De Nobili, Robert

(1577–1656)

   Missionary.

   De Nobili was born in Montepulciano, Italy. He joined the Jesuit Order in 1596 and in 1605 he arrived in India. Unlike the missionaries of the time, he adapted himself to Indian culture. He learned Sanskrit and he lived in the Brahmin quarter of Madura. He even allowed his first disciple to keep the Brahmin insignia. The local Church authorities were appalled, but de Nobili appealed to Pope Gregory XV who supported his stance. During his lifetime he baptised several thousand new converts. His vision in divorcing the essence of Christianity from its European setting proved an inspiration to later Christian missionaries.

   V. Cronin, A Pearl to India: The Life of Roberto de Nobili (1959).