Benedict Noronha: From organizational service to Social Work and Legal profession


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By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 08 May 2011: He was a talented student and had a desire for higher education. However, the adverse financial condition of the family drove him to take up a job. But his thirst for higher education prompted him to complete his graduation (BA) as an external student and thereafter acquire a degree in law (LLB) while serving the premier Indian insurance organisation. Though gave up his job nearly a decade before his retirement age, he plunged himself in social work and did not hesitate to present the grievances of the people before the government officials including Chief Ministers and Karnataka Lok Ayukta. He took up legal profession and came to limelight as a relentless fighter for justice for common people. This is the story of Benedict Noronha, who graduated from organisational service to social work and legal profession.

 

 

Born at Kurdai, Pamboor on May 10, 1946, Benedict Noronha is the fourth among five children of late Casmir and late Angeline Noronha.  His elder sister, late Mary Noronha was a teacher in the Church Aided Higher Primary School, Moodubelle. His other sister, Magdalene was living with her family at Bantakal, his elder brother, William is living in their ancestral house at Pamboor and the last one in the family, Veronica is at Moodubelle.

 

 
Late Casmir Noronha & Late Angeline Noronha

 

Benedict had his early education in the Pamboor Higher Primary School and the Church Aided Higher Primary School and high school studies in St. Lawrence High School, Moodubelle. While in school, besides studies, Benedict was active in various sporting and curricular activities and used to participate in various competitions and also win prizes.

 


Mary Teacher

 

With a rare gift of oratory, Benedict  had won a number of  first prizes in public speaking, the earliest being while studying in the seventh standard and later consecutively for three years while in the high school. He also had a flair for acting and was adjudged as the best actor for two years while in high school.  Benedict was also a good sportsman and used to play cricket which was his favourite game. Among his distinguished classmates, Benedict remembers present Archbishop of Agra, Rev. Dr. Albert D’Souza who was his co-actor in plays which were staged during the school days.

 

Following the completion of SSLC in 1964, Benedict continued PUC studies in the Poorna Prajna College, Udupi. During his college days, Benedict was a NCC (Naval Wing) Cadet and the Catholic Students Union. However, he was looking out for an employment due to pressing economic needs of the family. Hence, he applied for a job in the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) where he was selected. Having secured the job, a maiden attempt, Benedict gave up his college studies and joined the LIC. His first posting was at Haveri Branch of the LIC where he worked from 1966 to 1970.

 

 

 

Though Benedict was happy that he was employed by India’s premier insurance organization, his urge for studies had not subsided and he was looking for an opportunity to continue his college studies as an external student which he did by enrolling himself at the Karnataka University, Dharwar and completed graduation in arts subjects in 1970. Simultaneously, realising that the professional proficiency was the need of the time for any future promotions, Benedict also completed the professional course in the Fellowship of the Insurance Institute of India (FIII). In this way Benedict laid a strong foundation of his career-academically and professionally.

 

In June 1970, Benedict married Angela D’Souza, originally from Goa but settled in Hubli, where she was working as a teacher in an English Medium School.  After his marriage, Benedict was transferred to Udupi Divisional Office. For one year, Benedict used to commute from Pamboor to Udupi, but later he shifted to a rented house in Udupi.

 

 

Having both his office and residence at Udupi, Benedict had sufficient time before and after the office hours. Hence, he decided to continue his studies in Law in the Udupi Law College and secured LLB degree in 1976. Meanwhile, his wife Angela secured teaching assignment in the Christian High School, Udupi.  While serving in the LIC Divisional Office at Udupi, Benedict was the Secretary of Udupi Insurance Institute in 1975, when the institute secured the award as the best Insurance Institute in India on account of several training programmes introduced by him in the institute.

 

 

Benedict joined the Manipal Jaycees (Indian Junior Chamber) in 1976. His enthusiasm and active participation in various activities such as leadership development, human relations and child welfare programmes earned for him national and international recognition. He held various posts in the Jaycees from the local to national level such as Chapter President (1979), Vice President of Jaycees India (1980), Director of Leadership Development (1981) and State Legal Counsel (1982). He excelled in all these posts for which he received a number of accreditations and awards. He was honoured by the National President of Indian Jaycees and  Dr. V.S. Acharya, who was the MLC at that time. On the occasion of the 80th birthday of Dr. T.M.A. Pai, Benedict was asked to felicitate him on behalf of Manipal Jaycees.

 

 

While he was busy and active in social activities, Benedict also contributed his time, talent and energy for the Don Bosco Club Udupi of which he became president five times from 1982 to 1996. Don Bosco Club which was established in 1959 has been a forum for youth and socio-cultural and sports activities. During the tenure of Benedict as the president, the Don Bosco Club had organised crib making competitions for children, drama competitions, leadership training programmes, study circles and Christmas get-togethers.

