De Nobili College Presents

Great Indian Jesuits

SEBASTIAN KAPPEN SJ

Sebastian Kappen was a well-known thinker, writer and social activist He has made substantial contribution towards

evolving perspectives on culture and development.

He has inspired many in the field of social action in South India.

He was a Philosophy faculty as well as a Theology faculty

…Fr SK…At a Glance..

..Early Life..

Fr Sebastian was born on 4th of January 1924 in Kerala .

Entered the Society of Jesus in 1944 at the age of 20

His ordination was on 24h of March 1957

Did his Doctoral studies in Gregorian University and was and obtained doctorate in 1961

..Transformation within..

Influenced by Marxism very much

He found in Marxism tools of Social analysis and effective instrument to understand the People’s alienation from freedom and loss of ability to contribute to the wellbeing of society.

…Understanding of Theology …

In contrast to those who cone human liberation as a secular struggle carefully undoing it from theology, Kappen, founded on the Asian wisdom and Sraminik traditions (Jainism, Buddhism etc.),

He kept liberation as the ultimate concern of theology.

…Jesuit Life … His theological stances evoked strong criticism

in traditional circles of the Church especially in his Jesuit Order

In 1972 Kappen moved out of Jesuit large institutions and started living among the poor wherever he was posted:

Despite regular attempts to bring him back into regular Jesuit community life, his superiors ultimately consented to let him adopt a lifestyle more conducive to his creative writing.

His locus theologicus was the people, and particularly the poor.

His book “Jesus and Freedom” came under the Scrutiny of the Church authorities

He responded to the Church on this Issue like this “I write with responsibility. There can be defects or errors in my work. I am not infallible. Responsible thinkers and scholars the world over could judge and sift my work. In public discussions we can help each other and learn from one another. That is how truth grows in history: through a social process, and not through secret censorship”.

But unfortunately his Explanations were not accepted and was censored from Publishing

...Censoring for the Publication …

In the history of Indian Christian theology

Kappen is irresistible as he takes Christianity to the adulthood of its presence in India.

He evoked the urgency to initiate and join efforts to work for the well being of the poor and marginalized and to break every structure of injustice in the society.

In his Life we find a good blending of Marxism, Christianity and Indian religious traditions

…Contributions to the Church…

His Writings … Marxian Atheism, 1983. Jesus and Cultural Revolution; an Asian

Perspective, 1983. Liberation Theology and Marxism, 1986. The Future of Socialism and Socialism of the

Future, Bangalore, 1992. Tradition Modernity Counterculture, 1994 Hindutva and Indian Religious Traditions, 2000. Divine Challenge and Human Response, 2001. Jesus and Society, ISPCK, Delhi, 2002. Jesus and Culture, ISPCK, Delhi, 2002. Towards a Holistic Cultural Paradigm, 2003.

Kappen was engaged in a study of communalism and the post-modernism debate, when mother earth called him back on the 30th November 1993.

May his Love towards poor and Work for the oppressed Help us understand the Call better.

Last days …

Thank You