Quick Info→
Wife: Sasikala D’Cruz Hometown: Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu Age: 54 Years
Bio/Wiki | |
---|---|
Full name | R. N. Joe D’Cruz [1]Joe D’Cruz’s LinkedIn Account |
Profession(s) | Novelist, Ship Management |
Physical Stats & More | |
Eye Colour | Black |
Hair Colour | Salt and Pepper |
Career | |
Novels | • Aazhi Soozh Ulagu • Korkai • Asthinapuram • Verpiditha Vilai Nilangal • Kavanam thedum Kadaloram • Padaipugalin Uraiyadal |
Award | 2013: Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Korkai |
Personal Life | |
Date of Birth | Year, 1969 |
Age (as of 2023) | 54 Years |
Birthplace | Uvari, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India |
Nationality | Indian |
Hometown | Uvari, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India |
College/University | • Loyola College, Chennai • St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapalli |
Educational Qualification | • M.A.(Economics) at Loyola College, Chennai • M.Phil at St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapalli |
Relationships & More | |
Marital Status | Married |
Family | |
Wife/Spouse | Sasikala D’Cruz |
Children | He has two children. |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Joe D’Cruz
- R. N. Joe D’Cruz is an Indian novelist, commercial shipping professional, and documentary filmmaker. He primarily works in the Tamil film industry. He is associated with the Samskrita Bharati, a non-profit organisation for protecting the Sanskrit language, as its state president in Tamil Nadu.
- He belongs to a ‘Roman Catholic Paravar,’ in Uvari, a coastal village in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. He attended school in Uvari and Idaiyangudi.
- After completing his formal education, he joined the commercial shipping industry and has served as the President of NTC Logistics Pvt Ltd and Vice President of J.M. Baxi & Company for more than three decades.
Joe D’Cruz delivering a speech during his tenure at NTC Group
- In 2004, Joe D’Cruz released a collection of Tamil poems called Pulambazhkal. His writing mainly explores the history and lives of Parathavar fishermen in Tamil Nadu.
The cover of the book ‘Pulambazhkal’ by Joe D’Cruz
- In 2005, his novel ‘Aazhi Soozh Ulagu’ received the Tamil Nadu State Government Literary Award and the Tamil Literary Garden Award. This novel focuses on the lives of 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 made a documentary film titled ‘Vidiyatha Pozhuthukal’ in 2008.
- In 2009, his novel Korkai was published and won the Sahitya Akademi Award. The novel depicts an ancient port city governed by the Early Pandyan Kingdom. The novel centres around the 20th-century community of pearl and conch divers residing there.
The cover of the novel ‘Korkai’ by R. N. Joe D’Cruz
- In 2010, he released another documentary named ‘Towards Dawn,’ which primarily focused on the hardships faced by Tamil fishermen.
- Joe D’Cruz opposed the Kudankulam nuclear power project in 2011 and stated concerns about its impact on the livelihoods of fishermen.
A rally organised against the establishment of the Kudankulam nuclear power project in 2011
- In 2013, he contributed dialogue for the Tamil movie “Maryan.”
The poster of the Tamil film ‘Maryan’
- In 2014, Joe D’Cruz expressed support to the BJP PM candidate, Narendra Modi, on his Facebook page, during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and received threats and hate mail for the same. [2]The Indian Express
- During the same year, when he announced the translation of his book “Aazhi Soozh Ulagu” from Tamil to English. The translation was stopped by his publisher S. Anand, publisher of Navayana Publishing, and the translator V. Geetha, a feminist writer and translator, in retaliation for supporting Modi during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
- Soon after Joe D’Cruz received backlash from his colleagues, he stated the reason behind the cancellation of his book’s translation in a media conversation. He said,
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.”
- In 2017, he voiced concerns about the proposed International Container Transhipment Terminal at Enayam, Kanyakumari District. According to him, the development of existing ports must be a priority over starting new port projects in India.
Joe D’Cruz while addressing a conference
- In the same year, Joe D’Cruz was appointed as a member of the National Shipping Board of the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India.
Joe D’Cruz posing with a ship
- Joe D’Cruz, alongside writer Aravindan Neelakandan, often supports the efforts of Gopi Shankar Madurai. He once served on the advisory board of Srishti Madurai, an LGBTQA+ student volunteer group, under Anjali Gopalan and Bracha Ettinger.
A picture of the Srishti Madurai group while celebrating their journey
- In 2017, he became a strong critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and stated in a media conference that Modi’s grassroots rise did not guarantee strong leadership. He blamed the BJP for strengthening caste systems and Manu Smriti. He also criticised the party for empowering political forces which prefer violence over beef consumption. [3]The Hindu
- Later, in one of his statements to the media, Joe D’Cruz criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agenda of neglecting the poor. He also opposed the BJP government’s proposed Maritime Container Terminal at Enayam. He claimed that this project was vulnerable to natural disasters despite claims of it being a natural harbour.
- In 2018, he was pictured supporting the ‘Sampark Se Samarthan’ (Contact for Support) programme led by PM Narendra Modi.
Joe D’Cruz while supporting the ‘Sampark Se Samarthan’ (Contact for Support) programme (2018)
- Joe D’Cruz is often spotted smoking cigars on various occasions.
Joe D’Cruz while smoking a cigar
References/Sources:[+]
↑1 | Joe D’Cruz’s LinkedIn Account |
---|---|
↑2 | The Indian Express |
↑3 | The Hindu |