 

Benedict was a member of the Parish Pastoral Council for 21 years from 1977 to 1999. He was appointed as the Joint Secretary of the Centenary Celebration Committee of Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi. He was also a joint secretary of the ad-hoc committee of the Catholic Sabha (1979-1983) when it was in the formation stage. He was member and secretary of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Mother of Sorrows Parish, Udupi. When P.A. Sangma, State Minister of Commerce, Government of India visited Udupi, Benedict Noronha as the president of the Don Bosco Club had an opportunity to welcome him.

 

 

Realising the multifaceted talents and professional potential of Benedict, the LIC authorities promoted and transferred him to Bhadravati (1982) and later to Mangalore (1984) and again back to Udupi (1988) and assigned him in the Housing Loan Department. As he manifested his legal calibre while dealing with many cases, appreciating his result oriented service, the authorities in the LIC selected Benedict as Officer in the Computer Department at the Mangalore Branch of the LIC (1989). Here also Benedict showed exemplary results and was transferred back to Udupi Branch in 1992.

 

Having worked efficiently for Three years in the Computer Department, Benedict was promoted as Administrative Officer and was transferred to Dharwar Division in the Data Processing Department with a particular task to introduce and set up computers in all branches of the Dharwar Division within three years, Benedict successfully accomplished the target set by the management of the LIC.

 

 

Having completed the given task to the best of the satisfaction of the Management, Benedict was hoping that he would be transferred back to Udupi as per the assurances given to him by the superiors as his family had been residing at Udupi. However, Benedict was disappointed as he was assigned altogether a different department at Dharwar itself rather than being transferred to Udupi as promised. This prompted Benedict to resign from the LIC in 1996 after a long and distinguished service of 31 years in the premier insurance organisation, as he had to be with his family and the children required his attention and guidance and also he had to take care of his ailing mother and sister-Mary.

 

Having resigned from the LIC and being back in Udupi  at the age of 51, Benedict plunged himself in social activities. He took up the issues with the authorities affecting the common people in villages as well as in Udupi such as erratic electricity supply, poor rural roads, lack of sanitation, inadequate water supply, etc.  Due to sustained efforts and forceful and convincing arguments, Benedict could get a number of problems resolved. In 1997, he initiated the Shanti Nagara Nagarikara Vedike to get the problems of civic amenities in the area solved.

 

Realising the complexities of the social issues and the problems that the common people face in litigation, Benedict who had earlier secured legal qualification enrolled himself in the Karnataka Bar Association and started legal practice at Udupi in March 1999.

 

Benedict says that the first legal victory that he achieved was getting a direction from the Udupi Civil Court to the Karnataka Electricity Board (KEB) to notify the load-shedding schedule. Having tasted success in the public interest litigation, Benedict took up the issues of consumer interest in consumer court and settled hundreds of cases in favour of the consumers. Benedict says that prior to 2004, there was no Consumer Court at Udupi. It was he who persuaded the then chief minister, S.M.Krishna, to start a consumer court at Udupi, which began functioning from March 2004.

 

 

The Public roads being in bad shape, Benedict took up the question of improving such roads with the Chief Minister. It was chiefly due to his taking initiative to issue notices to the government in 2003, that the State Highway No.37 (Belmanu to Katapadi) and State Highway No.38 (Udupi-Manipura-Belle) were done up with favre finish, which are still in fairly good condition.  Benedict says that at Udupi, the Mission Hospital Road and the Mission Hospital Circle, what they are today, are due to his persuasion and complaints to the Chief Minister and later to the Karnataka Lok Ayukta. Benedict also took up issues before the Lok Ayukta against the Udupi Municipal authorities in relation to roads and water supply. He further took up issues with the Lok Ayukta against the Revenue Department and Electricity Department on revenue and electricity matters respectively. He has been  a staunch crusader against corruption.

 

One of the noteworthy achievements of Benedict was issuing a notice to the Railway Ministry on March 30, 2010, regarding the demand for the extension of Bangalore-Mangalore Train to Karwar and CST Mumbai – Karwar Train to Mangalore. The notice sent by Benedict to the Railway Ministry was given wide publicity in all the news papers which evoked public attention. This was followed by two separate writ petitions filed by the interested public in the Bangalore High Court. As a result of this movement, in July 2010, CST Mumbai-Karwar Train was extended to Mangalore.  The Railway Ministry has included in the Railway Budget (2011) to extend Bangalore-Mangalore Trains up to Karwar.

