‘All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts,’ is a famous quote from William Shakespeare's play, As You Like It.
What you turn this life into is all about you, just like Goa’s tiatrist and son of the soil John Claro Fernandes did. When he left the world at the age of 94, he left behind a significant mark on Goa’s tiatr scene through several hit Konkani plays, some novels, and articles on past tiatrists.
John Claro, as he was known, is best remembered for his directorial prowess, and yes, who can forget the great tiatr Portugez Kolvont. At a time when other tiatrs were struggling to stage 100 shows, this tiatr did 200 across Goa, and, that too, full house every time it was staged.
On August 18, John Claro left for his heavenly abode at his ancestral home in Quepem, leaving behind his wife Piedade Afonso and his three children Godfrey, Godwin and Golda.
Remembering his dad, Godwin said, “My father used to lovingly call me Bebê and we have fond memories of him. He taught us so many life-lessons and I would always go to him for any advice as he my role model. He inculcated in us good discipline too.” An incosolable and teary-eyed Godwin said, “I was very close to him and he was fond of me.”
Godwin feels more saddened as his father will not be there to celebrate his sister Inacina’s birthday at the new house. “We have been re-constructing our home in Quepem and my daddy wanted to celebrate tia’s (aunt) birthday and the inauguration of the house on September 8. Almost all the housework is ready and only few final touches remain. Just before that…,” Godwin paused and broke down.
“My father used to lovingly call me Bebê and we have fond memories of him. He taught us so many life-lessons and I would always go to him for any advice and he was a role model for me.Godwin Fernandes, son of tiatist John Claro Fernandes
John Claro was clearly a great dad but he was an equally great colleague to work with. Tiatrist Tomazinho Cardozo, sharing a few light moments of John Claro’s life, said, “I've known John Claro for years now, and he used to research and document the lives of tiatr artistes and get them published in a local English daily. He was also one of the first who performed over 200 shows of his most loved tiatr Portugez Kolvont. Over the years, he has directed and staged over 15 tiatrs.”
Lamenting the loss, Tomazinho recalled that he had asked John Claro to share all his articles published in the daily, and these were compiled into a book titled Stalwarts of Tiatr Stage.
John Claro, who was honoured with the Goa State Cultural Award, also recently received the one-time Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for playwriting in September 2023.
Though Goa is currently fighting for the acknowledgment of Konkani in the Romi script, stalwarts like John Claro tried their best to keep the language and script alive through theatre and novels.
The echoes of John Claro's creativity will continue to resonate in the hearts of those he touched and the curtain will fall on a life dedicated to the Konkani stage when his mortal remains will be laid to rest on Wednesday at 4 pm at The Holy Cross Church in Quepem.