Msgr. D’Souza honored at St. Francis
Extract from article by Debbie Bruce- Jan 17, 2010 in Mississauga News

Monsignor Terence D’Souza delivers the sermon at a special mass today at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church to mark the 50th anniversary of his ordination. Claudio Cugliari

A special mass was held today at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in honour of the 50th anniversary of Monsignor Terence D’Souza’s ordination. D’Souza, a former Dufferin-Peel Roman Catholic District School Board trustee and founding pastor of the church, enjoyed a day full of people, praise and prayer.  Click here to read more

Lucazinho Ribeiro - The Creator of Goan Tiatr

Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) will for the first time celebrated the birth anniversary of Lucasinho Ribeiro, pioneer of Goan Tiatr, who scripted, directed and staged the first Tiatr "Italian Bhurgo" on 17th April, 1892 in Bombay. Lucasinho Ribeiro was born on 2nd January 1863 at Sokol Vaddo, Assagao, Bardez, Goa.

Lucasinho Ribeiro is responsible to give birth to a unique dramatic form called Tiatr in which the story of the play is divided into 6 or 7 acts and songs or kantaran are sung in between the two acts which have no relevance to the theme of the play. The first tiatr "Italian Bhurgo" that he scripted, directed and staged 117 years back was an adaptation of an Italian Opera. Joao Agostinho Fernandes, who is popularly known as Father of Tiatr considered Lucasinho Ribeiro as his 'Guru'.

Excerpts from Goanet Posting
By: tomazinho cardozo <tomazinho.goa@gmail.com> 
Lucazinho Ribeiro –The Creator of Goan Tiatr

It is surprising to learn that the Goan Tiatr took birth in neighboring Bombay, almost 117 years back i.e. in 1892. A young man called Lucazinho Ribeiro hailing from Sokolwaddo, Assagao in Bardez Taluka can be called the innovator of the Tiatr because he along with Joao Agostinho Fernandes and others staged the first Tiatr performance on the occasion of Easter on 17th April, 1892. The name of the first Tiatr staged was "Italian Bhurgo". This Tiatr was written and directed by Lucazinho Ribeiro hence he can be called the creator of the unique form of Konkani drama called Tiatr.

There is no documentation at all which gives a clear picture of the staging of the first Tiatr in 1892. It is only in 1943, on the occasion of Golden Jubilee of the Tiatr that Joao Agostinho Fernandes, popularly known as Father of Tiatr, wrote an article, which was published in the issue of 'Ave Maria', a weekly in Konkani in Roman script, dated 28th November, 1943. In the beginning of his article Joao Agostinho Fernandes says, " As I have taken the responsibility to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Konkani Tiatr, I feel it is my duty to make all Goans in general and tiatr lovers in particular known who is the first Goan to write ans stage the first Tiatr." In his brief article Mr. Fernandes describes how Lucazinho Ribeiro got a job in an Italian Opera Company and how he wrote the first tiatr 'Italian Bhurgo'.

He also in this letter makes a mention of one Caitaninho who also assisted Mr.  Ribeiro besides him to stage the First Tiatr in 1892. In the last paragraph of his letter Joao Agostinho Fernandes says "Undoubtedly this credit goes to late Mr. Lucazinho Ribeiro on the Tiatr stage. I bow my head to Mr. Ribeiro, who was my guide and teacher and because of his guidance I still continue to present Tiatrs of good values to the Tiatr lovers".

This article is the only source, which provides information about the innovation of the Tiatr and the staging of the first Tiatr. The information given in this article is authentic because the letter was written by a person who was directly involved in staging the first Tiatr "Italian Bhurgo" in 1892.

Why did such a dramatic form come into existence? It was because the standard of the then existing dramatic forms 'Zagor' and 'Khell' or 'Fell' deteriorated due to introduction of elements of vulgarity to create fun and cheap entertainment for the audience. This decline of quality in staging Zagor and Khell prevented many people from witnessing these forms of entertainment. Educated people stopped patronizing the Zagor as well as the Khell. Goans were in need of good and qualitative entertainment.

During the centenary year of the Tiatr in the year 1992, I visited Assagao in order to find out the roots of Lucazinho Ribeiro. I met Lucazinho Ribeiro's grand daughter-in-law Lucy who showed me the house of Lucazinho Ribeiro, which was all in ruins. Only the balcony existed without the roof over it. One had to climb 12-14 steps to enter the collapsed balcony. She informed me that her father-in-law used to tell her that Lucazinho Ribeiro used to stage small cultural programmes of Konkani songs and skits by converting the balcony of his house into a temporary stage. He used to make use of bed-sheets as curtains.

