Jesuits in the History of IndiaPROF. MENACHERY PAPERS AND ARTIC ES !DRAFTS"#oa $ De%.

&''& SEMINAR( In the Footste)s of Fran%is *a+ier( Jesuits in India,.', The +ast s%o)e su--ested .y the tit/e of the )a)er 0Jesuits in IndianHistory0 or Jesuits in the History of India0 1a2es it ne%essary to restri%t its%ontents to a fe3 as)e%ts of the 4uestion5 and ea%h of these as)e%ts in turn 1ust.e %onfined to /i1ited s)ans of ti1e and s)a%e.,.'& This restraint is ne%essary .e%ause the So%iety of Jesus has .een )erha)s theon/y institution 6 or-anisation in India that has .een in e7isten%e )ra%ti%a//y%ontinuous/y for the )ast 3e//$ni-h four %enturies and a ha/f.,.'8 A/so .e%ause the So%ietys inf/uen%e has .een )resent in one for1 or other ina/1ost e+ery re-ion of India $ not on/y in 3hat is today the Re)u./i% of India9.ut 3hat 3ent .y the na1e of India durin- the )ea2$ years of the :ritish Ra;9 anda/so areas around it9 in%/udin- 1any )arts of the )resent day Pa2istan9:an-/adesh9 Ti.et9 Cey/on9 Ne)a/9 Si22i1 and other -eo-ra)hi%a/ and )o/iti%a/re-ions and territories.,.'< And this s)read and inf/uen%e of the So%iety in ti1e and s)a%e has a thirddi1ension $ it had )er1eated a /ar-e nu1.er of s)heres /i2e re/i-ion ands)iritua/ity9 )o/iti%s9 edu%ation9 s%ientifi% and te%hno/o-i%a/ )ro-ress91eteoro/o-y9 3arfare and di)/o1a%y9 indo/o-y9 %u/ture9 history9 -eo-ra)hy9/an-ua-e and /iterature9 art and ar%hite%ture9 s)orts and -a1es9 dis%i)/ine91ora/ity and ethi%s9 so%ia/ refor1s9 tri.a/ and a.ori-ina/ 1o+e1ents9 da/itissues9 s%his1s9 tra+e/ and trade9 nation$.ui/din-9 1edi%ine and hea/th$%are9for1ation of youth...to 1ention .ut a fe3.,.'= Thus9 in e+a/uatin- the )/a%e of the Jesuits in Indian history this $ at/east $ threefo/d )resen%e of the So%iety 1ust not .e /ost si-ht of $ its )resen%e,> for a/1ost ha/f a 1i//enniu19 &> in e+ery re-ion that e+er for1ed a )art of anyof the 1any Indias9 and 8> in the do?ens of fie/ds 3here it has /eft its i1)rint.,.'@ Considerin- this +ast s%o)e of the to)i%9 on/y )art/y out/ined a.o+e9 it isho)ed that it 3i// .e .oth understood and for-i+en if the )a)er o1its 1u%h 1orethan 3hat it in%/udes.&.', The So%iety of Jesus A as 1entioned a.o+e > has .een )erha)s the on/yinstitution 6 or-anisation of any si?e and i1)a%t in India that has .een ine7isten%e )ra%ti%a//y %ontinuous/y for the )ast 3e//$ni-h four %enturies and aha/f. At this sta-e9 3ithout enterin- into any detai/ed dis%ussion9 the 1ere datesof the +arious ru/in- dynasties or or-anisations 3hi%h 3ie/ded si-nifi%ant )o3erin the se%ond ha/f of the se%ond 1i//enniu1 1ay .e )rofita./y s%rutinised. It3ou/d .e easi/y seen that none of the )o3ers do1inated for 1ore than a )art of9and in 1ost %ases a +ery s1a// )art of9 the <=' years for 3hi%h the So%iety has.een 3or2in- in India.&.'