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