107th Birth Anniversary of Romanxicho Patxai - Reginald Fernandes
Dalgado KonknniAkademi
To,
The Editor/Desk in-charge,
Panaji
Dear Sir,
Tomorrow (14.06.2012) is the 107th Birth Anniversary of Konkani Romaxincho Patxai (Father of Konkani Novels) Reginald Fernandes.
Kindly publish the following article on Reginald Fernandes. Soft copy of the same and photos of the writer and Reginald are attached herewith. You are free to edit the article.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Vincy Quadros)
President – DKA
REMEMBERING REGINALD, FATHER OF KONKNNI NOVELS
- Vincy Quadros
Reginald Fernandes, also called Konknni Romanxicho Patxai, Konkani Novelist and well known trumpet and violin player, wrote over 200 much read and appreciated novels is being remembered by Konkani fraternity on his 107th birth anniversary. Although composer and signer’s name was Reginald Basilio Francisco Fernandes, he was known by his short name Reginald Fernandes. He has reached out to audience world over. Very low profile Reginald never tried to capture position anywhere.
Born in a scenic village of Siolim on 14th June 1914, Reginald was the third child of clarinet playerAntonio Caridade Fernandes ani Carmelina, Reginald had a powerful memory of recollecting the things and events that had passed by his eyes while travelling or going somewhere. This helped him when he grew up and became a writer. He was fond of fish. He used go for catching (gorovop). Whenever there was no fish at home, he was running to the waters to catch fish. He used to read a lot from his childhood. He was not going out of his to play like other children, but was reading the books at home. Reginald loved reading the works of H G Wells and Alexandre Dumasand.
The incident happened at the age of 10, took him to the filed of music. A senior ‘Cello’ player did not turn up because of his sickness on a vesper day feast of St. Anthony’s at the church. The Parish Pries, in panic, impassively inquired of a young boy whether he would could play the cello. Reginald standing on a stool, with the help of a person to hold the cello, not only filled the gap of a musician but got applauds from the attendants of the Mass.
During those days, there were no vacancies and the younger generation was rushing to Mumbai. Although Reginald had great love for the mother earth, coconut trees, jack fruits, fields, mountains, he had to travel to Mumbai to put an end to his daily struggles at the age of 18. By this age, he was a perfect musician put it was not sufficient for his livelihood. He was still writing. In Mumbai, his fellow villager A.V. D’Cruz helped him to publish his first novel (Romanx) ‘Lindorf’ on Ave Maria weekly. This weekly was run by A.V. D Cruz. From there he did not look back, went on writing till the time he could not satisfy the publishers who were rushing to his residence. These publishers did not pay much to him but they minted money at the cost of Reginald.
Reginald had a unique way of writing romanxi. His romantic literature, packed with wholesome nostalgia for rustic Goa, was lapped up eagerly by the Konkani reading public. His narrative would take the reader on a regal tour of exotic, sprawling mansions, peopled with princely aristocrats. The mood and tone of the narrative took off with the ominous hoot of the owl, the crackling of dry leaves along a lonely pathway, a dog howling in the distance, the soothing rustle of the swaying palms leaves, the bubbling brooks or the peal of the bell at Angelus time. He put down the well conceived narrative in his neat and flowing handwriting. Whenever he started a novel, he had the concept well in advance. Wherever he was going, he was thinking on the plot and the characters in the novel and when got started with the writing, he would never stop and the novel would complete within 8 to 10 days. His target writing time was from 5 in the morning till 12 noon, most of time without break. He had a great demand for this writings.
His subjects varied from mountains, small mud houses, their dwellings, rich people and their heritage, big houses, prince and princesses. The reader was brought to the situation and sometimes the reader was flown through the situations. He loved his mother tongue Konkani.
Writing is an art, which took Reginald to a greater height. It is being told that he has carved the titles for his novel from the letters A to Z. Some of his famous novel are – Fidelis, Verona, Vonvaxi Put, Divllantli Diamat, Licifer, Nicodemus, Zamira, Gupit Razvoddki, Opradi, Arabeska, Padmini, Cipriana, Ezra, Niropradi Opradi etc. etc.
Reginald was a proficient lyricist, musician and playwright. Some of his famous tiatr are - Lorsu ani forsu, Undeacho kuddko, Tuka zai tem Taka di, Pirjent Festacho etc. Besides literature and tiatr, Reginald had shown his caliber in the filed of music also. In Ponna, he created ‘Reggie and His Melodians’ band. He played for Hindi songs.
When he returned to Goa, he was employed at All India Radio where he got the opportunity to sing and put his songs on air. Due to his immense contribution to Konkani, Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) has given his name to its Conference hall and portrayed his photo. He was felicitated and awarded by many institutions in Goa and abroad, besides Literary Award by the Government of Goa. Reginald Fernandes breathed his last on Sunday, November 13, 1994, at 11.00 am at St Anthony's Nursing Home in Anjuna. His songs "Sorvbhountim Uzvadd Chandneancho" and "Adeus Korchea Vellar" are still remembered. DKA remembers Reginald Fernandes on his 107th birthday and pays it tributes.
****
Writer is the President of Dalgado Konknni Akademi and recipient of National Sahitya Akademi Award for Children’s Literature
Photos attached
1. Reginald Fernandes, Father of Konkani Novels
Vincy Quadros
Odheokx
Dalgado Konknni Akademi
91 9822587498 (m) ; (0832) 2221688
Eugene Correia
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