Pierre Fallon
Encyclopedia
Pierre Fallon was a Belgian Jesuit
priest
, missionary
in India, Professor of French literature
at the University of Calcutta
. In 1950 he founded the dialogue centre Shanti Bhavan (with Robert Antoine
) in Calcutta; in 1960 the similar Shanti Sadan in North Calcutta; and later took charge of Shanti Nir.
from the University of Louvain, a Licentiate in Philosophy, a Licentiate in Theology
, and an M.A. in Bengali from Calcutta University.
, founded Shanti Bhavan with Robert Antoine
in 1950, and contributed much to make it a living centre of intercultural and interfaith dialogue.
Ten years later he founded a similar Shanti Sadan in a much poorer and crowded area of North Calcutta, and later, after the sudden death of Louis Winckelmans took charge of Shanti Nir (1978), in the Southern suburbs of the city. He was an educationist
of renown, but also took charge of charitable work for the famine-stricken and refugees.
For 25 years he was a much appreciated professor of French literature
at the University of Calcutta
, where he also became a member of the Senate and the Academic Council. He was much in demand as a public orator in Bengali, French and English. But his heart was in translations from the Bible and other texts for Christian worship in Bengali and even more in his constant practice of interfaith dialogue. The last words he typed before his fatal heart attack summed up his entire life-work: “Dialogue with Persons of Other Faiths...” That was in September 1985: Pierre Fallon was in fact preparing a text for the forthcoming visit of John-Paul II in Calcutta (February 1986).
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
, missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
in India, Professor of French literature
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
at the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
. In 1950 he founded the dialogue centre Shanti Bhavan (with Robert Antoine
Robert Antoine
Robert Antoine was a Belgian Jesuit priest, missionary in India. Professor of Comparative Literature at the Jadavpur University, he was a Sanskritist and musician. He was co-founder, with Pierre Fallon, of Shanti Bhavan, a dialogue centre at Calcutta.-Education:Antoine held a Licentiate in...
) in Calcutta; in 1960 the similar Shanti Sadan in North Calcutta; and later took charge of Shanti Nir.
Education
Fallon held a Licentiate in IndologyIndology
Indology is the academic study of the history and cultures, languages, and literature of the Indian subcontinent , and as such is a subset of Asian studies....
from the University of Louvain, a Licentiate in Philosophy, a Licentiate in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, and an M.A. in Bengali from Calcutta University.
Work
He arrived in India in 1936 and opted for Indian citizenship in 1950. He taught at St. Xavier's College, CalcuttaSt. Xavier's College, Calcutta
St. Xavier's College is located in Kolkata, India, and is named after St. Francis Xavier, a Jesuit saint of the 16th century, who travelled to India. It is an autonomous college affiliated to the University of Calcutta. It gained autonomy in July 2006, thus becoming the first autonomous college of...
, founded Shanti Bhavan with Robert Antoine
Robert Antoine
Robert Antoine was a Belgian Jesuit priest, missionary in India. Professor of Comparative Literature at the Jadavpur University, he was a Sanskritist and musician. He was co-founder, with Pierre Fallon, of Shanti Bhavan, a dialogue centre at Calcutta.-Education:Antoine held a Licentiate in...
in 1950, and contributed much to make it a living centre of intercultural and interfaith dialogue.
Ten years later he founded a similar Shanti Sadan in a much poorer and crowded area of North Calcutta, and later, after the sudden death of Louis Winckelmans took charge of Shanti Nir (1978), in the Southern suburbs of the city. He was an educationist
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
of renown, but also took charge of charitable work for the famine-stricken and refugees.
For 25 years he was a much appreciated professor of French literature
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
at the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
, where he also became a member of the Senate and the Academic Council. He was much in demand as a public orator in Bengali, French and English. But his heart was in translations from the Bible and other texts for Christian worship in Bengali and even more in his constant practice of interfaith dialogue. The last words he typed before his fatal heart attack summed up his entire life-work: “Dialogue with Persons of Other Faiths...” That was in September 1985: Pierre Fallon was in fact preparing a text for the forthcoming visit of John-Paul II in Calcutta (February 1986).
Primary bibliography
- Glossary of Bengali Religious Terms. [See R. De Smet, “Foreword,” Religious Hinduism, 4th rev. edition, ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner (Mumbai: St Pauls, 1997) 17-18.]
- New Testament. Translation into Bengali. [See R. De Smet, “Foreword,” Religious Hinduism, 4th rev. edition, ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner (Mumbai: St Pauls, 1997) 17-18.]
- Mass Ritual. Translation into Bengali. [See R. De Smet, “Foreword,” Religious Hinduism, 4th rev. edition, ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner (Mumbai: St Pauls, 1997) 17-18.]
- “Introduction: A Christian Approach to Non-Christian Religions.” Religious Hinduism: A Presentation and Appraisal. 3rd rev. edition. Ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner. Allahabad: St Paul Publications, 1968. 15-22.
- “God in Hinduism: Brahman, Paramātman and Bhagavān.” Religious Hinduism: A Presentation and Appraisal. 3rd rev. edition. Ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner. Allahabad: St Paul Publications, 1968. 73-81.
- “The Gods of Hinduism.” Religious Hinduism: A Presentation and Appraisal. 3rd rev. edition. Ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner. Allahabad: St Paul Publications, 1968. 82-94.
- “Image Worship.” Religious Hinduism: A Presentation and Appraisal. 3rd rev. edition. Ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner. Allahabad: St Paul Publications, 1968. 172-182.
- “Bhagavata Purana and Bhakti Currents.” Religious Hinduism: A Presentation and Appraisal. 3rd rev. edition. Ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner. Allahabad: St Paul Publications, 1968. 236-245.
- “Doctrinal Background of the Bhakti Spirituality.” Religious Hinduism: A Presentation and Appraisal. 3rd rev. edition. Ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner. Allahabad: St Paul Publications, 1968. 246-254.
- “Ramakrishna, Vivekananda and Radhakrishnan.” Religious Hinduism: A Presentation and Appraisal. 3rd rev. edition. Ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner. Allahabad: St Paul Publications, 1968. 287-295.
- “The Present Situation.” (In collaboration with R. Antoine.) Religious Hinduism: A Presentation and Appraisal. 3rd rev. edition. Ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner. Allahabad: St Paul Publications, 1968. 308-320.
- “Introduction: A Christian Approach to Religious Hinduism.” Religious Hinduism. 4th rev. edition, ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner. Mumbai: St Pauls, 1997. 23-30.
- “God in Hinduism: Brahman, Paramātman, Īśvara and Bhagavān.” Religious Hinduism. 4th rev. edition. Ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner. Mumbai: St Pauls, 1997. 108-116.
- “The Gods of Hinduism.” Religious Hinduism. 4th rev. edition. Ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner. Mumbai: St Pauls, 1997. 117-129.
- “Image Worship.” Religious Hinduism. 4th rev. edition. Ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner. Mumbai: St Pauls, 1997. 220-230.
- Bhāgavata Purāṇa and the Great Bhakti Currents.” Religious Hinduism. 4th rev. edition. Ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner. Mumbai: St Pauls, 1997. 292-302.
- “Doctrinal Background of the Bhakti Spirituality.” Religious Hinduism. 4th rev. edition. Ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner. Mumbai: St Pauls, 1997. 303-313.
- “Śrī Rāmakrishna, Swāmi Vivekānanda and Sarvepalli Rādhākrishnan.” Religious Hinduism. 4th rev. edition. Ed. R. De Smet and J. Neuner. Mumbai: St Pauls, 1997. 357-374.