It is with tremendous pride that we launch the new website today on children's day and it is a fitting tribute to the boy who gave the first sparks to this beautiful movement called Heritage Jazz with his amazing videos, which helped us reach out to the world and tell them something interesting. He surprised me then with his dexterity in handling a video camera at the age of 7, and I almost did a double take when he sat on my lap and conjured up something beautiful by editing the images into a well-defined story. For this, I have to first thank God for bestowing His blessings to the movement as well as to Nihal, and secondly, a big thanks to Nihal himself for giving us that vital push at a time when it mattered most. My daughter Zenisha has been an inspiration in most of the things that I have done in recent times. She cajoled me and egged me on, and it is amazing how the love of your children can drive one to extra ordinary things. I am thankful to Goa for their beautiful bounty.
Nihal Gonsalves Zenisha receiving the prize from Armando Gonsalves
It has been 5 years since, and Heritage Jazz is now known across the music firmament worldwide as a movement that has brought the best of music talent to Goa. Additionally, since Heritage Jazz is about music, the home, heritage and the culture of Goa, we have inadvertently contributed in uniting various cultural forces much to the delight of the media as well to our own delight too.
I have always believed in the Attitude of Gratitude, and today is an auspicious day when we are going to express our thanks with even more force than otherwise. A big thank you to the countless musicians from all over the world, who have graced our stage. The people of Campal deserve great mention since it is the beauty of our beautiful oasis in the heart of Panjim that has made Heritage Jazz what it is. I really hope that this remains as it is, and that the government lends its helping hand to all of us so that we can pay for the upkeep of the beautiful homes that dot the land thus giving such a beautiful and serene feel to our majestic capital city of Panjim.
The media has been absolutely wonderful, and what would we have done without them? Whether it is the national electronic media or the print media, and even more importantly, the stunning support that we have received from our very own people here in Goa, it is obvious that our blessings have overflowed! Never did we ever dream that the international media would take notice of our humble and simple work, but that they have been a source of immense satisfaction to all of us working on this project.
Our various sponsors right from the people who first supported this cause, State Bank of India, have been fantastic. A special mention must be made about Mr. Ramesh Kumar, then CGM State Bank of India, Mumbai, who went about the job of providing us the support when the seed was just sown. Mr. Valerio Sequeira, my very own personal friend who played such an important role in this development amongst so many other things that he did, deserves special pat on his back. Various other sponsors including Mr. Dattaraj Salgaocar, the Nirvana Group, Landscape Developers, Carlsberg, Kingfisher, etc were conspicuous in their support, and thanks to all for their yeoman service to the revolution that has been unleashed.
On the personal front, none could have provided me with more insight and rock solid support than my dear friend and brother who I never had, Ricardo Rebelo. His firm belief in Goa and in its rich musical and architectural heritage has been an important part of the whole process that has its roots far and deep. And of course, my mother Aduzinda for whom I find a great difficulty in finding the correct words to thank her for the service she has rendered to our movement, and through extension, to Goa.
People who were the very first in supporting this cause when Jazz was in the doldrums in Goa were George Fernandes, Lester Godinho, Jean Kalgutkar, Carlos Monteiro amongst others. Ashok Bajaj joined the long list of supporters to the cause and I must also not forget the latest entrants Mr. Gokul Kumar of the Nirvana Group and Mr. Raj Wadhwa, both dear friends from Delhi but for whom the cultural ethos of Goa is so dear to their hearts.
And of course, these thanks would be completely off track if I did not thank my creative assistant, Ms Denwy Fernandes, who has toiled tirelessly through various crazy concepts that have been thrown at her. She has truly been a shining star in our vibrant company, Trancemedia. Other members of the team Ms Queency Gonsalves, Ms Carol Rosario, Ms Marissa Monteiro besides the team at my home Gonsalves Mansion have brought so much joy to the faces of all of you wonderful people who have come over and enjoyed our events as the guests of the Gonsalves family. And it is all of you who have made all this happen, you are the ones who have given us the push and the encouragement to take the difficult path, the less treaded one, and we are ever so thankful that this was the script that we had to ride!
I look forward to support from people across the world, and would like to reiterate that Heritage Jazz is about uniting people, it is about bringing people together under one platform. Goa’s has a diverse heritage all of it being unique. Rampant construction threatens to destroy this very fabric, which is so special across the world. Goa is known as the Rome of the East but when soon some world city will want to call itself the Goa of the West, we must truly understand that there are bigger things on the anvil. Cheers to the people of Goa, a very unique people indeed!
