Noel Sheth S J (1943–2017)

Noel Sheth S J journeyed through life with purpose. His Jesuit identity always before him, he applied himself meticulously to every task with the hope that it would benefit others. The eldest of four brothers, he lost his father when he and his siblings were still young. He felt responsible for the family. His mother hailed from Kandivali in Mumbai, and with faith and fortitude looked after her sons and provided for their education through her earnings.

Noel completed his schooling at St Xavier’s High School, Dhobitalao and then decided to join the Jesuits of the Bombay Province; he did so on 20 June 1960. His flair for languages showed in his knowledge of Gujarati—his father was a baptised Gujarati—Marathi, Hindi and English. After philosophy, Noel was asked to prepare himself in Sanskrit and Indian Culture to be part of the staff of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai. He performed brilliantly in his masters in Sanskrit from Pune University and was offered a full scholarship to Harvard to complete his doctorate in Sanskrit. At Harvard, he impressed both staff and students and, on occasion, was invited by the professor to teach his confrères. His name is included in the Who’s Who of Sanskrit Scholars of India. Back in India, his superiors in the Jesuit Assistancy, considering the wider needs of the order, decided to assign him to Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth (JDV), Pontifical Institute of Philosophy and Religion, Pune. He resided in the Papal Seminary and functioned as dean of the Inchoate Department of Indian Studies and Social Sciences in the Faculty of Philosophy.