Joachim Alva
Encyclopedia
Joachim Alva was an Indian freedom fighter, journalist and politician from Mangalore
. He was the most prominent Christian figure involved in the Indian independence movement.
After Independence, Alva was appointed Sheriff of Bombay in 1949. In 1950, he entered the Provisional Parliament of India. He was elected to the Lok Sabha
in 1952, 1957 and 1962 from North Kanara
.
Alva was educated at Elphinstone College
, Government Law College, Mumbai
and Jesuit St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.
In 1928, Alva became the first Christian to be appointed as Secretary of the fifty-year old Bombay Students Brotherhood. Along with Khurshed Nariman
, H.D. Raja and Soli Batliwala, he was a pioneer of the Bombay Youth League.
In 1930, Alva founded the Nationalist Christian Party with the goal of drawing the Christian community into the freedom struggle. He was expelled from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai for moving a resolution at the Catholic Students Union urging it to throw open its doors to students of other communities. In 1937, Alva presided over a large meeting of Christians at Bombay addressed by Jawaharlal Nehru
. Alva was actively involved in organizing the "No-Tax" campaign at Bardoli
. He was appointed the 6th Dictator of the War Council.
Imprisoned twice by British Indian authorities on charges of sedition, Alva was jail companion to Vallabhbhai Patel, Jayaprakash Narayan
, Morarji Desai
and J. C. Kumarappa
. In 1934, Mahatma Gandhi
wrote a letter to Alva to inform him that he had missed him at Yervada Jail because of his early release.
In Nasik prison, Alva wrote two books: Men and Supermen of Hindustan and Indian Christians and Nationalism. The manuscripts of both were confiscated.
In 1937, Alva married Violet Hari ,(Violet Alva
), a professor of English at St. Xavier's Indian Women's University College. Violet would go on to support Joachim in his Congress activities.
On August 9, 1943, the first anniversary of Quit India Day, Joachim and Violet Alva founded FORUM, the Indian weekly news magazine which became known throughout India and abroad for its championing of the cause of independence.
After Independence, Alva was appointed Sheriff of Bombay in 1949. In 1950, he entered the Provisional Parliament of India. He was elected to the Lok Sabha
in 1952 and 1957 and 1962 from North Kanara. In 1952, Violet was elected to the Rajya Sabha
making them the first couple to be elected to Parliament under adult franchise. The Government of India issued a stamp commemorating the couple in November 2008.
, former General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee
and present Governor of Uttarakhand.
Mangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
. He was the most prominent Christian figure involved in the Indian independence movement.
After Independence, Alva was appointed Sheriff of Bombay in 1949. In 1950, he entered the Provisional Parliament of India. He was elected to the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
in 1952, 1957 and 1962 from North Kanara
Kanara
The Kanara or Canara region comprises three coastal districts of Karnataka, namely Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada and Kasaragod district of Kerala in southwestern India. Kanara forms the southern part of the Konkan coast...
.
History
Joachim Alva belonged to the Alva-Bhat, a Mangalorean Catholic clan of Goud Saraswat Brahmin origin from Udupi.Alva was educated at Elphinstone College
Elphinstone College
Elphinstone College is an institution of higher education affiliated to the University of Mumbai. Established in 1856, it is one of the oldest colleges of the University of Mumbai. It was exalted as a prestigious seat of learning during the British Raj and is generally observed for its vibrant alumni...
, Government Law College, Mumbai
Government Law College, Mumbai
The Government Law College, also known as GLC and located in Mumbai, India, is the oldest and one of the most distinguished law schools in India...
and Jesuit St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.
In 1928, Alva became the first Christian to be appointed as Secretary of the fifty-year old Bombay Students Brotherhood. Along with Khurshed Nariman
Khurshed Nariman
Khurshed Framji Nariman, also known as Veer Nariman, was one of the second generation of Parsi stalwarts in the Indian National Congress. He came into the public eye in 1928 as an independent and courageous politician for his sensational process against the British engineer involved in the Bombay...
, H.D. Raja and Soli Batliwala, he was a pioneer of the Bombay Youth League.
In 1930, Alva founded the Nationalist Christian Party with the goal of drawing the Christian community into the freedom struggle. He was expelled from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai for moving a resolution at the Catholic Students Union urging it to throw open its doors to students of other communities. In 1937, Alva presided over a large meeting of Christians at Bombay addressed by Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
. Alva was actively involved in organizing the "No-Tax" campaign at Bardoli
Bardoli
Bardoli is a city and a municipality in Surat Metropolitan Region in the state of Gujarat, India. Bardoli is the east most end of the Metropolis of Surat. Bardoli is one of the primary Satellite Towns of Surat Metropolitan Region.-Geography:...
. He was appointed the 6th Dictator of the War Council.
Imprisoned twice by British Indian authorities on charges of sedition, Alva was jail companion to Vallabhbhai Patel, Jayaprakash Narayan
Jayaprakash Narayan
Jayaprakash Narayan , widely known as JP Narayan, Jayaprakash, or Loknayak, was an Indian independence activist and political leader, remembered especially for leading the opposition to Indira Gandhi in the 1970s and for giving a call for peaceful Total Revolution...
, Morarji Desai
Morarji Desai
Morarji Ranchhodji Desai was an Indian independence activist and the fourth Prime Minister of India from 1977–79. He was the first Indian Prime Minister who did not belong to the Indian National Congress...
and J. C. Kumarappa
J. C. Kumarappa
J. C. Kumarappa was an Indian economist and a close associate of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi...
. In 1934, Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
wrote a letter to Alva to inform him that he had missed him at Yervada Jail because of his early release.
In Nasik prison, Alva wrote two books: Men and Supermen of Hindustan and Indian Christians and Nationalism. The manuscripts of both were confiscated.
In 1937, Alva married Violet Hari ,(Violet Alva
Violet Alva
Violet Hari Alva was an Indian politician and Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. She was the first woman lawyer to appear before a High Court in India and the first to preside over the Rajya Sabha. She was married to Indian journalist, lawyer and freedom fighter, Joachim Alva.-Early Life:Alva...
), a professor of English at St. Xavier's Indian Women's University College. Violet would go on to support Joachim in his Congress activities.
On August 9, 1943, the first anniversary of Quit India Day, Joachim and Violet Alva founded FORUM, the Indian weekly news magazine which became known throughout India and abroad for its championing of the cause of independence.
After Independence, Alva was appointed Sheriff of Bombay in 1949. In 1950, he entered the Provisional Parliament of India. He was elected to the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
in 1952 and 1957 and 1962 from North Kanara. In 1952, Violet was elected to the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
making them the first couple to be elected to Parliament under adult franchise. The Government of India issued a stamp commemorating the couple in November 2008.
Personal life
Joachim and Violet had two sons, Niranjan and Chittaranjan, and a daughter, Maya. Niranjan Alva is married to Margaret AlvaMargaret Alva
Margaret Alva is the Governor of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Alva became Uttarakhand's first woman governor in July 2009...
, former General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee
All India Congress Committee
The All India Congress Committee is the Presidium or central decision-making assembly of the Indian National Congress Party. It is composed of members elected from State-level Pradesh Congress Committees and can have as many as a thousand members...
and present Governor of Uttarakhand.