

Basilio began songwriting out of necessity. In 1949 he had written an English play for which he needed few songs in English to sing between the scenes as is the Goan style. Instead of using old songs he decided to compose his own songs with the help of a flute. He did the opening song, and a few more. The applause that he received for these, inspired him to dedicate himself to the art, making a study of it through many books on songwriting and publishing. His ability to write love verses from quite a young age helped him on his way to songwriting. When the Portuguese Governor General of Goa — Vassalo e Silva spotted his talent, he offered him a scholarship to visit Portugal to try his luck with his song "The Rock of Portugal". But his English song failed to attract the Portuguese publishers of those times. After four years stay in Portugal he migrated to Germany and after retiring there in 1989 settled down in Spain, the country belonging to his wife Rosa Maria Lopez Gonzalez. Here one can hear his voice, rendering his song "Viva el Rey" on Radio M-80 Madrid and on its 36 channels since October 1997, the song having been adopted as the signature tune for national newscast on its programme Goma-Espuma, to the envy of many Spanish composers who had vied for the honour.

Goan musicians in London, Nairobi and elsewhere are preparing themselves to play the theme song. Mario Fernandes representing Goans International here in Goa on Goa Day, has received the lyrics of the theme song ‘Proud to be a Goan’ and it will be performed at the Bonderam festival on August 20, by the musical rich Sao Mathias (Malar) community.

Sing along, Proud to be a Goan

Goa maybe a dot on the big map of the world,
But its a paradise in great India.

The Goans are the most beautiful people of the world,

Great musicians, great clerics, great scholars, ya,
ya, ya

We form our social clubs, wherever we may go

Through them our unity we show.

CHORUS: Proud to be a Goan, proud to be a Goan

No matter where I was born

If I was born in Kenya or India

In England, Canada or Germany

I’m proud to be a Goan.

I love my xitt koddi and Konkani.

Goans live like brothers, no matter where they’re from
They hold big positions in many a place

We’ve Goan ministers, here in British government

Two candidates for Sainthood — Padr Agnel, Padr Jose

Now we can only pray, dear God please bless our land

And save from vice and corruption.

Courtesy: Herald http://www.oherald.com