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 Bishop
George V. Saupin, S.J. was the second bishop of Bhgalpur
Diocese. He was born on 20th August, 1923 at Nainital,
Uttrakhand (U.P.). His parents were Alfred Joseph Saupin and
Julie Pereira. His great grandfather and grandmother came
from France and had Indigo plantations in Purnea. His Father
Alfred Joseph was born in Ranchi, Jharkhand. He had four
brothers and two sisters of whom one brother and one sister
died and all others are well settled in India and abroad.
Bishop Saupin studied at Ramsey Park, Nainital, St. Joseph’s
College, Nainital, and St. George’s College, Mussiorie.
After completing his studies he worked as a Junior Officer
in the Navy from 1944 to 1946. In 1947 he joined the Jesuits
and took the final Profession on 2nd February 1951. He was
ordained priest on 24th March, 1958. From 1961 to 1968 he
worked at St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi as Professor, Hostel
Superintendent and Rector. He was appointed Episcopal Vicar
on 7th September, 1968. He was consecrated First Bishop of
Daltonganj on October 13th, 1971. Bishop Saupin was
transferred and appointed Bishop of Bhagalpur on 22nd
December, 1987. He was installed by Rt. Rev. Urban McGarry
TOR on 11th February, 1988. Bishop Saupin died an untimely
death on 2nd August, 1993 due to cardiac arrest after
spending 112 days at St. John’s Medical College Hospital,
Bangalore. His body was brought to Bhagalpur and was buried
in the Cathedral on 5th August, 1993. The funeral procession
carrying his body from St. Benedict’s Church to the
Cathedral was accompanied by more than 150 vehicles, the
most impressive funeral procession ever witnessed in town.
His simple life style, wearing kurta pyjama, smoking beedis,
and his wooden cross endeared him to ordinary people. He was
the most “liberal” of all Bishops in India. But Bishop
Saupin ploughed a lonely furrow. Other Bishops admired him
but few dared to imitate him. |
