Franky Fernandes
Humans have always tried to comprehend the mystery of the vast celestial cosmos. Cosmic elements were used to predict weather, for cultivation, navigational needs or even to know man’s own relation with the cosmos. The invention of telescope in 1609 by Galileo Galilei brought revolutionary changes in our understanding of the universe. The College of Rachol, the Rachol Seminary of today, St Paul’s College (Old Goa) and Divar island played a very important role in the birth of telescopic astronomy in India. The first use of this telescope in India is credited to Goa.
India has a rich and long tradition of astronomy influenced by Greek and Arab astronomy, but modern science was introduced in India by the Europeans, in particular the Jesuits. The engagement of Jesuits in scientific activities should be understood in the historical, social and religious context.
A. HISTORICAL FACTOR: The maritime powers, Portugal and Spain, were on mission to discover sea-routes to the East. The discovery of a sea-route to India in 1498 started navigating European powers to India’s shores. As navigational needs aroused, it spurred development in science. Overseas expeditions had to meet navigational and geographical requirements. As a result, new instruments were invented to aid mariners and cartographers, resulting in discovery of astronomical quadrants, sextants, telescopes and chronometers. Maps became crucial and had to be drawn based on astronomical observations. Therefore, observatories were patronized by governments.
B. SOCIAL FACTOR: During this beginning of modern science, the Jesuit Society was born in 1534. Disciplines like mathematics and astronomy became part of Jesuit training, knowing the social demands and importance in apostolic work. The Constitutions and the Ratio Studiorum mentions the benefit of studying liberal arts and natural sciences as intellectual preparation for the study of theology, to teach philosophy, as apologetic argument for those seeing Church as against science, to counter superstitious practices, etc.
C. RELIGIOUS FACTOR: The Jesuits see scientific activities as service to God through apostolic ministry to men and knowledge leading to the path of salvation. Jesuits believe “finding God in all things”, therefore whether observing galaxy or drawing maps, all such activities is a form of spirituality. Therefore, when science was considered alien to religion, Jesuits ventured in this field to show its compatibility with science as a vehicle to find God. And observatories becoming their ‘parishes’.
The Jesuits arriving in India were astronomers, cartographers, geographers and architects. They engaged in science by teaching scientific disciplines, involving in public debates and carrying out astronomical observations.
Being men of science, the Jesuits would carry not just Gospel but also European science. A Jesuit priest, Wenceslaus Kirwitzer (ca. 1589-1626), member of the Collegium Romanum, was in Goa while on his sojourn to China. Kirwitzer, who was part of a mission destined for China, was one of 22 missionaries to set on sail from Lisbon on April 1618 led by Nicolas Trigault (1577-1628), which included some priest-astronomers Giacomo Rho (1592-1638), Johannes Schreck-Terrentius (also Terrenz; 1576-1630) and Adam Schall von Bell (1592-1666). They carried with them few telescopes, some measuring instruments and large number of books. They entered Goa on 4 October 1618.
While this halt was made, two great comets appeared in the morning skies of November in quick succession. Since this would require joint efforts and astronomical instruments, Kirwitzer wrote to fellow Jesuits, Fr Jacobus Rho at Goa and Fr Antonius Rubinus at Cochin. In Goa, observations were done at Collegio Rachol, Insula Ivari (Divar) and St Paul College (Old Goa). Kirwitzer mentions that he made the use of telescope to observe the comets, but the type of telescope used is not known whether Galilean telescope with a mount or hand-held with drawn-out tubes.
These Jesuits also made use of other astronomical instruments, namely astrolabe and astronomical radius, i.e., cross-staff.
The first comet was observed from 10-30 November, 1618. However, on certain days, it was not possible due to cloudy skies. Kirwitzer made the observation from Divar and Old Goa, while Fr Jacobus Rho observed it from Rachol and Old Goa. The second comet was seen on 24 November. On the same day, it was observed by Fr Johannes Terrentius from the fields of Rachol College. This particular comet was observed till 12 January, 1619.
What did the observers see and measure? Altitudes and azimuths, angular distance from stars like Spica etc. in grad (degrees), and the observers’ visual impressions, including difficulty from illumination due to the moon and sunlight. Later, these observations were collated and published in a monograph by Schönwetter in Ursellis
in 1620.
These comets were also independently observed by Mughal Emperor Jahangir (1569-1627) using astronomical instruments namely astrolabes, accurate water-driven clocks (clepsydras), sundials and sandglasses.
The significance of the Jesuits is two-fold: Firstly, it was the first modern astronomical observation in India and secondly, the first use of optical device (telescope) for astronomical observation in India, dated November 10, 1618, makes Goa the birthplace of telescopic observation in India and not Surat, as was previously believed.
This has put Goa, and Rachol Seminary in particular, on the world map for its scientific contribution. What is more interesting is that if Fr Kirwitzer, a European Jesuit priest, contributed to India’s astronomy in the past, we have today our very own Goan Jesuit priest, Fr Richard D’Souza, at the Vatican observatory. He made headlines last year by discovering a long-lost sibling galaxy of the Milky Way.
Rachol Seminary continues to promote science through various ways like seminars, publications and has even produced stalwarts in the field of science like late Fr Antonio Francisco Souza. Fr Victor Ferrão, former student and currently professor at Rachol Seminary, was the first in India to do his doctorate in the field of science and religion.