 

 

Benedict and Angela have been blessed with three children: Dr. Judith, who is married to Valerian Lobo of Moodubelle who is chief engineer in a British merchant shipping company based in Hong Kong. Dr. Judith is presently the Assistant Professor of Nursing in Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. They have two children-Janeeta and Vinal; Amit Anand, who has done Electrical and Electronics Engineering is presently working for an Electrical Company at Abudhabi. He is married to Shruthi, who is a graduate in Fashion Designing and Post Graduate in Human Resource Management. They have a son-Krish Anand; and Vijay Anand, who has done Diploma in Computer Science and presently works as Marketing Executive for the Bank of America in Bahrain. He is married to Veera, who is a nurse and works for Indian School at Bahrain. They have a son-Vian Rahul Savio.

 

 

Valerian and Judith

 


Amit Anand and Shruthi

 


Vijay Anand and Veera

 


Jenitha and Vinal

 


Krrish and Vian Rahul

 

Having seen all his children well educated and settled down, Benedict and Angela lead a life of contentment and acknowledge the Divine Providence. Having passed through different phases of life and got himself involved in various socio-cultural and public interest activities, Benedict has also been a devout Christian. During his spare time he has compiled a prayer book titled “Somiya Sangim Ek Vor” (One Hour with the Lord).  Benedict says that this compilation helps a devotee to spend sixty minutes with Jesus, which may turn out to be very propitious. This one hour may also turn out to be a miracle hour depending upon the faith of the devotee.

 

 

In spite of his achievements and children having settled down in life, Benedict has not given up his legal profession. Every day of the week he attends his office and prepares his cases, meets his clients and goes to the court to argue cases also.

 

Going through the profile of Benedict Noronha, one cannot but admire his hard work, determination and spirit of service. His achievements are truly admirable and exemplary and manifest his multifaceted personality. He recollects his superior Officer calling him a ‘Social Engineer’.

 

 

Comments on this Article
Vasudeva Kini, Gokuldham-Moodu Belle/Mumbai Thu, June-16-2011, 3:30
Yet another excellent coverage by Dr.Eugene D'Souza about Respected Shri Benedit Noronha. I could thus re-collect now of 4 decades before. Respected Mary Teacher who was not only a teacher but was a MOTHER to me and likewise to all the kids who were studying in the Church Aided Elementary School then. On reading, she is the elder sister of Benedict Noronha, I could re-collect the sweet memories of my teenage of the school and of Moodubelle town. I know recollect about the entire family. I was also a student of St. Lawrence High School passed out in 1969 and thus junior to Respected Shri Benedict Noronha as a school mate. The sweet memories of our school days at Moodubelle really put me in deep thinking about the sweet days though I am out of touch for the last four decades by now. Respected Benedict Noronha, Regards to you I wish you all the best in your Endeavour, Determination
Maurice Menezes, Udupi/RAK/UAE Tue, May-17-2011, 6:16
Dear Dr Eugene,Kudos! Keep up. Your old pal Maurice Menezes
Ronald Noronha, Belle Tue, May-10-2011, 6:02
Dear Sir, very nice to read about your personel life and the achivements. The road to success comes through hard work, determination, and personal sacrifice. You have proved it. Keep it up going.
Lawrence Alva, Moodubelle/Muscat Mon, May-9-2011, 6:55
Congratulations Mr. Noronha! Thank you for being such an inspiring role model. Although, I have met you and related to you in a small way, going over this journey of your life has re-energised me. Looking forward to seeing you soon in Muscat.
Philip Mudartha, Qatar Sun, May-8-2011, 7:34
I admire my cousin Benny for his energy,passion,commitment and perseveredness in setting his goals and achieving them. He has a brilliant, creative mind, an almost impetuous self-drive and albert pinto ko gussa kyon aata hei kind rebellious streak against actual and percieved injustice. My vhoni, the kindest and gentlest one, has stood as a rock of support behind this man, and I salute her as much as I congratulate Benny for all his succeses in society. May he continue to serve us and the community better, longer and in more empowered ways in future.
Nelson, Bangalore Sun, May-8-2011, 5:06
Karnataka India urgently needs more social engineers like you Sir...
Stany Lobo, Thirlapalke/Dubai Sun, May-8-2011, 1:31
A very well known figure around Udupi. Keep up your social work.May god bless you and give you long life to serve people around Udupi.People like you should join politics to play an active role in delvelopment of area. Keep on writing Dr Eugene on such personalities of our area which encourages people arond to involve in social work
Ronald Sabi, Moodubelle Sun, May-8-2011, 1:13
His way of life is truely admirable. Fighting for common mans cause is rare now a days. It is pleasing to note that Benedict is a stong fighter against corruption. His principles in life, his drives for justice and corruption free governance are woth emulating. Wishing you greater success in your mission!
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