Father Jerome D'Souza, SJ 18.12.1997

After Indian Independence, the Jesuits founded the Indian Social Institute in 1951 so that Jesuits in India might involve themselves more seriously in the study and solution of contemporary Indian social problems. Father Jerome D'Souza, SJ,significantly, was selected its first director. Fr. Jerome served as the principal of Loyola College in Chennai (the school church may be seen behind him), had mediated between the Vatican and Nehru about ending Portuguese control of Indian churches, was a member of the Indian Constituent Assembly and four times India's delegate to the United Nation's General Assembly. He was a man committed to political action, social concerns, national welfare and was known among fellow nationals of all faiths for his feel for national concerns.