Chhotebhai
| Allan de Noronha | |
|---|---|
| President, All India Catholic Union | |
|
In office 1990–1994 |
|
| Preceded by | George Menezes |
| Succeeded by | Peter G. Marbaniang |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1951 |
| Nationality | Indian |
Allan de Noronha (born 1951), commonly called Chhotebhai, is an Indian writer who was president of the All India Catholic Union (AICU) from 1990 to 1994.
Allan de Noronha is from a Goan family that for generations had been based in Kanpur. He was born in 1951, son of Peter and Florence de Noronha. He later assumed the name "Chhotebhai" by which he is known in public life and in literary circles.
Chhotebhai was elected national president of the AICU in May 1990. In July 1990 two nuns were raped in Gajraula, and Noronha was invited to meet the prime minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh to discuss what action should be taken. Later that month he again met Singh when leading a huge rally in support of gaining special rights for Dalit Christians. The marriage of Christians in India was regulated by the Indian Christian Marriage Act 1872 and the Indian Divorce Act 1869. These two acts were outdated and unfair to women, and the Christian Marriage and Matrimonial Causes Bill 1990 was proposed as a replacement. Chhotebhai was told that the legislation would be enacted once there was unanimity on the bill among Christians. His AICU took the initiative and called a joint meeting with the All India Christian People's Forum AICPF at which a consensus formula was found on which the different churches and organizations could agree. Changes to the Christian Adoption and Maintenance Bill were also proposed.
On 10 April 1992 Chhotebhai called on the minister in April 1992 to ask about the progress of the bills. He was told they had been forwarded to the welfare ministry. He was also told that the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India had submitted an alternative proposal. The matter stalled. In May 1995 Chhotebhai's successor as AICI president, the MP Peter G. Marbaniang, was promising to take up the question of introducing a Christian Marriage Bill in parliament. In April 2000 the government was planning to introduce "Christian Marriage Bill 2000". As convenor of Christian Personal Laws for the AICU, Chhotebhai Noronha welcomed the decision. He said "previous laws were male-oriented, but provisions in this bill are pro-women...I would say this is a sincere attempt by the government for the social upliftment of the women".
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