J.L.P.ROCHE VICTORIA
It used to be said that Bernard Shaw’s Prefaces are
more important than the plays he wrote. May I say that the introductions given
by VAREETHIAH KONSTANTINE and Prof . FATIMA BABU to the book are as important
as the book by NEIDAL U. ANTO.
by A.X Alexander
Neidal U. Anto, Tuticorin, has brought out a
festschrift on J.L.P.ROCHE VICTORIA on the occasion of his 50th memorial day
that fell on October 15th 2012.
The introduction to this book has been given by two
eminent persons— Vareethiah Konstantine of Nagercoil, and Prof.
Fatima Babu of Tuticorin.
The observations of Vareethiah Konstantine deserve
to be noted and seriously considered by our readers. In a rough translation ,
it runs like this;– ‘’The fall of a society is the direct result of forgetting
its past or its history. To lift up a fallen society, the only and the most
appropriate way is to remind that society its history.
How are we to remind a society its past, its
history ?
It is by collecting epigraphic evidences, It is by
collecting documents, It is by collecting palm leaf references, and in the
absence of all these, It is by collecting oral and folk traditions and placing
these for their knowledge, before the society.
Not only by these alone one can remind a society of
its past. The past can be made known to a particular society by celebrating its
leaders; by trumpeting their identities; and by extolling local leaders and
their achievements as symbols of resurgence of their society.
He further adds that the seashore villages need to
dust off their History; and should read them. They should celebrate their
leaders who gave themselves up in the cause of lifting them up.
If these – viz. reading their own history and
celebrating their leaders were to happen – then there would be resurgence of
the presently, fallen sea -shore communities and societies; which would further
provoke them to bid for their political rights.
Prof. Fatima Babu ,who in her remarks has bemoaned
the slip the community – which once could boast of wealth, culture etc– had
suffered in the recent past , prescribes the study of biographies of stalwarts
of our community as the remedy for the ills ,our society suffers from.
So, study of history of our community and
biographies of our stalwarts at macro and micro level are important for the
community to get out of the slough in which it finds itself today.
It is to fulfill this , Neidal U. Anto, a well
known teacher, writer, and speaker from Tuticorin has penned this book on
Chevalier JLP Roche Victoria.To his credit, it should be said that he has
written already a biography on Rao Bahadur Cruz Fernando.
The author has coverd JLP’s ancestory, his early
education, his role in the freedom struggle, his concern for the fishermen his
social activism, his political role in pre as well as post independence era,
his business acumen and success, and his contribution to Tuticorin port in the
most presentable form.
While giving a summary of his writing , we
underscore the observations of Vareethiah Konstantine and Prof. Fatima Babu and
request serious reflection.
*JLP’s EDUCATION.*
The elementary school education of JLP was at St.
Xaviers, Tuticorin between 1906 and 1908;his High school education was at St.
Joseph’s,Trichy; and College education was at St. Aloysius , Bangalore, between
1914 and 1917; and professional education in Commerce was at Davar’s college,
Mumbai. While at college ,he was very good at Tennis and was felicitous in the
use of English language in conversation –skills that helped him later in public
life.
*IN THE BUSINESS WORLD.*
In business he excelled his contemporaries. .
Starting as a partner in F.X. Pereira and Sons, in 1922, he became an agent of
Scindia Steam Navigation company for Tuticorin in 1922, itself, and rose up to
be the most important Agent handling Export and Import in Tuticorin port within
two years of his induction at the port.
His success goaded him to start Pereira and Roche
in 1944 which became an important entity later in various Ports in India. It
started handling ,–Shipping Corporation of India. B.S.N. line Bombay, and
Kothari Chemicals. The success in these ventures brought for him the
Directorship of East India Steam Navigation Company. In 1947, he became the
Director of the Enterprises (INDIA) Ltd and became a Member of the Governing
body of Indian Mercantile Marine Training ship(Dufferin) Bombay. Besides these
avocations connected with ships and ports, he became a Director of the
Enterprises India Ltd, Tinneveli Tanneries Ltd, Tuticorin Salt Refineries Ltd.
He planned a chemical factory in Meelavittan and did preparatory works but had
to abandon it due to certain unhealthy competition by a rival company.
*IN FREEDOM MOVEMENT*
He effectively participated in the Indian freedom
movement by financing , and by physically participating in the various
agitations and by confabulating with various leaders.Though he was an important
business man, he did not hesitate when many notable businessmen hesitated to
align themselves with the freedom movement. He was considered by the freedom
fighters so important that even Gandhiji used to come and halt in his house
whenever he sojourned at Tuticorin.
*IN RURAL INDUSTRIES.*
He believed in Gandhi’s dictum that the progress of
India lies in its villages and took Gandhi’s advise on rural development so
seriously that in 1944 in one of his villages, MANGALAGIRI he established rural
industries like Piggery, Poultry, Cattle farming, Tannery, Papermaking,
Handlooming, etc and trained rural folks much before independent India thought
of Block Development Schemes. Not only did he contend himself with starting
such industries, but he took pains to provide market for them by organizing exhibitions
for sale of goods produced. He also ran a MONTHLY called GRAMA INDIA in Tamil
and English , and published many essays of Gandhiji—especially of economic
nature.
