Message to Konkaniworld: Mr Joachim Pereira says, “I am ever ready to offer my free service for the propagation of Gumtam art and to hone the skills of young enthusiast children in this line. This is my tiny gift to mother tongue Konkani”.

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

Joachim Pereira was born on August 16, 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”.  Mr Alex Pereira’s Gumtam Song Goim Sandun Ailee Mainm is selected for the B.A. graduation text.  His son Joachim Pereira too inherited this hereditary trait from his father. 
 
Joachim had his formal elementary education in Padua School, and his High School studies in St. Aloysius High School, Mangalore.  During his studies at both the institutions, Joachim used to be very active in various extra-curricular activities, particularly in singing and drama.  After his High School studies, he followed the footsteps of his father.  Like his father, he chose the agriculturist profession and devoted his spare time to gumot music.  Joachim used to accompany his father to various functions where his father used to sing and play gumot.  Gradually, his father taught him the art in which he excelled naturally!  Joachim reveres his father Alex Pereira and the choir master of Bejai (late) Cyprian Urban Pinto as his music ‘gurus’.


 
Joachim Pereira later married Pauline Pereira and settled in Bejai Parish, Mangalore.  He has five children, Joel, (late) Janet, Anet, Lynette and Noel who are all music lovers.  Especially Joel Pereira, his eldest son has become a famous musician without whose musical accompaniments hardly any new Konkani cassette is produced in Mangalore.  Joachim Pereira lives happily with his family at his residence, “Sangeeth Sagar”, Noda Bejai, Mangalore.

Achievements in Gumot art, folk-song & music:

1. In 1965 Joachim Pereira, along with his father, played an important role in the famous musical concert “Amchem Daiz”.
2. Musical accompaniment to the popular albums Gumtamchim Podam produced by Konkani Cultural Association, and to Voveo ani Vaerse produced by Canara Communication Centre, Mangalore
3. Participant with the beats of Gumtam in the “David & Goliath” yakshagana style musical concert, on the occasion of Silver Jubilee celebration of Neerude church, Mangalore Diocese.
4. Gumtam Music exhibition during the Centenary celebration of St. Aloysius College, Mangalore.
5. Gumtam performance for the weekly programme of Doordarshan Surabhi.
6. Exhibited gumtam music during the Porob programme of Maand Sobhann.
7. Taken part in the Sirigandha programme of Doordarshan, Bangalore, DD 9 channel.
8. Participated in Konkani Kula Utsav held in Delhi in 1998.
9. Participant in ICYM Diaference held at Moodabidri and Kundapur in the year 1999.
   
    
10. Took part in the Gadinada Utsav in Madikeri.
11. Participated in Gumtam Dance programme at Sagar in 2000.
12. Compiled the songs and played Gumtam at The Last 12 Hours of Jesus on 18-03-2007 at the St. Agnes Special School Ground, Bendore and on 01-04-2007 at St. Philomena College ground, Puttur.
    

1. Joachim Pereira has rendered 48 years of selfless service to the Bejai Church Choir as tenor singer!
2. Presently he is the Choir Master of St. Francis Xavier’s Choir, Bejai
3. He has acted in dramas like Bebdhyachi Dhuv (in which he bagged the second prize for acting); Bhasavne, Amchem Daiz (Musical concert), Khoinsor asaa bachavi?, Gharanem etc.
4. He has written a book of poems Gumtanchi Podam published by Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy.

1. Award from Mangalore Musical & Cultural Association in 1993
2. Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy award for the year 1998-1999.
   
    
3. Gumtacho Rai award by ICYM Diaference held at Kundapur in 1999, conferred upon by the honourabe Minister Jayaprakash Hegde
   
   
   
   
    
4. Honoured by Mr Albert D’Souza, Businessman at Mumbai in 2000.
   
    
5. Felicitated by Mr Pius Vas, High Court Lawyer at Mumbai in 2000.
   
   
6. Honoured by Karnataka Janapada & Yakshagana Academy in 2003
7. Honoured by Maand Sobhann on Mando Fest.