& Su/tan Mah1ud9 /ast of the :ah1ani dynasty of the De%%an ru/ed fro1 ,<B& to,=&B9 the Su/tans of :i;a)ur A,<C' $ ,@B@>9 the ru/ers of Di;ayana-ar A,88@ $,=B=>9 the odi dynasty A,<=, $ ,=&@>9 the Sur AAf-han> dynasty A,=<' $ ,==E> 9the Maratha Pesh3as A,E,8 $ ,B,B>9 the fa1i/y of Sindhia A,E&@...,B&E>9 the Si2h2in-do1 of the Pun;a. A,ECB $ ,B<C>9 the Ni?a1s of Hydera.ad A,E,8 $ ,C<B>9 theNa3a.s and Fin-s of Oudh A,E&& $ ,B=@>9 the Na3a.s of :en-a/ A ,E<' $ ,EE'>.,&.'8 True9 the Mahara;as of States /i2e Co%hin AFo%hi> and Tra+an%oreAThiru+itha1%oor> had ru/ed for /on- %enturies5 .ut the nature and e7tend of their ru/e and rea/1s 3ere so1e3hat restri%ted and %urtai/ed. Hen%e it 3i// .e foundthat on/y the #reat Mo-ha/s $ s)e/t in ha/f a do?en different 3ays $ and the:ritish ru/ed o+er 1a;or )ortions of India for so1e3hat /en-thy )eriods. The Mo-u/ru/ers 3ere in )o3er as fo//o3s( :a.ur A,=&@ $ ,=8'>9 Hu1ayun A,=8' $ =@>9 A2.arA,==@ $ ,@'=>9 Jahan-ir A,@'= $ &E>9 Shah Jahan A,@&E $ de)osed ,@=B and died,@@@>9 Auran-?e. A/a1-ir A,@=B $ ,E'E>9 others fro1 ,E'E to ,B=E 3hen :ahadur ShahII 3as de)osed. And the :ritish #o+ernors$#enera/ fro1 Fort Gi//ia1 in :en-a/AGarren Hastin-s to ord :entin%2> A,EE< $,B88>9 #o+ernors$#enera/ of India A,B88$ ,B=B>9 #o+ernors$#enera/ and Di%eroys A,B=B $ ,C8@>9 #o+ernors$#enera/ and Cro3nRe)resentati+es A,C8E $ ,C<E>.& Thus it 3ou/d .e easi/y seen that none of these)o3ers do1inated for 1ore than a )art of9 and in 1ost %ases e7%e)t for the Mo-ha/sand the :ritish9 a +ery s1a// )art of9 the <@' years for 3hi%h the So%iety has.een 3or2in- in India.&.'< Durin- the first ha/f of the,@th %entury the Indian )eninsu/a e7)erien%ed theintrusion of t3o +i-orous forei-n e/e1ents $ one fro1 a%ross the Ara.ian sea andthe other fro1 the north and north3est of the su.%ontinent. A Dya?ha+atto1 ordo?en years after Das%o da #a1a /anded at Fa))ad near Ca/i%ut in Ma/a.ar9 in ,=,'the Is/and of #oa 3as o%%u)ied .y the

Portu-uese9 under A/.u4uer4ues /eadershi)9fo//o3ed .y the esta./ish1ent of Portu-uese )o3er on )art of the ad;oinin-1ain/and9 and at se+era/ )oints u)on the %oast9 1ade )ossi./e .y the a/1ostundis)uted Portu-uese %ontro/ of the Indian seas.8 A/so the Portu-uese fro1 the+ery .e-innin- ado)ted a fran2/y )rose/yti?in- )o/i%y. And the Jesuits 3ere )artand )ar%e/ of this Portu-uese outfit at /east fro1 ,=<&9 3hen Fran%is *a+ier s.;.arri+ed in India.&.'= Si7teen years after the o%%u)ation of #oa .y the Portu-uese9 in ,=&@9 :a.urthe first #reat Mu-ha/ )a+ed the 3ay for his Indian %on4uests9 at the .att/e ofPani)at durin- 3hi%h I.rahi1 odi 1et 3ith his death.< Si7teen years after thise+ent9 in ,=<&9 Fran%is *a+ier arri+ed in India )a+in- the 3ay 3ith his fe//o3Jesuits for another ty)e of %on4uest for the -reater -/ory of #od. This 3or2 has.een -oin- on a/1ost uninterru)ted/y for the )ast <@' years.8.', Not on/y has this 3or2 of the Jesuits .een -oinon for four %enturies and aha/f .ut it has e1.ra%ed a/1ost e+ery )art of India as 3e understand India todayor India as it has .een understood at any ti1e in history9 and e+en .eyond it9fro1 Ca)e Co1orin further do3n in the south to e+en Ti.et in the north.8.'