UpdateBot at 21:08, 25 June 2022

2022-06-25T21:08:35Z

New page

{{short description|Jesuit missionary}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Father
| name = Camille Bulcke
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Camille Bulcke (1909-1982).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Father Camille Bulcke
| birth_name = Camille
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1909|09|1}}
| birth_place = [[Knokke-Heist]], [[West Flanders]], Belgium
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1982|08|18|1909|09|01}}
| death_place = [[Delhi]], India
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates = 
| residence =
| nationality = [[Belgians|Belgian]] later Indian
| other_names =
| ethnicity = 
| citizenship = [[India]]n
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation =
| years_active = 1909–1982
| employer =
| organization =
| agent =
| known_for = [[Hindi literature]] research, [[Tulsidas]] research
| notable_works = Ramkatha: Utpatti Aur Vikas (1949)
| style =
| influences =
| influenced =
| home_town =
| title =
| term =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| party =
| movement =
| opponents =
| boards =
| religion = 
| denomination = 
| callsign =
| awards = [[Padma Bhushan]]
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| signature_size =
}}
'''Camille Bulcke''' (1 September 1909 – 17 August 1982) was a Belgian [[Jesuit]] missionary in [[India]] who came to be known as "India's most renowned Christian Hindi scholar".<ref>[http://www.sabrang.com/cc/comold/dec00/cover7.htm sabrang.com]</ref>

==Early life==
Camille Bulcke was born in Ramskapelle, a village in [[Knokke-Heist]] municipality in the Belgian province of [[West Flanders]]<ref name=tele>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070103/asp/jharkhand/story_7214414.asp Father Camille Bulcke] ''[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]]'', Wednesday, 3 January 2007.</ref>

Bulcke had already acquired a BSc degree in civil engineering from [[Catholic University of Leuven (1834–1968)|Louvain University]], when he became a Jesuit in 1930.<ref>[https://doi.org/10.1007%2FBF00202951 Obituary] ''Indo-Iranian Journal'', Publisher: Springer Netherlands. ISSN 0019-7246 (Print) 1572-8536 (Online). Issue: Volume 25, Number 4 / June 1983.</ref> After doing his philosophical training in [[Valkenburg aan de Geul|Valkenburg]], Netherlands, (1932–34) he left for [[India]] in 1934 and after a brief stay in [[Darjeeling]], he taught Mathematics for five years at [[Gumla]] (present [[Jharkhand]]). It was here that he developed his lifelong passion for learning Hindi, as later recalled:

<blockquote>When I arrived in India in 1935, I was surprised and pained when I realised that many educated people were unaware of their cultural traditions and considered it a matter of pride to speak in English. I resolved my duty would be to master the language of the people." – The Faith of A Christian—Devotion To Hindi And To Tulsi.<ref name=tele/></blockquote>

He undertook [[theological]] training (1939–42) in [[Kurseong]], India, during which he was ordained priest (in 1941). His interest in the classical language of India led him to do a master's degree in [[Sanskrit]] at [[Calcutta University]] (1942–44) and finally a doctorate in [[Hindi]] literature at [[Allahabad University]] (1945–49) with a thesis titled, ''Ram Katha Ka Vikas'' (Development of the Tale of Rama).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Parashar|first=Swati|title=The Belgian Jesuit who submitted the first-ever Hindi research project to an Indian university|url=http://scroll.in/magazine/815925/the-belgian-jesuit-who-submitted-the-first-ever-hindi-research-project-to-an-indian-university|access-date=2020-07-29|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

==Career==
In 1949, Bulcke became the Head of the department of [[Sanskrit]] and Hindi of [[St. Xavier's College, Ranchi|St Xavier's College, Ranchi]]. But early hearing problems led him to go more for a scholar's than a professor's career. He felt much attracted by the 17th century's Hindi poet [[Tulsidas]] on whose writings he made his doctoral thesis. He rewrote the famous [[The Blue Bird (play)|Blue Bird]] play in Hindi under the name ''Neel Panchhi''. Bulcke was often invited to give conferences on Tulsidas and his devotional [[Rama]]-songs, which he did with much enthusiasm. He brought people in touch with the profound values of their own spiritual traditions, and, according to him, Tulsidas was also an excellent introduction to the values of the [[Gospel]]. He obtained [[Indian nationality law|Indian citizenship]] in 1951, and – highly esteemed by the [[Government of India]] – was made a member of the National commission for the promotion of [[Hindi]] as the national language. He came to Bihar and visited the church of [[Darbhanga]], praising "the great land of divines and Mata Sita - the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]]", and hence, he took on the name [[Bihar]]i after acquiring Indian citizenship.<ref name="Datta 1987 988">{{cite book
| first = Amaresh Datta
| last = Datta
| title = Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol. 1
| publisher = [[Sahitya Akademi]]
| year = 1987
| pages = 988
| isbn = 978-81-260-1803-1
}}</ref>

He died in Delhi on 17 August 1982 due to [[gangrene]].<ref>[http://www.ranjesu.org/cami.htm FR. CAMILLE BULCKE, S.J. (1909–1982) - Biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107033838/http://www.ranjesu.org/cami.htm |date=7 January 2009 }}</ref>

