By Lourduraj Ignacimuthu
Vijayawada, Aug 28, 2020: Jesuit Father Gaston Roberge, who died on August 26, had a vision for communication ministry and for the Jesuit communicators. He founded Chitrabani and Educational Multi-Media Research Centre at Kolkata in the late 1970s.
What is Chitrabani for filmmakers or those who budding filmmakers? Chitrabani was the heart of many filmmakers in Kolkata. Chitrabani represented the aspirations of filmmakers and their dreams.
Father Gaston, as the Jesuit communicator was popularly known, took every year one person and trained him or her in filmmaking and theories of film and mass communication. In the 25 years of Gaston’s life at Chitrabani, he produced 25 media professionals. I am proud to say that I was the 25th person to get Diploma in Social Communication.
Gaston treated everyone studying at Chitrabani equally, whether a Jesuit or a lay person. I had the only privilege of being with him in the community and accompanying him for meeting some film directors. He initiated me into production. He was very forthright in his comments and critique on any work done by students, including me.
Gaston should be called the Father of Film because he loved films, critiqued films, and always had insights into any film. Once I said that a particular film is not good. He corrected me saying, “Every film is good because so many are involved in making it. Subjectively, you haven’t experienced your viewing as good.” Gaston was intellectual and sometimes Jesuits did not understand him.
He has authored more than 30 books and any number of talks. It’s difficult to read his books.
I invited Gaston for the inauguration of Mass Communication department at Loyola Academy, Secunderabad in 2004. Gaston travelled to Secunderabad all the way by train because I told him that I won’t be able to pay him. He gave the keynote address and at that time he talked about new media and especially socially media. He was able to speak on such a topic much ahead of many because he was a voracious reader and a visionary. The most important aspect of his personality is reflection.
Gaston was known nationally and internationally. He received the National Film Award – Special Jury Award/Special Mention for his book on “The Subject of Cinema.” This was one of his best books along with “Chitrabani.”
S B Veda of Kolkata describes Gaston as filmmaker, priest, writer, critic, professor. He quotes Gaston as saying, “People say I am the ‘father of film studies in India’. I am not; that honor goes to Bharat Muni.” He was a humble Jesuit and perhaps sensitive towards the culture of the locals.
A number of his students will feel the void that he has left in them because everyone who came into contact with him just loved him. I am sure he will live in the memories of thousands of filmmakers because he encouraged them personally and many times created opportunities for them. He was a mentor to many and he was available to people. He was always helpful.
May Gaston rest in Peace.
(Jesuit Father Lourduraj Ignacimuthu is the head of the Department of Visual Communication, Andhra Loyola College, Vijayawada.)