& 0 Of a// the 1issionaries Euro)e had sent out to India9 A /et 1e 4uote9 andat so1e /en-th $> St. Fran%is *a+ier 3as9 undou.ted/y the -reatest. S%ho/ars 3ho)rofess different %reeds in unision say that St. Fran%is *a+ier 3as the -reatest1issionary of 1odern ti1es. The +irtues ne%essary for a 1issionary9 na1e/y ana.idin- /o+e of #od and undyin- ?ea/ for His -/ory9 sy1)athy for the )oor andneedy and a stron- 3i// to /a.our for #od and fe//o3 1en9 he had...He 3as a rare%o1.ination of the %onte1)/ati+e and the 1an of a%tion.0= 0Ghi/e his heart 3as.urnin- 3ith the /o+e of #od9 his head 3as .usy 3ith the 3or2 of .ui/din- theChur%h on so/id foundation. His 3as an or-anisin- ta/ent of a hi-h order.0@8.'8 It is to .e noted that e+en durin- the short )eriod of /ess than ten yearss)ent .y *a+ier in India .et3een ,=<& and ,==&9 /ar-e )ortions of South India in.oth 3hat Mar%o Po/o %a//s the Ma/a.ar Coast and the Maa.ar Coast i.e.9 the 3estand east %oasts of India had e7)erien%ed the Jesuit 3ay )rodu%in%onsidera./ei1)a%t not on/y on the Christians there .ut a/so on the so%iety there at /ar-e ande+en on the Mahara;as and their 3ar %oun%i/s and %i+i/ ad1inistrations9 ri-ht fro1#oa to Co%hin to Ca)e Co1orin to Mana)ad to Mannar to My/a)ore. Ge see thesu%%essors of the saint /i2e Cri1ina/i and Enri4ue? %ontinuin- the -ood 3or2.8.'< The fa1ous Co/e-io de Santa Fe at #oa 3as handed o+er to the Jesuits. Thefirst students of this /itt/e se1inary to .e ordained )riests see1 to ha+e .een the three youn- 1en fro1 Tuti%orin 3ho a%%o1)anied St. Fran%is *a+ier to theFishery Coast as his inter)reters.E In ,@,<9 the historian of the So%iety of Jesusin the East9 Father Se.astiao #on%a/+es9 %ou/d 3rite that the Santa Fe Co//e-e had)rodu%ed 1any )riests...B 0#oa re1ained the %entre9 fro1 3hi%h )riests 3ere sentto the +aious 1issionary areas. The /o%a/ head4uarters 3as Co%hin for the Ma/a.arCoast9 Ca)e Co1orin and the re-ions situated in the interior of the )eninsu/a5Co/o1.o for Cey/on5 My/a)ore for the Fishery Coast9 the Coro1ande/ Coast and thenei-h.ourin- territories5 Ca/%utta for :en-a/ and :ur1a5 :assein for the Missionsof the North5 A-ra for the Jesuit Missions situated in the Mo-hu/ E1)ire.0C8.'= In the .e-innin- the Jesuits in India 3ere di+ided into ;ust t3o Pro+in%es(that of the North9 3ith #oa as its %entre9 and that of the South Athe Ma/a.arPro+in%e> 3ith Co%hin as its head4uarters. Hnder the northern )ro+in%e %a1e theMission of the #reat Mo-hu/9 started at the re4uest of E1)eror A2.ar9 3ith FatherRudo/)h A%4ua+i+a9 the future Martyr9 as its first Su)erior. To the SouthernPro+in%e .e/on-ed the Madura Mission. Started ear/y in the se+enteenth %entury9 it%ounted a1on- its 1e1.ers the %e/e.rated Father Ro.ert de No.i/i9 as 3e// as SaintJohn de :ritto.,'8.'