*IN BHARATHA WELFARE.*
He , in the company of Joseph Sebastian Miranda and
a few others founded the BHARATHA MAHA JANA SANGAM in 1920 and established
branches whereever the Bharathas lived. He was very active in the organization
and also organized the youth wing of the Sangam in 1922 to provide training to
youth to lead. In 1932 ,he presided over the Bharatha Mahajana Sanga Manaadu in
Rajakkamangalam, and organized the Bharatha Lady’s Conference also at
Rajakkamangalam and got it presided over by his wife Mary Pereira. The most
important job of the Sangam was to encourage education among the Parava
children by offering scholarship, and by conducting Summer Classes. Realising
the damaging role played by in the lives of Paravas, he organized an Anti
Liquor Group . He was keenly interested in adult education, and in supporting
marriages of hapless.
He established the Fisheries Technological
Institute at Tuticorin in 1942 and desired inculcation of new methods of
Fishing . Anticipating the troubles that might engulf traditional fishing
methods and industry, he introduced training in various facets of shipping
industry. He also believed that the youth should not rely only in fishing and
sea trades and gave training in various rural industries in his Mangalagiri
project.
On 5-8-1960, in a consultative meeting of the
community he delivered a speech, which reveals clearly his deep love for the
community. He regrets the indifference of the community to avail themselves of
the opportunities offered by the Government. He feels sad that the community
had not whole heartedly grabbed the aadvantages that flowed from the Government
Special Schemes for the fishermen as in laying of roads to our villages , of
construction of our houses,of building of vallams, of accepting subsidized
fishing equipments nets etc. He also passionately pleads for Government grants for
scholarship to our children.
Much before Gandhi thought of Prohibition in 1930,
Chevalier JLP in 1922 started an organization called THE BAND OF HOPE into
which he encouraged people to join after taking an oath that they would not
touch liquor. For implementing this scheme, he consulted the American
prohibitionist DR. PUSSEY FOOT JOHNSON. He also took the wise counsel of Poet.
M.P. Mascarenhas and conducted serious propaganda against drinking.
He was interested in getting our people to be
literate. Towards this, he took a lot of pains. He consulted many stalwarts and
finally pitched upon Dr. FRANK. CLAWBACK of Phillipines and got his advice and
started ADULT EDUCATION programme in Tuticorin—mind you much before the
Government thought of such a project! ONLY, IN 1970 THE GOVERNMENT ADULT
EDUCATION PROJECT CAME TO BE IMPLEMENTED but JLP brought this system in 1935
itself. Dr. FRANK C. CLAWBACK of Phillipines visited Tuticorin thrice– in
1935, 1938, and in 1939 — and reviewed the implementation and progress. In
recognition of the services he rendered in this field, he was appointed the
President of Tamilnadu Adult education Board and Vice President of All India
Adult Education Board.
*IN SCOUT MOVEMENT*
He was the pioneer of Scout Movement in Tuticorin.
He believed, a disciplined set of students is a dire necessity for the progress
of the Nation, hence he started the Scout Movement in 1937 and fostered it
firmly. His service was so good that the All INDIA SCOUT MOVEMENT awarded him
the “THANKS BADGE”.
*HIS SCIENTIFIC TEMPER*
To make Tuticorians understand SIR C.V. RAMAN, the
NOBEL LAUREATE, he conducted an exhibition on RAMAN EFFECT.
*HIS ROLL OF HONOUR.*
A. He was one of those who organized
1.The Gymkhana Club of Tuticorin.
2.The Indian Officers Club of Tuticorin.
B. He was the founder, Secretary and Treasurer of
Rotary Club of Tuticorin. He was the Rotary Governor of South India and Ceylon.
C. He was a Member of the Senate of Madras
University.
D. He was a Member of the Central Government
Fishery committee.
E. He was President or Chairman of the following
organizations.
1. Tinnevely District Co-Operative Central Stores.
2. Tuticorin Milk Co-Operative Society.
3. Tuticorin Co- Operative Bank.
4. Mangalagiri Egg Marketing Society
F. He was vice chairman of Tuticorin Port Trust..
G. He was a member of the Central Government
Fishery Committee.
H. He was also an active member of reconstruction
committee, 2nd world war.
*IN GOVERNMENT*
He was the chairman of Tuticorin Municipality from
1926.He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1937 , 1946, 1952. He was
Minister for Food and Fisheries between 1949 and 1952.
*PAPAL RECOGNITION*
Recognising the yeoman services, JLP rendered to
communities, His Holiness Pius XII raised him to be a knight of St.Gregory in
1952. Hence he is a Chevalir.
What brims uppermost in my mind when I finished
reading ANTO’S book on JLP, is that JLP was an unique personality who aspired
for the good of every one; and God abundantly blessed him in his life time to
shine bright in the firmament. May we have many more of his ilk!.
It used to be said that Bernard Shaw’s Prefaces are
more important than the plays he wrote. May I say that the introductions given
by VAREETHIAH KONSTANTINE and PROF . FATIMA BABU to the book are as important
as the book by NEIDAL U. ANTO.
by A.X Alexander
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment