Joseph Baptista
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Kaka" Baptista was an Indian politician and activist from Bombay (today known as Mumbai), closely associated with the Lokmanya Tilak and the Home Rule Movement
. He was elected as the Mayor of Bombay
in 1925. He was given the title Kaka that means "uncle".
, Bombay. His father, John Baptista hailed from Uttan
, near Bassein (now Vasai). The Baptistas belonged to the East Indian ethnic community, who were converted to Roman Catholicism during Portuguese rule between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries.
After completion of his schooling from St. Mary's High School
at Mazagaon, he joined the College of Engineering
in Pune
, graduating in civil engineering. In 1896, he acquired the Licentiate in Civil Engineering from the University of Bombay. Baptista then joined the Bombay Provincial Government as an engineer in the Forest Department. He was initially posted at Thane
, and then in Sindh
(now in Pakistan). Dissatisfied with corruption in the government, mostly by the British, he quit his post in 1898. He then sailed to England to pursue a BA degree in Political Science
from the Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
. During this period, he first met Bal Gangadhar Tilak
.
unit. He was also the legal advisor to Lokmanya Tilak. Later he interviewed British Prime Minister David Lloyd George
for the British government's views on the Home Rule. In the interview, Baptista gained the impression "that the Cabinet had decided to give India the fullest possible measure of Home Rule without delay."
Baptista was also a practising barrister at the Bombay High Court
. One of his most high profile clients was Veer Savarkar, where he demanded an open trial to assure the dignity of fundamental rights. In 1920, founded the All India Trade Union Congress
(AITUC). As a labour leader he took up the cause of mill workers and postmen and other blue collar workers. Although religious, he refused to mix politics and religion refusing to have separate religion-based electorates.
In 1925, Baptista was elected as the Mayor
of the Bombay Municipal Corporation, a post that he occupied for a year.
station is named after him. On 12 October 2008, his tomb at Sewri cemetery was restored with the funds of local MLC Kapil Patil. The ceremony was attended by members of the Bombay Catholic Sabha
and Shikshak Bharati, a teacher's organisation.
In 1999, a book on Baptista titled Joseph Baptista: The father of Home Rule in India was released by K R Shirsat at Lalbaug
in Mumbai. Through the book, the author hoped that Baptista would be a role model for modern-day youths.
Shirsat, K.R. Speeches and Writings of Kaka Joseph Baptista on the Labour Movement of India. 2000.
Home Rule Movement
The All India Home Rule League was a national political organization founded in 1916 to lead the national demand for self-government, termed Home Rule, and to obtain the status of a Dominion within the British Empire as enjoyed by Australia, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Newfoundland at the...
. He was elected as the Mayor of Bombay
Mayor of Mumbai
The Mayor of Mumbai is the first citizen of the Indian city of Mumbai. The person is the chief of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, but his/her role is largely ceremonial as the real powers are vested in the Municipal Commissioner. The Mayor also plays a functional role in deliberating over...
in 1925. He was given the title Kaka that means "uncle".
Early life
Joseph Baptista was born on 17 March 1864 in Matharpacady in MazagaonMazagaon
Mazagaon, also spelled Mazgaon and Mazagon , and pronounced by the Catholics as 'Mazgon' or 'Maz-a-gon' and the Marathi-speakers as Mazhgav. It is one of the seven islands of Mumbai. It is part of South Mumbai and can be reached by Byculla Station on the Central railway line and Dockyard Road...
, Bombay. His father, John Baptista hailed from Uttan
Uttan
Uttan is a coastal town just north of Mumbai in Thane district of Maharashtra. A coastal town, it comes under the jurisdiction of the Mira-Bhayander civic council. The area is famed for its beach, visited by city-goers over the weekend. It is also famous for its lighthouse. The area has a...
, near Bassein (now Vasai). The Baptistas belonged to the East Indian ethnic community, who were converted to Roman Catholicism during Portuguese rule between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries.
After completion of his schooling from St. Mary's High School
St. Mary's School, ICSE
St. Mary's School is a Jesuit-run secondary school located on Nesbit Road, Mazagaon in the city of Bombay, India. The school is affiliated with Bombay's Church of St. Anne, which is adjacent to the school....
at Mazagaon, he joined the College of Engineering
College of Engineering, Pune
College of Engineering, Pune is an engineering college in Pune, India. Established in 1854, it is the third oldest engineering college in Asia, after the College of Engineering, Guindy and IIT Roorkee...
in Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, graduating in civil engineering. In 1896, he acquired the Licentiate in Civil Engineering from the University of Bombay. Baptista then joined the Bombay Provincial Government as an engineer in the Forest Department. He was initially posted at Thane
Thane District
Thane is a district in northern Maharashtra state in western India. As of 2011 it is the most populated district in the nation. The headquarters of the district is the city of Thane. Other major cities in the district are Navi Mumbai , Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar,...