@ These t3o Pro+in%es sa3 s)eedy )ro-ress and in the %ourse of four %enturiestoday the Jesuits ha+e in the Re)u./i% of India itse/f Pro+in%ia/ Head4uarters atPan;i19 #oa5 Ha?ari.a-h9 :ihar5 Ah1eda.ad9 #u;arat5 Ca/%utta9 G. :en-a/5:an-a/ore9 Farnata2a5 Madura$ Dindi-u/9 TNadu5 Patha/-aon9 M.P.5 Mati-ara$Dar;ee/in-5 Se%undara.ad9 A.P.5 Ja1shed)ur9 :ihar5 Fo?hi2ode9 Fera/a5 Patna9:ihar5 De/hi ARe-ion>5 Mu1.ai9 Mahrashtra5 :ihar $ Du12a5 Ran%hi9 :ihar5 Pune9Mahrashtra5 and Fohi1a9 Na-a/and indi%atin- the s)read of the So%iety a// o+er the%ountry and its )resen%e in e+ery noo2 and %orner of the /and. The u.i4uitousnature of the So%iety has throu-h its +aried 1issions .e%o1e one of the 1ost)o3erfu/ inf/uen%es in Indian history.,, Today there is hard/y any Catho/i%e%%/esiasti%a/ di+ision in India or any re+enue distri%t

in the %ountry for that1atter 3hi%h does not .oast so1e Jesuit enter)rise or other9 .e it a s%hoo/ or a%o//e-e9 a te%hni%a/ trainin- institute or an en-ineerin- esta./ish1ent9 a)rintin- )ress or an infir1ary9 a se1inary or a so%ia/ ser+i%e %entre....<.', One of the easiest 1ethods to study the Jesuit )resen%e in +arious fie/ds3ou/d .e to ;ot do3n the na1es and a%ti+ities of the Jesuit institutions andor-anisations fun%tionin- in either the different dio%eses of india or in thedifferent re+enue distri%ts of the %ountry. Another 1ethod 3ou/d .e to ;ot do3nthe na1es of t3o or three do?en outstandin- 1e1.ers of the So%iety do3n the%enturies and to /ist their +arious ta/ents and a%hie+e1ents. Ho3e+er there isti1e for neither no3. Hen%e /et 1e .e %ontent 3ith the enu1eration of the +ariousfie/ds 3here Jesuits in India ha+e 1ade su.stantia/ %ontri.utions 3here.y theyha+e se%ured a )/a%e of )ro1inen%e for the1se/+es and the Catho/i% Chur%h inIndias history.<.'& The s)read of the So%iety and the Co1)anions in ti1e and s)a%e has .eeno.ser+ed in so1e detai/. The third fa%tor 3hi%h has 3on the So%iety a /astin-)/a%e in the 1inds of the )eo)/e and in the history of the nation is the /ar-enu1.er of s)heres 3hi%h it has )enetrated and )er1eated. So1e of these s)heres arere/i-ion and s)iritua/ity9 )o/iti%s9 edu%ation9 s%ientifi% and te%hno/o-i%a/)ro-ress9 3arfare and di)/o1a%y9 indo/o-y9 %u/ture9 /an-ua-e and /iterature9 artand ar%hite%ture9 s)orts and -a1es9 dis%i)/ine9 1ora/ity and ethi%s9 so%ia/refor1s9 tri.a/ and a.ori-ina/ 1o+e1ents9 da/it issues9 s%his1s9 tra+e/ and trade9nation$.ui/din-9 hea/th$%are9 for1ation of youth...to 1ention on/y a fe3.,&<.'8 A/thou-h a detai/ed %onsideration of the a%hie+e1ents of the So%iety in ea%hsu%h area is essentia/ for the fu// understandin- of the So%ietys )/a%e in IndianHistory as ea%h fie/d 3ou/d re4uire a )a)er for itse/f the author 3ou/d rather not