Joe D’Cruz is a well-known Indian novelist, commercial shipping professional, and documentary filmmaker who has made significant contributions to Tamil cinema, Indian literature, and social welfare.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
R. N. Joe D’Cruz [1]Joe D’Cruz’s LinkedIn Account was born in 1969 (age 54 years; as of 2023) in Village Uvari, district Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, India. He studied in the schools of the Uvari and Idaiyangudi villages. After completing his school education, he went to Loyola College in Chennai, Tamil Nadu to pursue an M.A. degree in Economics. Later, he received an M.Phil degree at St. Joseph’s College in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu.
Physical Appearance
Hair Colour: Salt and Pepper
Eye Colour: Black
Family & Caste
Joe D’Cruz belongs to a ‘Roman Catholic Paravar,’ in Uvari, a coastal village.
Parents & Siblings
Not much is known about his parents.
Joe D’Cruz with his mother
Wife & Children
His wife’s name is Sasikala D’Cruz, and the couple has two children.
Other Relatives
His grandfather’s name is Thomas Andrew.
Career
Ship Management
Joe D’Cruz joined the commercial shipping industry soon after completing his higher studies.
A young Joe D’Cruz while working for a ship management company in Tamil Nadu
For more than three decades, he worked as the President of NTC Logistics Private Limited and Vice President of J.M. Baxi & Company.
Literary Works
In 2004, Joe D’Cruz published a book of Tamil poems titled ‘Pulambazhkal.’ His writings mostly talk about the history and lives of Parathavar fishermen in Tamil Nadu.
The cover of the book ‘Pulambazhkal’ by Joe D’Cruz
In 2005, he released his novel ‘Aazhi Soozh Ulagu,’ which earned the Tamil Nadu State Government Literary Award and the Tamil Literary Garden Award. In this novel, he highlighted the lives of the fishermen who used catamarans and their conversion to Christianity.
The cover of the novel ‘Aazhi Soozh Ulagu’ by R. N. Joe D’Cruz
Joe D’Cruz’s novel ‘Korkai’ was released in 2009 and won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2013. The novel is based on the story of an ancient port city ruled by the Early Pandyan Kingdom. It focuses on the pearl and conch divers of the 20th-century community.
The cover of the novel ‘Korkai’ by R. N. Joe D’Cruz
His other literary works include Asthinapuram (2016), Verpiditha Vilai Nilangal (2017), Kavanam Thedum Kadaloram (2019), and Padaipugalin Uraiyadal (2020).
Documentary Films
He made a documentary film ‘Vidiyatha Pozhuthukal’ in 2008. In 2010, Joe D’Cruz released another documentary named ‘Towards Dawn,’ which primarily focused on the hardships faced by Tamil fishermen. He then scripted the dialogues for the Tamil movie ‘Maryan’ in 2013.
The poster of the Tamil film ‘Maryan’
Social Work
Joe D’Cruz is associated with a non-profit group Samskrita Bharati as its state president in Tamil Nadu. This group is dedicated to safeguarding the Sanskrit language.
Logo of Samskrita Bharati NGO
In 2011, he voiced against the Kudankulam nuclear power project and stated reasons for its negative impact on the livelihoods of fishermen.
A rally organised against the establishment of the Kudankulam nuclear power project in 2011
He believes in the importance of improving existing ports in India rather than beginning new port projects. So, in 2017, he opposed the proposed ‘International Container Transhipment Terminal’ at Enayam in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu.
A march against the ‘International Container Transhipment Terminal’ at Enayam (2017)
In 2017, the Government of India appointed Joe D’Cruz as a member of the National Shipping Board in the Ministry of Shipping.
A young Joe D’Cruz while working for a ship management company in Tamil Nadu
Joe D’Cruz often supports Indian LGBTQA+ activist Gopi Shankar Madurai. He has worked on the advisory board of Srishti Madurai, a volunteer group for LGBTQA+ students.
Awards
- 2013: Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel ‘Korkai’
- 2024: Padma Shri in the field of literature and education
Facts/Trivia
- During the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Joe D’Cruz showed his support for BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, on his Facebook page. He faced threats and hate mail as a result. [2]The Indian Express
- In that same year, he planned to translate his book “Aazhi Soozh Ulagu” from Tamil to English. However, the publisher, S. Anand, and the translator, V. Geetha, stopped the translation in response to Joe D’Cruz’s support for Modi.
- After facing criticism from his peers, Joe D’Cruz clarified the reason for halting the book’s translation during a media discussion. He stated,
It is because of my opinion expressed on Facebook as Narendra Modi is the right choice for PM. I think their actions show the form of narrow mentality.”
- He criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2017, blaming them for strengthening caste systems, Manu Smriti, and empowering violent political forces over beef consumption. [3]The Hindu
- Thereafter, Joe D’Cruz criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not helping the poor. He also disagreed with the BJP government’s plan for a ‘Maritime Container Terminal’ at Enayam in Tamil Nadu, saying it would be like a natural disaster despite claims it’s a natural harbour.
- He supported the ‘Sampark Se Samarthan’ (Contact for Support) program, which was led by PM Narendra Modi in 2018.
Joe D’Cruz while supporting the ‘Sampark Se Samarthan’ (Contact for Support) programme (2018)
- Joe D’Cruz likes smoking cigars on various occasions.
Joe D’Cruz while smoking a cigar
References
| ↑1 | Joe D’Cruz’s LinkedIn Account |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | The Indian Express |
| ↑3 | The Hindu |