, and then in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
(now in Pakistan). Dissatisfied with corruption in the government, mostly by the British, he quit his post in 1898. He then sailed to England to pursue a BA degree in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
Fitzwilliam College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge in England.The college traces its origins back to 1869 and the foundation of the Non-Collegiate Students Board, a venture intended to offer students from less financially privileged backgrounds a chance to study...
. During this period, he first met Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Lokmanya Tilak –, was an Indian nationalist, teacher, social reformer and independence fighter who was the first popular leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The British colonial authorities derogatorily called the great leader "Father of the Indian unrest"...
.
Political activism
In 1901, Baptista joined the Bombay Municipal Corporation, and would be a part of the BMC for the next 17 years. Influenced by the Irish Home Rule movement, Baptista's ideas on an Indian version took root. His ideas deeply influenced Tilak and the two became close associates. He assisted Tilak by launching the Sarvajanik Ganpati (public Ganpati celebrations) to raise nationalistic feelings. In addition, Baptista coined the phrase "Swaraj is my Birthright", that was later made popular by Tilak. In 1916, along with Tilak, Annie Besant founded the Home Rule Movement, with Baptista opening the BelgaumBelgaum
Belgaum is a city and a municipal corporation in Belgaum district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the fourth largest city of the state of Karnataka, the first three being Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad....
unit. He was also the legal advisor to Lokmanya Tilak. Later he interviewed British Prime Minister David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
for the British government's views on the Home Rule. In the interview, Baptista gained the impression "that the Cabinet had decided to give India the fullest possible measure of Home Rule without delay."
Baptista was also a practising barrister at the Bombay High Court
Bombay High Court
Bombay High Court at Mumbai, Maharashtra, is the High Court of India with jurisdiction over the states of Maharashtra & Goa, and, the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli...
. One of his most high profile clients was Veer Savarkar, where he demanded an open trial to assure the dignity of fundamental rights. In 1920, founded the All India Trade Union Congress
All India Trade Union Congress
-External links:**...
(AITUC). As a labour leader he took up the cause of mill workers and postmen and other blue collar workers. Although religious, he refused to mix politics and religion refusing to have separate religion-based electorates.
In 1925, Baptista was elected as the Mayor
Mayor of Mumbai
The Mayor of Mumbai is the first citizen of the Indian city of Mumbai. The person is the chief of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, but his/her role is largely ceremonial as the real powers are vested in the Municipal Commissioner. The Mayor also plays a functional role in deliberating over...
of the Bombay Municipal Corporation, a post that he occupied for a year.
Death
Baptista died in 1930 and is buried in the Sewri cemetery. The Mazagon Gardens, site of the demolished Mazagaon Fort, near Dockyard RoadDockyard Road
Dockyard Road is a railway station on the Central Railway of the Mumbai Suburban Railway. It is the stop closest to the Mazagon Dock Limited....
station is named after him. On 12 October 2008, his tomb at Sewri cemetery was restored with the funds of local MLC Kapil Patil. The ceremony was attended by members of the Bombay Catholic Sabha
Bombay Catholic Sabha
The Bombay Catholic Sabha was founded on January 20, 1989 as a non-political organisation registered as a Public Trust, under the Bombay Public Trusts Act 1950. The BCS is a recognised lay association of the Archdiocese of Bombay, affiliated to the All India Catholic Union that is in turn...
and Shikshak Bharati, a teacher's organisation.
In 1999, a book on Baptista titled Joseph Baptista: The father of Home Rule in India was released by K R Shirsat at Lalbaug
Lalbaug
Lalbaug is a prominent locality in Mumbai , India.Lalbaug lies in the approximate centre of Mumbai, near Dadar and Parel, and has been a famous centre for get-together of Hindus during their festivals, especially Ganesh festival. there are prominent Ganeshotsav organizations in and around Lalbaug,...
in Mumbai. Through the book, the author hoped that Baptista would be a role model for modern-day youths.
Further reading
Shirsat, K.R. Joseph Baptista: The Father of Home Rule in India. 1999.Shirsat, K.R. Speeches and Writings of Kaka Joseph Baptista on the Labour Movement of India. 2000.