Fr. Rudolf Schoch. A Jesuit Looks back in satisfaction

Fr. Rudolf Schoch. Looking back in satisfaction

Pune Plus, The Times of India (1991)

By Camil Parkhe

From days in the forties and fifties when he went horseback to visit the Jesuits-run 50 schools in Ahmednagar district to his present retirement days in Pune, it has been a period of great challenge and fulfillment for Fr. Rudolf Schoch.

The founder of two reputed schools in state, and school principal for 38 years, Fr. Schoch has set a record of a sorts which may shared by only a few.

By a strange twist of history, this Swiss-born Jesuit had to choose India as his Karmabhoomi and later, in a similar manner, education as his mission in life. But Fr. Schoch, now 78, says that he has not regretted the two sudden changes In his career which moulded his life in an unexpected way.

As the founder of Loyola High School in Pune and Dnyanamata High School in Sangamner in Ahmednagar district and as an able administrator, Fr. Schoch commands respect in academic circles. But that is only one aspect of his charismatic personality.

Born at Basel in Switzerland on September 27, 1913, young Rudolf Schoch joined the Society of Jesus in 1932. While studying philosophy at Berchhans College, affiliated to the Munich University, he had opted to study Indian philosophy; Shankaracharya and the Bhakti movement.

One day at the end of seminar on Indology in which Schoch read out a paper, the head of the local Jesuit province met him and told him about proposal to open a theological centre in India.

“We need someone to teach Indology at De Nobili College in Pune. Would you like to go to India?” the Jesuit provincial asked. Schoch agreed promptly and thus started his long career in India.

After he agreed to choose India as his place of work, Schoch was sent to the United Kingdom to learn English. But soon after his arrival in London, Adolf Hitler marched into Czechosalvakia and war seemed imminent. Schoch did not even stay in London for a fortnight, he was asked to leave immediately for India.

But neither was he destined to teach at the De Nobili College. After the hostilities between U.K. and Germany increased, the British Government in India detained all the German Jesuits in the country. As a result, the Swiss Jesuits, including Schoch, had to take over the posts of the German Jesuits.

After his ordination, Fr. Schoch was asked to take over charge of schools in the Sangamner parish. “And thus I permanently got stuck in school administration. However, I am happy, I have always preferred teaching in schools than teaching Indology at college”, says Fr. Schoch in retrospect.

“When I came to India, I had no knowledge of English. In Maharashtra, first I learnt Marathi and much later English,” he says.

I literally wept when I was transferred from Dnyanmata High School in Sangamner. Majority of my student at this school were very poor and I loved them,” says Fr. Schacht as he recalls his nostalgic experiences during his long teaching career.

Fr. Schacht, who became an Indian citizen in 1960 has contributed 200 entries to Maharashtra Vishwakosh (encyclopaedia) on European philosophy, Catholic Church and Christian beliefs. At schools, he taught geography, history and civics, the last subject being his pet topic. He is also the author of two textbooks in civics.

He retired from the academic field in 1984. But this man of vast experience has refused to relax.

Now a treasurer of the Pune Catholic Educational Association, Fr. Schoch has been busy mobilizing funds for a large number of charitable institutions and social workers from well-wishers and charitable organizations in Europe. The list of those whom he assists in securing financial aid almost reads as who’s who in the social field in India, including Mother Teresa.

Besides, he is also busy writing a book, guide to the Catholic priests on reading of mass on week-days. The three volumes of the book are expected to be released by the end of this year.

When asked to express his opinion about the education in the country, the renowned school administrator refused to answer the question in a few sentences.

“It would not be correct to say that everything is well with our education pattern nor is it right to find only faults with the system. This subject needs to be discussed in details while considering a large number of factors,” he says.

However, as far as the Jesuits-run schools in the country are considered, Fr. Schoch is emphatic of their good standards.

“I have visited a large number of schools in different countries and I don’t think the Jesuit schools in India are in any way inferior as compared to the international academic standards,’ he says.

There are over 2000 schools and colleges run by Society of Jesus in the country.

His sharp memory is manifest when Fr. Schoch recalls various events in his life, names of persons he met and places he visited in Pune city, Ahmednagar and Aurangabad districts as early as 1940s and 1950s with minute details.

During his long academic career, he has taught thousands of students, many of whom are today holding top positions in different walks of life.

“But my real investment has been charity,” says Fr. Schoch who has been instrumental in providing funds to many social and charitable organizations.