The following is a talk given by Mr Ivan Fernandes, the Chairman of KE Global (Kanara Entrepreneurs), Serial Entrepreneur & Angel Investor, Founder of Regent Technologies Limited on Late Fr Ambrose Pinto SJ on January 17, 2024 at St Joseph's University Auditorium.
My Experiences with Fr. Ambrose Pinto SJ (in pdf)
I first came across Fr. Ambrose in 1977 when he was appointed Asst. Headmaster of St. Aloysius High School in Mangalore. I was in 8th Standard at that time and he was my English teacher for that year. Incidentally, he was in Mangalore for just that one year but the love and respect that we built for each other that year remained for a lifetime until his sad demise on Jan 3, 2018. In fact, our last meeting was on his birthday on Nov 23, 2017 just a month before his passing away where I visited him at his residence with a birthday cake and celebrated what would become his last birthday here amongst us. In fact, that was the first time he told me that he wanted to come and spend some time with me in Dubai and wanted to complete some of his incomplete books. But that was not to be.
Obviously, we all come across several teachers in our student life – many of whom we cherish mainly for their teaching but it is very rare that we are connected with a teacher all through our life. I was connected to Fr. Ambrose all through his life from the day I got introduced to him and there are several reasons.
To put the context into right perspective, for those who do not know me, I came from a poor family where my parents struggled to give me education. In fact, after finishing my 5th standard in a convent school which had no further education for boys my mother wished that I be admitted to St. Aloysius Middle School. However, that was probably the first toughest challenge of my life. There were just 2 seats available that year and all applicants had to go through an entrance test. When my Mom & I met the then Headmaster, he could quickly understand our situation and he immediately said that he cannot give me an application for the English medium class but will be happy to admit me in Kannada medium. He questioned my Mom as if you cannot understand English, what is the big deal of your son going to English medium. I had to stand in front of his office door practically every day pleading for an application which he regretfully asked the clerk to give after 2 weeks and the rest was history. I came first in the entrance test and started my innings in St. Aloysius but that memory is etched in my mind even today. Two years later, the 2nd Jesuit that I come across is Fr. Ambrose. Quite contradictory to my first experience, Fr. Ambrose always had a soft corner for the underprivileged – he would encourage them to succeed at all costs. I was the class leader that year and was involved in several activities. Very rarely did any of my teachers know much about our family or financial background. Fr. Ambrose had a unique habit of surprising students by randomly visiting their homes. And so on one weekend, while I was playing outside he suddenly turns up at our gate and says –‘Ivan, I want to visit your house’. I said come Fr. Our house then was just a simple hut – no bedrooms or living room – just a room and kitchen. Fr. Ambrose was stunned in what he saw but did not utter a word. Just drank the coffee that my Mom gave him and left. However, next day he was right in front of his office waiting for me. As soon as he saw me, he called me to his office and said – Ivan, tell me the truth – how are you paying your fees? Never in my life has anybody asked me this question. Life was tough for us but our parents had taught us not to complain but thank God for what we are today. That was the first day, I cried in school. He encouraged me never to give up hope and that I was doing great in school and just continue and he will support me wherever possible. Same year, we had our annual picnic and that was to Jamalabad Fort, Belthangady, which was the native place of Fr. Isidore Pinto SJ who was our Science Teacher. As a class leader, I organized everything and one day before the trip, I gave the entire list to Fr. Isidore and told him that unfortunately I will not be able to make the trip due to some family commitments but have done all the arrangements. Fr. Ambrose had already updated Fr. Isidore who told me that Fr. Ambrose has told him about it and there is no way you are not going to come and so for the first time I made it to the class picnic. These may be small incidents that made such a big impact in my life. They changed my attitude towards Jesuits – I would look at St. Ignatius of Loyola through Fr. Ambrose as he was his true disciple. I kept in touch with him all through except for a few years when he was in New Delhi. I tried to repay his debt several times but he always refused. He did not even take a pen from me. He always told me to help the needy children which I continue to do even today. During his term as Principal of St. Josephs Arts & Science College, he insisted that I help him as an Advisor on the Academic Council and I would attend every meeting coming down from Dubai. When he retired and was appointed by the Archbishop as Principal of St. Aloysius College – he again asked me to help him out as there were several needy students there coming from the slums. We were working on a plan to build entrepreneurial skills for these young students but unfortunately he soon got diagnosed with cancer and then things went to a standstill.
As mentioned in the gospel of St. Mark, Chapter 8 - For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul. Fr. Ambrose took this to heart and won his soul against the wealth of this world. He lived a very simple life – simplest in everything, even in his food habits. He always liked fish and would visit Mangalore Pearl Restaurant on a few occasions when he felt like eating rice with Mangalorean fish curry. But he would only order sardines or macerals as he was afraid of the cost of other fish. When I came to know of this, I told my friend who owns this restaurant that next time give him kingfish or pompret but charge him his regular price. During his next trip they did exactly the same – Fr. Ambrose refused to accept even when they told him that he will not be charged more until the owner disclosed to him that it was based on my instructions. Such disciplinarian – very rare to sight in today’s world. He would never take any assignments or be on committees unless it was for the upliftment of the downtrodden. He wrote several books for the upliftment of Dalits and the backward classes. He did everything without expecting anything in return and was always ready to stand up and fight for the injustice treated to such helpless people.
I remember very well his statement to my wife after cutting his birthday cake in 2017 – Father, what else can we help you with. Even though he was suffering heavily with his cancer at an advanced stage at that time, he responded swiftly saying ‘We Jesuits are rich and are well taken care off’. I do not need anything more.
Fr. Ambrose, we loved you for showing us what this world is all about. You practiced what you preached. We will remember your good deeds that you inculcated in us and will continue to follow in your footsteps. Continue to shower your blessings on us so that one day we also could be together with you in heaven. Amen.
(Note: Recently, I met Mr Ivan Fernandes. While talking, we came to know that we must have met in 2017 when Ivan and his family came to see Fr Ambrose Pinto on his birthday, which happened to be Fr Ambrose's last birthday on earth. Thanks to Mr Ivan for giving the permission to publish this above note on Fr Ambrose. - Fr Olvin Veigas SJ, the creator of this blog)
July 01, 2025
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