Jean-Antoine Dubois (1765–1848) was a French Catholic missionary, educator, and writer known for his observations on Indian society and Hindu customs. His detailed accounts influenced European perspectives on Hinduism.
Born in Saint-Remèze, France, Dubois was ordained in 1792 and sent to India under Missions Étrangères de Paris. In South India, he adopted local customs, dress, and vegetarianism to gain trust. Despite his efforts, he concluded mass conversion to Christianity was unlikely.
His most notable work, Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies (1817,) was first published in English as Description of the Character, Manners and Customs of the People of India and later translated into French (1825) as Mœurs, Institutions et Cérémonies des Peuples de l’Inde. It remains a valuable ethnographic study of Indian society and traditions.
Dubois translated the Panchatantra into French (1826) and wrote The Exploits of the Guru Paramartha, a collection of Indian fables. After leaving India (1823,) he became director of Missions Étrangères, later serving as its superior (1836–39.)
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The pleasure arising from an extraordinary agitation of the mind is frequently so great as to stifle humanity; hence arises the entertainment of the common people at executions, and of the better sort at tragedies.
—Jean-Antoine Dubois
Topics: Tragedy
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