Far removed from the popular perception about Goa is a dedicated teacher. Dr. Magdalene D’souza is the only Catholic professor who has devoted her life to the teaching and promotion of Hindi language and literature. Her love for Hindi – not Goa’s official or widely spoken language — took roots during her stay in Kanpur. Manu Shrivastava sketches a gem who has won recognition for her unusual pursuit.
India’s smallest state, Goa, is famous for its sun-kissed beaches, bustling nightlife, and tourism. It has, however, many hidden gems including a rich history, cultural heritage, abundant wildlife … and people who are mentoring and guiding the youth to build a purposeful life.
One such unique individual is Dr. Magdalene D’souza who has dedicated her life to the teaching and promotion of Hindi language and literature and presently heads the Department of Hindi at St. Xavier’s College in Mapusa, Goa.
Magdalene holds the rare honour of being the only Catholic professor in Goa who teaches Hindi. And, she teaches at the institute that is also her alma mater. Her predicament is an interesting one because she has been furthering and teaching a language that isn’t the first language in Goa.
The official language of the Republic of India, Hindi is written in Devanagari script and is the lingua franca (a shared language of communication used by people who are speakers of different languages) in most parts of India. The other official language of the Government of India is English.
Hindi is the official language in many states. These include Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.
In Magdalene’s Goa, while Hindi is not the official language, it is taught in schools. The language is mandatory till a few initial standards and later it becomes optional where students can opt it as a subject and continue learning it. In 2014, India’s smallest state came at par with the national education boards and implemented the provision of Hindi being offered as an optional subject in standards ninth and tenth. Other optional languages being Sanskrit, Portuguese, French, among others; Konkani/Marathi being the compulsory language.
Magdalene’s tryst with Hindi language began early in her life as she was born in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh – the Hindi heartland of India. Kanpur is also the city where she grew up and spent most of her educational and transformative years.
And, it was in Kanpur that the seeds of love for Hindi language were sown in Magdalene’s heart. During the initial years in school, she dabbled with creative writing that blossomed over time and was exposed to Hindi literature as well.
When she finished tenth standard, Magdalene’s family left Kanpur to return to their native land, Goa. Her father, who was working as an electrical engineer with the electricity supply company in Kanpur had retired.
In Goa, Magdalene enrolled in St. Xavier’s College in Mapusa. Here, she found just the right environment and continued her pursuit and love for Hindi literature. She completed a B.A. (Hindi) degree and despite being the only Catholic student in her class, she excelled and outperformed everyone. There was an innate brilliance and aptitude in Magdalene when it came to Hindi.
Goa’s St. Xavier’s College in Mapusa is, incidentally, named after the Jesuit missionary St. Francis Xavier who was an exemplary student himself and an illustrious teacher. The college was established in 1963. and is one of Goa’s largest and oldest colleges.
Commendably, the Department of Hindi has existed since the inception of the college. Several scholars and stalwarts have served it including Dr. Arvind Pandey, Dr. Adityaprasad Tripathi, Dr. Brahmadev Mishra, etc. Their students, including Magdalene herself, have gone ahead promoting the language and strengthening the department, till date.
Magdalene attributes her continuing love and admiration for Hindi to her teachers and professors who constantly pushed her to achieve more. Another person who has played an important role in Magdalene’s life is her father who has always encouraged and motivated her to follow her passion.
After finishing her bachelor’s degree, Magdalene pursued M.A. and M.Phil in Hindi Literature from Goa University. She didn’t stop there and continued learning when she enrolled for a Ph.D in Hindi at Goa University which she completed recently.
Immediately after finishing her M.A. degree in 1991, Magdalene started her teaching career with a job at the Government college in Khandola, Goa. She also taught at a school before joining a college in Pilar. At this time, she had started teaching at her alma mater St. Xavier’s College in Mapusa in a part-time capacity. In 1995, Magdalene started teaching Hindi, as a full-time faculty, at St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa.
Magdalene says she’s the only Catholic professor in Goa who teaches Hindi. “There are many Catholic teachers who are teaching Hindi in schools but none in a college.”
The Department of Hindi at St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa under the aegis of Dr. Magdalene D’souza has been active in organising events and literary activities to promote Hindi and invoke an interest in the language and its literature. Seminars, workshops, talks, contests, etc., are held on important days such as Hindi Diwas and Premchand Jayanti.
Hindi Diwas is celebrated every year on 14 September to commemorate the day, when, in 1949, a compromise was reached during the drafting of the Constitution of India on the languages that were to have official status in India. Premchand Jayanti is celebrated to honour and remember Munshi Premchand, one of the greatest Hindi novelists and short story writers of India.
Magdalene says they have been celebrating Hindi Diwas in the college for over two decades. The students participate in competitions like original poetry recitation, duet singing competition, bhajan competition, etc.
Magdalene, however, rues the recent slump in number of students in the third-year course. “Although there is a genuine affection and enthusiasm for the language, students choose to pursue different subjects and discontinue Hindi by their third year of college.”
Remarkably, all Hindi students have found employment, with many of them currently serving as educators in numerous colleges throughout Goa,” she maintains.
At the inauguration ceremony of a two-day International Seminar organised under the joint auspices of Hindi Department and Hindi Research Centre of Arts, Science and Commerce Government College, Sankhali, Goa and Directorate of Higher Education, Government of Goa, in March 2023, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant addressed deliberations with respect to the ‘Economic Scenario of the World as Expressed in Hindi Literature.’
In his speech, Dr. Pramod Sawant congratulated the students studying Hindi language and literature, as well as their professors, for inspiring the younger generation to engage in in-depth studies of the language. He expressed confidence that the multi-lingual state of Goa will contribute more to the Hindi language and literature in the near future.
For Dr. Magdalene D’souza’s contribution in the teaching and promotion of Hindi language in Goa, she was awarded by Bharat Nyaas, Kanpur on 18 December 2022.
Magdalene D’souza is not only a rare breed of teacher but also a rare gem of Goa who has enriched the lives of many people with her knowledge and love for Hindi language and literature. She is truly deserving of all the accolades she has received so far.
Manu Shrivastava is a journalist andlawyer with DraftCraft International and Co-Convenor of #TheWomanSurvivor, #MeTooAtHomeand #MeTooBeyondBorders initiatives.