Young Lucazinho Ribeiro migrated to Bombay, as most of the Goans did, in search of a job. During that time Italian dramatic troupes were touring important cities of India such as Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi and Madras to stage Italian Operas. When in India, they used to employ Indians mostly as back stage artistes. Lucazinho Ribeiro, having love for dramatic art, tried his luck to get employment in one of the Italian dramatic troupes. He got a job as a back stage artiste. The troupe was staging the opera called "Italian Boy". When the troupe completed its assignments and was to leave India, Lucazinho Ribeiro bought the costumes which were used in the play. This act itself shows Ribeiro's intention of producing a play similar to "Italian Boy".

Accordingly, based on the same story of "Italian Boy" he wrote a "Teatro" in Konkani and called it "Italian Bhurgo" As there were many different scenes in this "Teatro" and as it required different stage sets, in order not to waste time, he thought of dropping the curtain and introduced songs and dances in front of the curtain. He felt that it was needed to entertain the audience while the Stage Setting was being done behind the curtain.

These songs and dances did not have any relevance to the theme of the play 'Italian Bhurgo'. The experiment done by Lucazinho Ribeiro clicked. About 300 people who witnessed the performance liked the new format and congratulated Lucazinho Ribeiro and others for staging such a unique form of entertainment. Thus a new dramatic form called Tiatr was successfully staged at the then existing New Alfred Theatre, in Mumbai on 17th April, 1892. Yes the Goan Tiatr took birth in Bombay thanks to the pioneering efforts of Lucazinho Ribeiro.

NRI Entrepreneur Yet Undecided on Using Space in Burj Khalifa
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?

Bangalore, Jan 7 (IANS): NRI entrepreneur B.R. Shetty may have acquired two floors in the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, after shelling out a stupendous Rs.100 crore-plus -- but he doesn't know what to do with them!

According to Shetty's family members, the founder partner, managing director & CEO of Abu Dhabi-based New Medical Centre, has not yet decided on how to utilise the massive space on the 100th and 141st floors in the 200-storey Burj, which was inaugurated Jan 4.

"He has no plans to permanently shift residence to Burj. Probably, he will keep it for guests and stay there whenever he goes to Dubai," they told IANS on phone from Abu Dhabi.

The 100th floor is meant for residence and the 141st for office. Shetty, who hails from Mangalore in Karnataka, has been living in Abu Dhabi for the last 36 years. The New Medical Centre is a diversified business conglomerate with interests ranging from financial services to trading in pharmaceuticals; FMCG brands; scientific, laboratory, education and medical supplies; foodstuff; retail pharmacies; gold and diamond jewellery; advertising; hospitality; real estate; information technology; engineering projects and services

Click here to read Dr. B.R. Shetty - A Profile

Two novels replace classic pulled from classrooms
http://www.northpeel.com/printArticle/84288
January 9 2010 | By ROGER BELGRAVE

Two books have been chosen to replace a classic literary novel removed from Grade 10 classrooms at a local Catholic high school.

This past summer St. Edmund Campion Principal Kevin McGuire pulled the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird from the Grade 10 curriculum. The decision was made after a parent complained about a racial epithet used in the book, according to the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. Bruce Campbell, a spokesperson for the board, said two novels, penned much more recently than Harper Lee’s book published in 1960, are being “piloted” to replace the classic. Child of Dandelions by Shenaaz Nanji was a finalist for the 2008 Governor General’s Award and the recipient of numerous other literary accolades.

Born in Africa and now living in Calgary, writer Nanji’s young adult novel is set in 1972 Uganda when dictator Idi Amin ordered Asians out of the country. The book follows the experience of a 15-year-old girl and her family caught up in the national and personal turmoil that ensues.

Climbing the Stairs, by Rhode Island author Padma Venkatraman, is a coming-of-age novel set in 1940’s India. A young girl struggles for personal freedom with the Second World War and India’s non-violent struggle for independence, led by Gandhi, as a backdrop.

The books raise issues such as racism, inequality, hate, violence, culture, religion, feminism and the causes of war. Exploring these literary themes are part of the curriculum goals expected in Grade 10 academic English classrooms. “These books augment the Grade 10 English Academic level text list, and are currently being used to supplement existing learning resources,” said Campbell. Themes discussed in these novels are also in other books studied by Grade 10 English students at Campion and could provide fuel for discussion in other courses such as history, social studies and religion, Campbell noted.

He pointed out To Kill a Mocking Bird is still available to Campion students through the school library and used at other schools within the board.

“It is important to note that Mockingbird is still available to students at all Dufferin-Peel schools, including Campion,” Campbell said. “In fact, students in Grade 10 English at Campion can select To Kill a Mockingbird as an independent reading novel to further support the themes being studied.”

According to Campbell, the parent who complained to the principal has never filed a formal written complaint with the board. This would have initiated a full review by the board’s Challenged Materials Review Committee and involved input from board librarians, religious coordinators, trustees, the local superintendent and other parents in determining the book’s suitability for students in local Catholic schools.

Board administrators are planning to create a central review and approval process for all books used in classrooms. It would create a universal list of acceptable books teachers could use to select material for classroom lessons.