Tuesday 22 July 2014

Mario Miranda's Goa

Yes, there is a Museum dedicated to Mario Miranda. But did you know there is a fort, with not only a breath taking view of North Goa but also spacious reading rooms for you to pick up one of his famous works of art and get lost in the awesomeness of his humour.

This was by far my most favourite part of my recent visit to Goa organised by Tourism of Goa. I was given to understand that we were just visiting a fort, playing touristy in Goa. It is a gorgeous fort Reis Magos is. Beautifully restored with a breathtaking view of the sea.  

What really took my breath away was a retrospective - a collection of all Mario Miranda's work, his cartoons, his stories.
I was tempted to sit right there in the spacious gallery created with so much heart. His illustrations and caricatures about travelling across the globe, browsing through the travel stories and with that million dollar view of the sea! Aha!

A first such space I have seen restored, curated and dedicated to an artist of Indian origin in India with so much care, this I am seeing for the first time in my country. I wish this were done more often in more parts of the country, spaces displaying the history and life of artists, noted representatives of the region in the country. And the best part about is was that it was open to the public, not converted into a private product of capitalistic ambitions. Kudos to the people behind the idea and a pat on the back to those who executed the restoration of the fort and incorporating the retrospective without making any seemingly modern changes to the original structure.

In case you cannot make it to the fort but don't want to leave Goa without some of Mario Miranda's souvenirs, head to the recently launched Mario Gallery in Panjim.
Address: Mario Gallery,
Near Hindu Pharmacy,
Below Aroma Hotel,
Duarte Pacheco Road,
Panaji
Ph.No.+91 0832 2421776

(Note: This was a trip organised and sponsored by Tourism of Goa. But it truly was my most favourite part of the trip as shared here. So much so that I spent most of my money on souvenirs for friends and family back home. Quite unique presents from Goa this time around!)  

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