From the editor’s desk :-

Dear Konkanni music lovers,

Once again a hearty welcome to you for this melodious column of world popular web portal daijiworld.com.  As I write this editorial my heart is bubbling with joy ‘cause with this episode, after successfully completing two years on net, your favourite music column ‘Do..Re..Me..Fa..’ is entering into its 3rd glorious year. 

As we commence 3rd year with lots of hope and aspirations, in a very special way I thank Almighty God for His choicest blessings to run this music column in a melodious way. I am deeply indebted to the creator of this most popular web portal Sri Walter Nandalike for his dedication, hard work and tremendous interest that he has shown towards this column. I am highly grateful to my dear friend Sri Robert Pereira for his unassuming help in drafting and editing my musical chords. Also I thank my beloved ‘Borpi-Mithr’ for their great encouragement.  Finally, last but not the least I take this unique opportunity to thank each one of you for your unstinted support and co-operation without which I wouldn’t have been here today.  And I’m sure by God’s grace and with your encouragement I will be able to accomplish this marathon mission.

Although Konkanni children are scattered around the globe in search of green pastures, it is very encouraging to see that they have not forgotten their roots, their mother-tongue Konkanni and its rich tradition and culture.  The recent widely celebrated ‘Montifest’ with pomp and glory around the globe is itself a best example for it.  All of us have read the wide coverage of the feast on this very same web portal.  When we think about our Konkani tradition and culture my mind goes back to yester years’ tradition in music that is the unique ‘Gumtam’.  Though this rich tradition is on the way of extinction, as far as I’m aware in Mangalore, the one and only ‘Pereira’ family from the parish of Bejai is determined to pass on this rich tradition to the next generation.

Dear music lovers, in this unique episode I’m going to present to you an unique musical chord, a chord that struggling to keep alive our rich tradition ‘Gumtam’.  The star whom I’m going to present to you in this music column is none other than Konkanni Sahitya Academy Award winner ‘Sri Joachim Pereira’ from Bejai, Mangalore.  I’m sure you will really enjoy listening to this sweet traditional Konkanni music.  See you next month same place with yet another sweet music chord.  Until then, bye!

Yours in Do..Re..Me..Fa..,

Gerry D’Mello, Bendur.

For traditional Konkanni ‘Gumtam’ songs please click :

A winner of ‘Konkani Sahitya Academy Award-1999’
 “Ghumtamcho Rai” (The King of the drums)
Manesth Joachim Pereira

Sri Joachim Pereira, the renowned “gumot” artiste of Mangalore, is a strong existing link between the fast disappearing “gumot” music and the Konkanni Community of Mangalore.  He has taken it as his mission in life to preserve and promote this old Konkanni heritage of ‘gumot music’ in the Konkanni society.

Birth & education :-

Joachim Pereira was born on 16th August 1934 at Kulshekar, Mangalore.  His parents were (late) Alex Louis Pereira and (late) Mary Pereira.  Though agriculturists by profession, musical talent, especially the gumot art and music was family trait among this Pereira family.  Alex Pereira was well known in the town for his “gumot beats”.  His son Joachim Pereira too inherited this hereditary trait from the father.