Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church -128
Fr. Jerome D’Souza

There were 299 members in the Indian Constituent Assembly. Among them, one Catholic priest served as a member: Fr. Jerome D’Souza.

Fr. Jerome D’Souza was born on August 6, 1897, in Mulki near Mangalore. Jerome was the most alert and intelligent of the children, but his sister Carmelite recalls that he was also the most difficult to raise. While he wasn’t always the top student in school, he was very intelligent and an avid reader. He had a strong aversion to strict discipline, and his methods and behavior were often unpredictable. As a child, Jerome was always ready for mischief and adventure; he was extremely active, friendly, and had a remarkable ability to make friends. These traits made him both a leader and a beloved figure.

Jerome had a keen interest in languages. As a child, he knew how to speak seven languages: Konkani, Marathi, Tulu, Hindi, Urdu, Kannada, and English. Later, he learned Tamil and several European languages.

In the following years, Jerome’s proficiency in languages such as English, French, Spanish, Italian, and German opened many doors for him. He was frequently invited to give lectures and seminars on Indian culture, history, and politics in various parts of the world. After completing his schooling, he went to St. Aloysius College in Mangalore for secondary education. From there, he moved to St. Joseph’s College in Trichy, and eventually to Presidency College in Madras (now Chennai), where he completed his BA (Honors) in English Literature with first-class honors.

After his graduation, he joined St. Joseph’s College as a lecturer. Inspired by the example of the priests at the college, Jerome felt called to a religious life. His decision to become a priest became firm, and on May 27, 1921, he joined the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order) at Novitiate. In 1926, Jerome completed his novitiate and traveled to Belgium to study theology. After four years of theological studies, he was ordained as a priest on August 30, 1931.

In 1933, Fr. Jerome D’Souza was appointed a professor at St. Joseph’s College in Trichy, and after one year, he was promoted to Principal. It was during this time that he became acquainted with political figures like C. Rajagopalachari and Jawaharlal Nehru.

In April 1938, Fr. Jerome was appointed the Rector of the college, and in 1942, he was transferred to Loyola College in Chennai, becoming the first Indian to take up such a high responsibility as Rector and Principal. In addition to his academic duties at Loyola, he became involved in public affairs. He was a member of the War Reconstruction Committee, and in 1946, he was appointed to the Decentralization Committee by the University of Madras. Subsequently, he became a member of the Constituent Assembly, tasked with drafting the Indian Constitution. Rajagopalachari, then President of the Indian National Congress, recommended his name to the Madras Legislative Assembly, and he was elected to represent it at the Constituent Assembly in Delhi. This was a unique and historic mission.

Between 1946 and 1949, Fr. Jerome actively participated in the formation of the Indian Constitution. In the second sitting of the Assembly in January 1947, he made strong arguments for the necessity of safeguarding the rights of minority communities while also stressing the need for a united nation. He played a major role in the debate and passage of Article 25, which guarantees fundamental rights and freedom of conscience. His contributions to including fundamental rights, freedom of religion, and minority rights in the Constitution were significant.

In 1949, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru nominated Fr. Jerome as one of India’s representatives to the General Assembly of the United Nations. He attended four sessions of the UN General Assembly in 1949, 1951-1952, 1955, and 1957. Nehru had great faith in him and showed immense respect for his work, particularly in the field of education.

In 1951, Fr. Jerome founded the Savior Board of Higher Education in India, the unified organization for all Catholic higher education institutions in India, with its national office based in Bangalore. That same year, he was tasked with establishing a Social Institute in Pune to study India’s social issues. The institute focused on training people for social work, and it also launched a journal called Social Action, which discussed India’s social issues and new initiatives. The Social Institute is now based in Lodi Road, Delhi.

In January 1957, Fr. Jerome was appointed General Assistant for the Society of Jesus at its 30th General Congregation. He served as the Superior General’s Assistant for Asian Affairs and continued in this position until 1968. During his time in Rome, he maintained contact with many prominent church figures and engaged in detailed diplomatic discussions. He played a significant role in discussions with the Portuguese government regarding the end of the Portuguese ecclesiastical influence in India, and he also participated in talks with the French government to peacefully transfer French colonial territories like Pondicherry and Chandannagar to an independent India.

Fr. Jerome’s association with the Vatican led to his appointment as a member of the Ecclesiastical Commission for Religious Orders, a consultant to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and a member of the Pontifical Mission Commission. These roles allowed him to engage with cardinals, bishops, and leading religious figures worldwide.

He returned to India in 1968, where he immersed himself in writing and book authorship. On August 12, 1977, he was called to eternal rest. After his passing, the world largely forgot him, but on the centenary of his birth, the Government of India released a commemorative postal stamp in his honor.

Fr. Jerome D’Souza’s legacy lives on in India’s Constitution, which he helped shape. His memory continues to be honored as one of the key contributors to the making of modern India.