Bastiampillai Deogupillai

Right Reverend Jacob Bastiampillai Deogupillai (9 April 1917 – 25 April 2003) was a Ceylon Tamil priest and Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaffna.

Rt Rev.

Bastiampillai Deogupillai
Bishop of Jaffna
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ProvinceColombo
DioceseJaffna
Installed18 December 1972
Term ended6 July 1992
PredecessorJerome Emilianuspillai
SuccessorThomas Savundaranayagam
Personal details
Born(1917-04-09)9 April 1917
Karampon, Ceylon
Died25 April 2003(2003-04-25) (aged 86)
Alma materSt. Anthony's College, Kayts
St. Patrick's College, Jaffna
Propaganda College
Ceylon University College
University of Ceylon

Early life and family

Deogupillai was born on 9 April 1917 in Karampon on the island of Velanaitivu in northern Ceylon.[1][2][3] He was educated at St. Anthony's College, Kayts and St. Patrick's College, Jaffna.[2][4] He then studied at the Propaganda College.[4] He later received a BA degree from the Ceylon University College and a Diploma of Education from the University of Ceylon.[4]

Career

Deogupillai was ordained as a priest in Rome in December 1941.[1][2][3] After returning to Ceylon he served as parish priest of Karaveddy.[2] He taught for a while before becoming rector of St. Joseph's College, Anuradhapura.[1][2] He was later rector of Sacred Heart College, Karaveddy, St. Henry's College, Ilavalai and the Teacher Training College, Colombuthurai.[1][2] After the government took over the Teacher Training College in 1961 Deogupillai resigned as rector and became parish priest of Ilavalai.[4]

Deogupillai was appointed auxiliary bishop of Trincomalee-Batticaloa in February 1967.[1][2][3] In December 1972 he became Bishop of Jaffna.[2][3][4][5] He retired in July 1992.[3][4]

Being a historian and an educationist for a greater part of his life, he encouraged his clergy to study the history of the Church as well as of the tradition and cultures of the Tamil People. He had already imbibed from his family a preferential love for the arts and cultures. He went a long way to promote the initiatives of Rev.Fr.N.M Saverimuthu through his center for performing arts and others who tried to preserve Tamil drama. [6]

Later life

After retirement in 1991 Deogupillai lived at St. Martin's Seminary, Jaffna.[1] He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Jaffna for his literary contributions.[2]

Deogupillai died on 25 April 2003.[2][3] His funeral took place on 28 April 2003 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Jaffna.[7]

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References
  1. Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon. p. 48.
  2. "Bishop Deogupillai passes away". TamilNet. 26 April 2003.
  3. "Bishop Jacob Bastiampillai Deogupillai". Catholic Hierarchy.
  4. Emmanuel, S. J. (2 May 2003). "Bishop Deogupillai - a man of sturdy faith and courageous leadership". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 20 March 2005.
  5. "History". Roman Catholic Diocese of Jaffna. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
  6. Emmanuel, S J (2 May 2003). "Bishop Deogupillai- a man for sturdy faith and courageous leadership". Daily News.
  7. "Late Bishop's services recalled at funeral". TamilNet. 28 April 2003.
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