Ambrose, born on 23 Nov., 1950 in Bajpe, joined the Society of Jesus in 1968. In July 2018, he would have completed 50 years in the Society, a very special occasion in the Society, but he missed that occasion. He came from a large family of 9 children, a couple of whom had already gone to their eternal reward before him. After his ordination in 1981, he taught for a year in St Aloysius High School Mangalore and then 2 years in St Joseph’s Boys’ High school Bangalore. He did his tertianship of 9 months in Hazaribagh in 1984-85. Then began his creative and active years as lecturer in St Joseph’s College (1985- 1994), as a member of the Ashirvad team (1989-94), which gave Ashirvad a strong social thrust, initiating many programmes for the less privileged, providing a strong base for activists along with socially committed Jesuits, notably Fr Claude D’Souza
Soldier, saint, gentleman. That is how St Ignatius is generally introduced to one who wants to follow him. And, that is what a Jesuit is to be. Fr Ambrose Pinto was surely one such. Ambrose was a soldier. He fought for a cause/ an idea/ an ideal/an ideology. He fought for the poor, the marginalized, the socially low and neglected, especially the Dalits. He fought at the local, national and international levels, through talks, writings, conferences. He was recognized as an advocate for them.
Ambrose was a saint. I am not canonizing him; not a sad saint, nor a sorry saint, nor a goody-goody one. He prayed regularly (by his own vouching), spent time in silence and reflection. He confided during his last days: “I have always felt God is with me even when times were difficult. These days, he said, I want to be with him.” In these days it was not difficult for him to make choices and decide things. Gentleman. Not perfect. He had his limitations. Perhaps occasionally he was cut and dried. Too clear cut perhaps even when reality was murky. We know reality is not black and white. It is often grey. But he could rise above petty things. His loyalty to the Church and the Society of Jesus were never in doubt. He maintained confidences and confidentiality. When he was a consultor, he never mentioned anything that transpired in the Consult meeting. Occasionally he would discuss a few delicate things and issues. He would very rarely say, these things may come up in the consult. But he never shared whether they did or what transpired and what the outcome was.
At a time when our people are beset with the plagues of caste, language and other petty loyalties and even the Church and the Society are not free from these, Ambrose stood out as a person of tall stature, challenging others to rise above our narrow and subtle hidden loyalties in the interests of better human and religious communities. Ambrose was fearless in his speech and writings. He spoke out his mind clearly. He stood up in public for justice and the right to live and the obligation to let live. He was a sharp critic of LPG: Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization and of corporate culture. Every citizen of the State must be provided as a matter of right with the type of healthcare he was getting. When asked whether it was ever possible, he said it was possible if the State were not corrupt. Perhaps this last one is impossible.
Ambrose was a scholar. Articles flowed from his versatile head, responding quickly to the emerging socio political scenario. Many books he wrote or edited or co-edited, (He authored: 5; edited: 10; co-edited: 5; articles in learned journals: 100+; in newspapers: 80+; contributions to volumes: 25+). Serious articles, not for entertainment or pastime. He even received a fellowship at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla. He was an associate of great scholars and eminent national personalities: Kuldip Nayar, Teesta Seetalvad who called on him when he was in the hospital, Kancha Ilaiah, Medha Patkar, Kanaiah Kumar, John Dayal and the brutally murdered Gauri Lankesh. With these he made common cause and often shared a common platform. Intellectual apostolate and learned ministry is one of the cherished services of the Jesuits.
Ambrose was an activist. He enthused the students, the staff and the public to stand up for justice and truth. He was a successful administrator. He fostered research and academics in the institutes of learning. When he retired as Principal of St Joseph’s College, the Archbishop was quick to request his services for his St Aloysius College which Ambrose in a couple of years brought up to an enviable standard. Ambrose received many awards, from the State as well as from Civil Society. Rajyotsava Award for social service, Garden City Award for best Principal, Journalistic Award for the best coverage for SC/ST concerns by CBCI. He was a member of State committee for the identification of the backward classes in Karnataka, member of the committee for the improvement of Government Schools in Karnataka.
There was another aspect of Ambrose that was perhaps not well known even for Jesuits. That is as a pastor and counselor. There were quite a few in whose life he played a vital role. These were people who had problems, who were struggling in life and thanks to the guidance and inspiration of Ambrose, had found a future. One of them flew in from the gulf to see him, another from USA and a third one from Australia. Many others took great trouble to visit him. If he knew they were coming he would have certainly dissuaded them. Many others who when they requested to see him were gently but firmly told not to, out of concern for him. I am sure they have understood and forgiven me and/or Ambrose. Some of these who came to see Ambrose out of gratitude for what he had been to them, Ambrose didn’t even remember where he met them or what he did for them.
Ambrose was a person who was constantly abreast of social realities and quick in responding to them. In his younger days when he was working with High School level youth, in addition to teaching and regular ministry, he was involved with scouts. Then he moved on to animate CLC, which was developing a social thrust and then he moved on to civil movements. For his involvement with and support to thinkers and intellectuals, he at times received threats and hate mail. But he did not allow himself to be intimidated by these.
He was principal of St Joseph’s Evening College from 1994-98 after which he was sent to Indian Social Institute, Delhi as its executive Director for 3 years (1998- 2001). He certainly gave a new thrust to ISI Delhi, making it a powerhouse of research, publications and advocacy. Since he could not extend his leave from the department, he had to return after 3 years, much to the chagrin and disappointment of the ISI staff and the intellectuals who found a strong base there. After a couple of years more as principal at St Joseph’s Evening College (2001-2003), he took up the reins of St Joseph’s Arts and Science College for 8 years (2003-2011) till his retirement in 2011. During this time, he spearheaded the movement of some private colleges in becoming autonomous. There was clarity, creativity and the critical perspective in his vision of Education. Then for a year (2011-12) he was a research scholar as Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies at Shimla.
On completion of this research, which came out in the book form, he was for a year Director of St Joseph’s Evening College (2012-13). It was then that the Archbishop requested for his services to direct the recently started St Aloysius College in Cox Town, which he did, till this deadly illness overtook him. He was diagnosed for cancer of the bladder in May of 2017 and that kept spreading in spite of the treatments he preferred and chose. This heroic saga ended on 3 January 2018, the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, a day most dear to every Jesuit and part of their identity, climaxing the commitment to the cause of the downtrodden with a surrender to something larger than that cause, and which in the first place had inspired and supported and carried forward commitment to that cause. But even in the midst of that surrender, like a true soldier, he kept fighting for life, with hope against hope, with dogged determination, so much so, it seemed that the deadly disease, while it had eaten away his body, did not dare touch his brains or his indomitable spirit.
Fr Lisbert D’Souza, one of the Regional Assistants, and councilors of the Superior General of Jesuits, sent a condolence message, summarizing his life well: “How very sad. My sympathies to you all. Ambrose has contributed handsomely, as much by his principled life as by his thinking and writing. …. Stormy at times but always with mission as the shared point of reference. May he rest in peace.”
- by Fr Richard Sequeira, SJ
To know more about Fr Ambrose Pinto and his writings please click on this blog: http://ambrosepintosj.blogspot.com/
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