State forms task force to pursue Unesco’s cultural heritage recognition tag for tiatr

Panaji: Goa’s unique art form, tiatr, is set to join the ranks of India’s most treasured heritage assets. The directorate of art and culture has formed a dedicated task force to pursue Unesco recognition for tiatr as an intangible cultural heritage.The committee, chaired by art and culture minister Ramesh Tawadkar, includes Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) president Anthony Rosario Fernandes (stage name, Roseferns) and other cultural experts. It will work with historians and Unesco representatives to prepare a nomination dossier, to be forwarded through the ministry of culture for evaluation.The dossier will capture the evolution of tiatr, tracing its origins in the colonial era, its themes of social reform and faith, and its impact on the Goan diaspora. “Once approved, tiatr will be globally recognised, and this art form may soon be showcased in other countries in their own languages,” Fernandes told TOI. He added that Unesco recognition could open new avenues of financial assistance from both govt of India and the Unesco. He also revealed plans for a global documentation drive. “By Feb 2026, we will be visiting other countries where Goan communities perform tiatr, collecting materials, scripts, and oral histories.

This documentation is essential for Unesco heritage recognition,” he added.Carlos Fernandes, member secretary of the Tiatr Academy of Goa and former curator of the Goa State Central Library, who worked extensively to document tiatr-related literature, said that the groundwork for the dossier is already well under way.“Nearly 50% of the work to submit the dossier to the ministry of culture is done, while the rest is in process.

Getting this recognition is important not only for Goa but for India’s cultural identity as a whole,” he said.As the curtain rises on this ambitious cultural mission, there is a sense of hope among Goa’s artists. For the founding president of the Tiatr Academy of Goa, Tomazinho Cardozo, this recognition would mark the culmination of decades of dedication by countless tiatrists. “The task force has a tremendous responsibility to research deeply into the origins of tiatr, its influence on society, its scripts, themes, and artistic nuances.

Unesco will scrutinise every detail, so we must prepare a strong and compelling application,” Cardozo said.