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Remo,
In my teens, I used
to sometimes sit with my late father and listen to classical
music – loud. Tchaikovsky’s 1812, Handles Messiah,
Beethovens 5th. . . . It used to do something to me. My body
temperature used to rise and I used to start sweating. I have
long forgotten that feeling - till today. Till I read your article.
It all came back and hit me. And I did something which I very
rarely do – surprising for a Goan though. I had a drink.
I left my computer and poured myself a glass of Drambuie and
ice. I was celebrating because I had a friend who was 1. A Goan.
2. A successful Goan and 3. A successful Goan who would stick
his neck out and stand for what was right.
I made Sharon read
it, who was equally moved, I made my son Mark read it – who understood every bit of it. Given the chance, I would have
my dog read it as well. He would have also understood more of
it than those who govern us.
It takes guts. You
have aroused the lazy Goans, all of them – from the indifferent
peddle-pushers to the verbal-wealthy. Sitting in Bombay, I have
been told to read the article, not because it’s controversial
but because it’s factual. Facts, which very few, in prominent
places on prominent platforms would dare to say or put in print.
Another thing which
has created a buzz. Remo the musician is a treat. Remo the writer,
is a storm.
Difficult times
sometimes bring out the creative best in people and helps them
break cautious boundaries.
May the force be
with you.
Denzil
[DENZIL
SEQUEIRA is one of India's leading international fashion photographers.]
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Good morning!
Your voice was heard loud and
clear. The government has been taking us for granted.
I strongly believe in every word
you've said. I was depressed for two days because of IFFI,
it affected my work as well... Thank you for a brilliant piece.
Prasad
[PRASAD PANKAR is a photo-artist
from Mapusa, Goa]
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Excellent column
in the 'Navhind Times' / 'Midday'.
love,
margaret
[MARGARET MASCARENHAS is
the author of 'Skin']
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Dear Remo,
'Thanks' at times
isn't a fullsome word; but then I couldn't find anything
better. Both - for some lovely bytes for STAR News...Guys at
the
Headquarters sure loved it - and the Concert. Believe me, I
never saw crowd
baying for an artist like this...EVER. The message was more
than fan
following. It was a political statement. Am sure Mr. Parrikkar
was enjoying
the music in the first row (he came a little befor e your act
and and was
there all along). The man was enjoying himself. For a moment,
the RSS, the
IIT was not there, not even a Goenk[Bar. He was more of a teenager.
But it was
you who made my day that day.
Hey, we should have
an International Music Festival on the lines of
Woodstock every year maybe. It is more exciting.
But till then let's
keep in touch. And keep setting our imaginations ...
afire
Regards
Ajay
[AJAY THAKUR
is the Goa representative of Star News, one of India's leading
television news channels.] |
Bravo. I respect you and love
your IFFI article in Mid-Day.
Wendell
[WENDELL RODRICKS is one
of India's leading international fashion designers]
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Typical Remo.
A sword from the heart.
Arun
[ARUN SINHA is the Editor
of 'The Navhind Times', Goa.]
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Remo, my dear
friend,
Are you standing for President,
or what? If not, you ought to be!
I have just read your outstanding
article, and I think the writing and
content are as powerful as anything I have seen recently.
It was only when we were actually
in Goa (for five weeks) that I realised
the extent of corruption in "official" circles -
ie, from the Government to
the police. Kickbacks and bribes seem an accepted way of life, "perks for
the job" as we say, and one has to wonder just how this
tide can ever be
turned. Scandals that break in the media are dismisssed with
a shrug, and
presumably consigned to history along with the particpants,
new contenders
for high (or low) office take their place. The vicious cycle
goes on.
As for Bollywood: brilliant stuuf,
Remo. But remember that the US once had a
(not bad) President and one-time (very bad) actor named Ronald
Reagan, and
if they can change the Constitution they may one day get an
Austrian
muscleman whose name means "Nigger Black" (true).
Celebrity is the name of
the game these days, people are addicted to it whether as
wannabees for 15
minutes of fame or from their armchairs, and the whole culture
is pathetic.
We know that.
Good luck with it all, you deserve
it, and cheers for now,
William
[WILLIAM HALL is an author
and biographer from the UK; his latest biography: 'Sir Michael
Caine: 70 Not Out']
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Dear Remo
It was really good to see you
vociferous, but clear about the present
unprioritized spending of the Govt. When people as profiled
as you speak
out, it is heard. Having worked for a short time on the fringe
activities, I realize the wastefulness expenditures and devious
methods
for the event. I do hope there is accountability for it and
that future
development is properly envisioned and planned. All the best.
Kind regards,
DEAN D'CRUZ
[DEAN D'CRUZ is one of
Goa's leading architects, and the main force behind the Save Goa Movement which exposed the Government's diabolical, ecologically destructive Regional Plan which proposed to transform most of Goa's greenery into buildable area for sale to big-time international and national builders and promoters]
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Dear Remo,
Wow! That's a wonderful piece you've written.
