Rev. Dr Charles Vas, SVD – An Evangelizer through music dance : Music and Dance have no barriers of caste, creed, language, religion, race and country. It is rightly said, “music hath charms to soothe a savage beast, to soften rocks or bend a knotted oak”. Fr Charles Vas is one such prodigy who has imbibed the spirit of music and dance, cultivated a habit of living with musical instruments and traveled widely both in India and abroad delivering the fragrance of Good News of Jesus Christ through Prema Ragini, a dance music, creation of himself. Music and dance are 2 skills that go hand in hand. The perfect blending of these two creates wizards and one such wizard is Dr Charles Vas.

Infancy, Teenage and Adulthood:

Born on February 12, 1944 in Omzoor of Dakshina Kannada District to a devout couple, late Mr Jacob and Mrs Seraphine Vas, Charles was the 4th among the 5 children. God has blessed his family with 3 Vocations. Apart from Fr Charles 2 of his sisters are nuns and the youngest brother is a lawyer in Mumbai High Court.

Charles discovered his musical talent when he was a young boy, while he joined Village Band as a side drummer. The Omzoor church choir gave him ample scope to lay a firm foundation to his musical talent, which was strengthened at a later date when he had joined the religious order of SVD to become a priest. His musical talent grew like a banyan tree due to his hard efforts, encouragement of his companions and superiors and appreciation of friends and well wishers. Piano and Guitar became his pet instruments while organ, sitar, tabla, violin too played important role in his life of service. Bro. Charles accepted Indian Music Pandith Ramakrishna Joshi as his ‘Guru’ and learnt Hindustani music under him.

Bro. Charles Vas turned into Fr Charles Vas in 1976 when he was ordained a priest. In 1983, he secured the doctorate degree in music for his dissertation on EAST MEETS WEST from All India Gandharva University. Thus, he became the first Indian priest to attain a doctorate degree in Music.

Musical Milestones and Achievements:

Rev. Dr Charles Vas was a poet, composer, musician and director of various musical events. A number of ballets, music dances and bhajan programmes exhibited within India and abroad were the fruit of his hard labour.  I am happy to summarize a few of his music related achievements. 

• More than 30 cassettes on devotional songs with music
• Composed music to several musical nites & dramas
• T.V. and All India Radio have telecasted and broadcasted his programmes, respectively.
• Numerous training camps on music were conducted in schools, colleges both in India and abroad including universities.
• Directed ballet on the life of Jesus.

Awards, Honours and Degrees:

• 1983 – Doctorate degree from Gandharva University in Hindustani Music
• Degree from Trinity College of Music, London in Piano and Western Music
• B.A. Honours in English from Bombay University.
• B.Th degree from Papal Anthenium, Rome

Prema Ragini:

The most distinguished and highly appreciated work of Dr Charles Vas is his Prema Ragini (Love Tune).  Prema Ragini is a musical dance ballet exhibited both in India and abroad and has seen more than 350 shows. Vatican City of Rome witnessed this ballet in the presence of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II.

An institution is a must to bring out various talents and to put them in order and shape. Under the eminent leadership of Fr Charles Vas a music and dance center called Sangeeth Abhinai Akademi came into being in 1980 in Andheri of Mumbai of which he became the founder director. It is through this center, talents of numerous children and youth in music, dances are brought to lime light irrespective of caste, creed and religion. The institute continues its mission successfully.

Fr Charles, a selfless priest evangelizes through the God given gifts of music and dance, and shares his knowledge and expertise with those interested to learn music and rightly deserves the crown of honor. The popular website www.konkaniworld.com congratulates Rev. Dr Charles Vas, recognizing his persistent work in the field of music and dance and bestows on him the prestigious title Konkaniworld Super Star. We pray that you may continue to share your talents, Fr Charles. 

By: Rev. Dr Ronald Cutinha