Henrique Henriques
Encyclopedia
Henrique Henriques (1520–1600), was Portuguese
Jesuit priest and missionary
who spent most of his life and missionary activities in South India
. After initial years in Goa
he moved to Tamil Nadu
where he mastered Tamil
and wrote several books including a dictionary
. He is considered to be the first European Tamil
scholar.
He strongly believed that books of religious doctrines should be in local languages and to this end he wrote books in Tamil. His efforts made Tamil the first non-European language to be printed. Hence sometimes called as The Father of the Tamil Press. After his death his mortal remains were buried in Our Lady of Snows Basilica
in Tuticorin, India
.
, Portugal
. He joined the Franciscan
order
but had to leave as he was of Jewish ancestry. He later studied Canon Law
in the University of Coimbra till 1545. He entered the newly founded Society of Jesus
on the 7 October 1545, in Coimbra (Portugal) and departed for India in 1546.
until 1557 and then move to Fishery Coast or Tuticorin, under orders of St. Francis Xavier, where he worked as a missionary from 1547 to 1549. In 1549, after the death of Antonio Criminali, he was elected as the superior of this mission, a post which he held till 1576. His progress in development of the community and his concerns on the problems in mission are explicit from the regular reports he wrote to his Superior General
.
-Portuguese
Dictionary
, he set up the first Tamil press and printed books in Tamil script. The first such book printed in Tamil script was Thambiran Vanakkam (தம்பிரான் வணக்கம்) (1578), a 16-page translation of the Portuguese "Doctrina Christam". It was followed by Kirisithiyaani Vanakkam (கிரிசித்தியானி வணக்கம்)(1579). These were works of catechism, containing basic prayers of Catholicism. Before this Cardilla a tamil prayer book printed using Portuguese script. Cardilla was printed in Lisbon under the command of the Portuguese king funded by the Paravars of tuticorin with help of knowledge input of three paravars.
He also printed Flos Sanctorum in Tamil (1586). This book contains the lives of Saints. With his efforts Tamil became the first non-European language to be printed in a printing press. Hence, he is sometimes referred to as Father of the Tamil press
Henriques is the first known European Tamil scholar. Some of his works in Malabar (Malauar) language (that is, Tamil) are no longer extant including a work on grammar, a dictionary, a booklet for confession and a religious history from Creation to Ascension.
, Tamil Nadu
on 22 February 1600. According to the The Jesuit Annual Letter for 1601
His mortal remains were buried in Our Lady of Snows Basilica
in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Jesuit priest and missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
who spent most of his life and missionary activities in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. After initial years in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
he moved to Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
where he mastered Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
and wrote several books including a dictionary
Dictionary
A dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon...
. He is considered to be the first European Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
scholar.
He strongly believed that books of religious doctrines should be in local languages and to this end he wrote books in Tamil. His efforts made Tamil the first non-European language to be printed. Hence sometimes called as The Father of the Tamil Press. After his death his mortal remains were buried in Our Lady of Snows Basilica
Our Lady of Snows Basilica
Our Lady of Snows Shrine Basilica is located at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Catholic pilgrimage centres in India dedicated to the Virgin Mary.-History:...
in Tuticorin, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Early life
Henriques was born in 1520 in Vila VicosaVila Viçosa
Vila Viçosa is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 195.0 km² and a total population of 8,745 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 5 parishes, and is located in the District of Évora....
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. He joined the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
order
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
but had to leave as he was of Jewish ancestry. He later studied Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
in the University of Coimbra till 1545. He entered the newly founded Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
on the 7 October 1545, in Coimbra (Portugal) and departed for India in 1546.
Missionary in India
Henriques initially lived in GoaGoa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
until 1557 and then move to Fishery Coast or Tuticorin, under orders of St. Francis Xavier, where he worked as a missionary from 1547 to 1549. In 1549, after the death of Antonio Criminali, he was elected as the superior of this mission, a post which he held till 1576. His progress in development of the community and his concerns on the problems in mission are explicit from the regular reports he wrote to his Superior General
Superior General of the Society of Jesus
The Superior General of the Society of Jesus is the official title of the leader of the Society of Jesus—the Roman Catholic religious order, also known as the Jesuits. He is generally addressed as Father General. The position carries the nickname of Black Pope, after his simple black priest's...
.
Printing in India
Henriques strongly felt that the mission could only be successful through the use of local languages. To this end he arranged printing of books on Christian doctrine in Tamil. Apart from being the first to produce a TamilTamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
-Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
Dictionary
Dictionary
A dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon...
, he set up the first Tamil press and printed books in Tamil script. The first such book printed in Tamil script was Thambiran Vanakkam (தம்பிரான் வணக்கம்) (1578), a 16-page translation of the Portuguese "Doctrina Christam". It was followed by Kirisithiyaani Vanakkam (கிரிசித்தியானி வணக்கம்)(1579). These were works of catechism, containing basic prayers of Catholicism. Before this Cardilla a tamil prayer book printed using Portuguese script. Cardilla was printed in Lisbon under the command of the Portuguese king funded by the Paravars of tuticorin with help of knowledge input of three paravars.
He also printed Flos Sanctorum in Tamil (1586). This book contains the lives of Saints. With his efforts Tamil became the first non-European language to be printed in a printing press. Hence, he is sometimes referred to as Father of the Tamil press
Henriques is the first known European Tamil scholar. Some of his works in Malabar (Malauar) language (that is, Tamil) are no longer extant including a work on grammar, a dictionary, a booklet for confession and a religious history from Creation to Ascension.
Death
Henriques died at PunnaikayalPunnaikayal
Punnaikayal , anciently Punicale for the Portuguese, is a harbour city in Tamil Nadu, India.Punnaikayal seems to have been the main Portuguese possession on the southern Coast of India for a period of 50 years after their arrival from 1551, when they established 2 hospitals, a seminary, and the...
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
on 22 February 1600. According to the The Jesuit Annual Letter for 1601
His mortal remains were buried in Our Lady of Snows Basilica
Our Lady of Snows Basilica
Our Lady of Snows Shrine Basilica is located at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Catholic pilgrimage centres in India dedicated to the Virgin Mary.-History:...
in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.