Rgds,
Bharat
[BHARAT KULKRETI from 'Tehelka Times']
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Dear Remo,
I have just read this article written by you and forwarded
to me by my brother. My immediate reaction was: "REMO,
THANK YOU!!!" It very simply and explicitly puts out
in the open what everyone has been thinking and saying for
a long time. Unfortunately not many have had the gumption
to voice it and the few that have, were not given any notice.
From the bottom of my heart I thank you.
Hope all is well otherwise. Will be in touch.
best regards,
Omar.
[OMAR LOYOLA PEREIRA is
one of Goa's leading musicians, presently studying and working
in Australia]
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Big Cheers for the article in
Mid-Day today!
Encore!
Love, Heena.
[HEENA MORARJEE-KAMTE is
a businesswoman and heiress living in Mumbai]
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When in Muscat, flicking through
TV channels while unwinding after a night of flying I stopped
when I saw Remo being interviewed on some Indian channel.
I watched and listened, and in that short time I concluded...
this man is profound. If I was more eloquent, I would have
come up with some thing better than 'profound'.
He seems to see things just the way we see them, but his candidness
and brazen honesty is a wake call for most consciences.
Living literally all over the world for the last fifteen and
a half years I may have a slight advantage in perspective
on what India looks likes like to the rest of the world, and
usually this is determined by what they see on TV. Without
Indians, the world would collapse, from the labour force in
the Gulf to the echelons of the likes of Microsoft. However,
when one switches on any Indian TV channels one has no choice
but to believe that it is a nation obsessed with and 'cultured'
by film stars and politicians, the most corrupt bunch. [It
may not be entirely a coincidence that film stars so often
move up the corporate (or corrupt !) ladder to become politicians!]
I have always said that even when we try to do a quiz show,
it is a quiz on films and film stars, that is how much we
can elevate our selves. (There used to be a good quiz show
for students -The Bournvita Quiz, does it still run, or has
it succumbed?)
Yes, we have an impressive annual economic growth rate of
7%, but that is in spite of the politicians and film stars.
We are one of the biggest film making countries in the world,
but what do we have to show for it in international film awards.
We have one of the biggest populations in the world but what
do we have to show for it at the Olympics. Remo is right,
we have the wrong people up on the pedestals.
After reading "..thanks for the crumbs", on realises
it is more than crumbs, it's food for thought.
What impressed and amused me about the TV interview, was how
pathetically inadequate the interviewer looked when dealing
with Remo. For instance, he asked Remo more than once to sing
for him, and Remo declined more than once. Finally Remo told
him, "This is an interview, when you interview a surgeon,
you do not ask him to operate for you. When you interview
Amitab Bachchan, you do not ask him to run around the trees
for you".
Mervyn
[MERVYN SEQUEIRA is a pilot
with Gulf Air and is based in Bahrain and Toronto]
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The besssst...
Sai
[SAI PANANDIKAR is a singer,
composer, poet, actor, playright and businessman from Margao,
Goa.]
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Hello Remo,
Congratulations on the lovely
article. We all have to work together for out lovely Goa.
You have my complete support.
Armando
[ARMANDO GONSALVES is the
owner of the Chicky Chocky fast food bar, and a music lover
promoting jazz and Goan music at his residence in Campal.]
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Sir,
You are one real Goan hero! I
was just reading your article in Mid-Day here in Pune,
and it brought tears to my eyes!
You are the best son of Goa and India!
I have been following your music
since the time I learnt ABC!
I salute you! Keep rocking!
Your whole hearted fan -
[NAWAL G. KARKAL, Pune.]
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Salute!
We thought we had lost our Remo
to Bollywood.
You have confirmed where your
heart is.
Gerson
[GERSON REBELLO is an enterpreneur
from Goa]
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Hi Remo,
I read your article in The Navhind
Times just now. I believe in every word,
every letter you've written.
Hats off to you! You are a true Goan.
Sameer
[SAMEER KAPADI is a musician
from Goa]
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Just SMS'd to congratulate you.
We need more people like you
around.
Christopher
[CHRISTOPHER GOMES is the
owner of B. X. Furtado Music Shop, Mumbai and Goa]
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I was a fan of Remo Fernandes
simply because he is a very versatile singer. Now, I respect
his courage. I strongly feel that the majority of the public
agrees with his views. I also want to congratulate Remo for
donating his fees towards the improvement of health and educational
institutions of Goa.
[YOGESH BHAVSAR in Mid-Day,
Mumbai]
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These are facts
which very few in prominent places on prominent platforms would
dare to say or put in print.
Or, for that matter, intelligently
dispute without taking the easy way
out by dragging politics into it.
[PHILIP THOMAS on Goanet.Org]
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