fr jerome d'souza , sj
TRANSCRIPT
Great Indian Jesuits
The Unsung Saga of a Diplomat
Early Years and Formation
•Born on 6 August 1897, Mangalore, south Canara,
British India.
• He did his secondary schooling at St. Aloysius
College, Mangalore.
• College studies in St. Joseph’s College, Tamilnadu.
•On 29 May 1921, entered the Society Of Jesus.
•After finishing his theological studies he was
ordained priest on the 30 August 1931 (Belgium ).
Educationist in Tamil Nadu
In 1933, he was appointed professor
in St. Joseph’s
College,Tiruchirapalli.
He soon attracted the attention of
Sir C.Rajagopalachari,the then
president of the Indian National
Congress.
Transferred in 1942 as the rector
of Loyola College of Chennai there
he became involved in the legal
Member of the Indian Constituent Assembly
When the time came to form an assembly that would
draw a constitution for the country
D’Souza’s name was proposed by Rajagopalachari to
the Madras legislative assembly. He was elected to
represent them at the constituent assembly of Delhi.
At the assembly (1946 to 1950), D’Souza ensured the
rights of the minorities (especially of worship and
education)
the right to practice and propagate one’s religion were
included in the constitution as fundamental rights of all
citizens of India.
Statesman and Diplomat :
In Delhi he soon gained the trust and
admiration of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime
minister of independent India who often
consulted him in educational matters
He negotiated with the Vatican the termination of
the Portuguese Padroado system that was
giving to Portugal an undue say in the
appointment of bishops in India.
He was involved in the negotiations with
the French government leading ultimately to a
peaceful transfer of the French colonial
settlements (chandannagar, Pondicherry, etc.) to
the new Independent India
At the instance of Nehru he was also involved
in delicate diplomatic negotiations
On four occasions D’Souza was member of the
Indian delegation to the UNO’s yearly general
session.
His command of French, Spanish, Italian and
German languages, besides English opened him
many doors and he was often invited to give
talks and lectures on Indian culture, history and
politics, in various parts of the world.
Indian Social Institute
At the request of the Superior General of the SJ,
D’Souza founded in Pune (India) the Indian
Social Institute (now in New-Delhi, 10,
Institutional Area, Lodhi Road New Delhi), and
started published a journal Social Action .
In 1957, D’Souza was made the Assistant and
adviser of the Superior General for Indian and
Asian affairs.
He returned to India in 1968 and spent his last
years writing articles and books, giving lectures
and courses.
Writings
Sardar Panikkar and the
Christian Missions,
Tiruchi, 1957.
The Church and
Civilization, Garden
City, 1967)
Speeches and Writings,
Madras, 1972.
Recognition
On 12 August,1977 Madras- he died
In 1997, the Indian government issued a stamp to
commemorate his birth centenary
Thank You