==Camille Bulcke and Ramcharitmanas==
To fulfil the duties of a missionary monk, Bulcke stayed for quite some time in [[Darjeeling]] to make an in-depth study of the scriptures, being deeply interested in [[philosophy]], but to acquire a systematic knowledge of [[Indian philosophy]] and [[Indian literature|literature]], he studied for his [[Master of Arts|M.A.]] degree in [[Hindi]] from the [[University of Allahabad]].<ref name="Datta 1987 988"/>

During this period of preparation for his M.A. in [[Allahabad]], he had an occasion to read and study the ''[[Ramcharitmanas]]'' of [[Tulsidas]].<ref name="Datta 1987 988"/> The ''Ramcharitmanas'' was a highly influential devotional book for Hindus in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and was frequently read by Europeans learning Hindi. The more Bulcke studied the ''Ramcharitmanas'', the deeper became his attachment to it.<ref name="Datta 1987 988"/> His sublime sense of righteous goodness, the lofty values and ideals of its characters and its poetic excellence fascinated him to such an extent that it almost became an object of worship for him.<ref name="Datta 1987 988"/> He found a striking resemblance between the ethical aspect of righteous conduct and values of life as portrayed by the author of the ''[[Ramcharitmanas]]'' and those propounded by [[Jesus Christ]] in his discourses.<ref name="Datta 1987 988"/> He, therefore, took up a relevant topic, viz. ''Ramkatha: Utpatti Aur Vikas'' (The Tale of Rama: Origin and Development) and obtained his [[Doctor of Philosophy|D.Phil]] degree from the [[University of Allahabad]] on the subject.<ref name="Datta 1987 988"/> His thesis was hailed by scholars all over [[India]] and his name came to be known even outside the [[Hindi Belt|Hindi world]].<ref name="Datta 1987 988"/>

==Religious output==
His lifelong involvement in Hindi research and translation work led him to gather material for an English-Hindi Dictionary (40,000 words) that is still the most widely used in North India. Till the end of his life he kept updating it. He prepared a life of [[Christ]] based on the four gospels, ''Muktidata'' (The Redeemer) and also translated the [[Bible]] into Hindi, as well as liturgical and devotional books. His love for the Hindi language, his imposing appearance as well as his constant willingness to help students and scholars and to listen to the simple and the distressed gave him the reputation of being a 'guru' and, for this reason, many approached him for advice even in matters that had little to do with literature.{{Citation needed|date=April 2017}}

==Main publications==
* (Hindi) ''Muktidata'' (The Redeemer), Ranchi, 1942.
* ''The Theism of Nyaya Vaisheshika'', Calcutta, 1947.
* (Hindi) ''Ramkatha: Utpatti Aur Vikas'' (The Tale of Rama: Origin and Development), Allahabad, 1950.
* (Hindi) ''Ramkatha Aur Tulsidas'', (The Tale of Rama and Tulsidas) Allahabad, 1977.
* (Hindi) ''Naya Vidhan'' (New Testament), Ranchi, 1977.
* ''English-Hindi Dictionary'', Ranchi, 1981 (3d ed.).

[[File:Plaque honoring Camille Bulcke, gifted by Raaj Sah.png|thumb|right|Plaque honoring Father Bulcke at his birthplace. Gifted by Raaj Sah.]]
==Recognition==
In 1974, the [[Government of India]] conferred on him the [[Padma Bhushan]], one of the premier civilian awards, second only to the [[Bharat Ratna]] and the [[Padma Vibhushan]]. The award was presented in recognition of his work in the field of literature and education.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref>

Among those whom Bulcke mentored was Raaj Sah (subsequently Professor at the University of Chicago), beginning when Sah was an undergraduate at St. Xavier’s College Ranchi. In gratitude, Sah gifted a plaque<ref name=plaque>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/plaque-honoring-camille-bulcke-gifted-by-raaj-sah_202102
|title=Plaque honoring Father Camille Bulcke at his birthplace, Ramskapelle}}</ref> which was unveiled<ref name="unveiled">{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/honoring-father-camille-bulcke-announcement_202102 |title=Honoring Father Camille Bulcke - An Announcement}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=
https://archive.org/details/20210225_20210225_1530 |title=फादर कामिल बुल्के का सम्मान - निवेदन}}</ref>
in 2020 at Bulcke’s birthplace, Ramskapelle. The plaque’s inscription is in Flemish, to honor that Bulcke’s first love in languages was his mother tongue.

A word-picture (शब्द-चित्र) of Bulcke that Sah drew, in a style dear to Bulcke, is:

<center>घोर बीदेस से मुनि एक आवा । सीया राम का तत्व पढ़ावा ।।</center>
<center>तुलसी देहरी तुलसी आँगन । बैठ वहां प्रभु पान करावा ।।</center>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1970–79}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bulcke, Camille}}
[[Category:1909 births]]
[[Category:1982 deaths]]
[[Category:Belgian emigrants to India]]
[[Category:Belgian Indologists]]
[[Category:Belgian civil engineers]]
[[Category:Catholic University of Leuven (1834–1968) alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Belgian Jesuits]]
[[Category:Hindi-language writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian Roman Catholic priests]]
[[Category:People with acquired Indian citizenship]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in literature & education]]
[[Category:University of Allahabad alumni]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:Scholars from Bihar]]
[[Category:People from Knokke-Heist]]
[[Category:Indian Sanskrit scholars]]
[[Category:Indian civil engineers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian linguists]]
[[Category:People who lost Belgian citizenship]]
[[Category:Deaths from gangrene]]

Camille Bulcke - Revision history

UpdateBot at 21:08, 25 June 2022