Was 75 when he died at St John’s, Bangalore, a few days after he went into a coma resulting from a stroke. Fr Cecil was essentially a botanist and a committed environmentalist. Had his botany degree from Bombay University under the tutelage of the eminent botanist, Fr Santapau. Was ordained at Enghien where he studied theology. By dint of tireless work in woods and jungles in Chikmaglur district where he collected specimens and classified them, he obtained his Ph.D. Taught Botany at St Joseph’s, Bangalore and was briefly its Principal when a heart condition forced him to slow down. After staying at ‘Olgowil’ for several years, Fr Cecil came unto his own at the newly opened ‘Arrupe Nivas’ but his end came shortly after.
Cecil John Saldanha
Birthdate: December 27, 1926 (75)
Birthplace: Mangalore, Karnataka, India
Death: April 7, 2002 (75)
Place of Burial: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Immediate Family: Son of Aloysius Joseph Saldanha and Millie Saldanha
Brother of Silvin Francis Saldanha; Noreen Seraphine Monteiro
Occupation: Professor of Botany, St Joseph's College, Bangalore
Rev. Fr. Cecil Saldanha SJ Ph D
Died: April 7, 2002
Age: 76
Years as a Jesuit: 57
Place of Death/Burial: Jesuit Nivas, Bangalore
Born at Mangalore on December 27, 1926. Joined the novitiate on June 16, 1945. As regent he did his M. Sc in Botany at Bombay under Fr Santapau; was ordained in Enghien on July 30, 1958 and he did his tertianship at Chantilly. Solemn Vows on August 15, 1962. Did his doctorate in Botany. Specialized in Taxonomy; taught Botany in St. Joseph’s College; set up the Taxonomy Center there; published books on the Flora of Hassan and of Karnataka. Was appointed on several commissions by the State and Central Governments; was Principal of St. Joseph’s College, but had to step down on account of heart attack; but he survived it and went on working for many more years. Died of heart attack on April 7, 2002.
Brief Presentation on a Jesuit Scientist/Taxonomist from Karnataka.
Rev. Fr. J. Cecil Saldanha SJ.
"Cecil Saldanha was a visionary. He worked hard to protect the environment, specially the Western Ghats" said M.N. Jayaprakash, Senior Environmental Officer, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB)
We owe a remembrance of deep gratitude to Dear Fr. Cecil J. Saldanha of Karanataka Province. He has left his footprints on the sands of time and his prints are guidelines for us young Jesuits.
He did his M. Sc in Botany at St. Xavier's Bombay under Fr. Santapau and his Doctorate in Taxonomical Studies in Botany
Fr. Cecil's Taxonomical field work includes four Bio-Geographic regions of Karnataka viz., (a). West Coast Plains; (b). Western Ghats; (c). Southern Plateau and (d). Northern Plateau
Published works: Books/Environmental Reports etc.
The Flora of Hassan District is a compact work covering the botanically unexplored area of the Western Ghats of peninsular India. Dr. Saldanha and Dr. Nicolson undertook intensive field and laboratory studies on the flora of the area. 1,700 species of vascular plants are being reported. It has 132 original drawings and 20 color plates.
Flora of Karnataka Volume 1: This is the first 'flora' with keys, illustrations, descriptions, nomenclatural citations and distribution notes covering the 19 districts of the State. The present and subsequent volumes with over 3,400 species of flowering plants form a basic tool for scientific and sustained utilization of the higher plants in the state.
Flora of Karnataka Volume 2: This covers 20 districts of the State. This volume covering 49 (Nos. 65-112) families of flowering plants forms a part of a basic tool for scientific and sustained utilization of the higher plants in the State.
Plants of India: Co-authored with Jyotsna Dhawan. This book has attractive pictures with aesthetic value, giving us an insight into the biological diversity in the ever green, moist deciduous montane forests on the Western Ghats of Peninsular India. There is an appeal for the conservation of these beautiful and unique plants for the future generations.
Other Contributions:
Endemic Angiosperms in the Western Ghats
Karnataka State of Environment Report (both in English and Kannada)1983-84, 84-85,85-86.
Geology and Soils of Western Ghats
A select Bibliography on the Environment of Karnataka
A select Bibliography for Andaman & Nicobar Islands for Environmental Impact Assessment
Managing the Western Ghats (2001)
Lakshadeep - an Environment Impact Assessment (1987)
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands -An Environment Impact Assessment (1987)
Karnataka State of Environment Report -IV (1990)
Karnataka State of Environment Report - VI (1993)
Responsibilities and Positions:
Member and Chairperson in various State and Central Environmental Commissions
Collaborator - Taxonomical Research Program with Smithsonian Institution for the production of Hassan Flora.
Nature lover and an avid photographer
Committed conservationist associated with multidisciplinary environmental impact studies both for resource utilization and industrial development
Founder director of the Center for Taxonomic Studies in Bangalore
Visiting scientist at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
Elected fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences and the New York Academy of Sciences.
--Compiled by Fr. Melwyn D' Cunha SJ
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