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{{short description|Spanish-Indian Jesuit priest and author}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Carlos G. Vallés
| image = Father Valles.jpg
| img_capt =
| caption = Vallés at [[St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad|St. Xavier's College]], Ahmedabad, 2009
| birth_name = Carlos González Vallés
| pseudonym = Father Vallés
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1925|11|4}}
| birth_place = [[Logroño]], Spain
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2020|11|9|1925|11|4}}
| death_place = [[Madrid]], Spain
| occupation = Author
| language = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], English, Spanish
| period =
| nationality = Indian and Spanish
| signature = Father Carlos G. Vallés Autograph.svg
| awards = [[Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]] (1978), [[Padma Shri]] (2021)
| website = {{url|http://carlosvalles.com}}
}}
'''Carlos González Vallés''' [[Society of Jesus|S.J.]], popularly known as '''Father Vallés''' (4 November 1925{{spnd}}9 November 2020), was a Spanish-Indian [[Jesuit]] priest and author. He lived in India for five decades and wrote extensively in [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] and on mathematics. He also wrote in English and Spanish. He was a recipient of the [[Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]], the highest award in Gujarati literature, in 1978. He was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] posthumously in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Padma Awards 2021 announced |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1692337 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Shinzo Abe, Tarun Gogoi, Ram Vilas Paswan among Padma Award winners: Complete list {{!}} India News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/shinzo-abe-tarun-gogoi-ram-vilas-paswan-among-padma-award-winners-complete-list/articleshow/80453596.cms |work=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

== Biography ==

===Early life===
Vallés was born 4 November 1925 in [[Logroño]], Spain, to an engineer. When he was ten, his father died of [[Tonsillitis|Vincent's angina]]. Six months later, when the [[Spanish Civil War]] broke out, he fled his home, along with his mother and brother, and went to live with his mother's aunt, leaving everything behind. He attended a [[Jesuit]] school there along with his brother. He became a Jesuit [[novitiate]] when he was fifteen and was sent to India in 1949 as a [[missionary]].<ref name=ow>{{cite web|url=http://www.carlosvalles.com/ningles/ibiogra.htm|title=My Life on Official Website |publisher = www.carlosvalles.com|accessdate =20 April 2014}}</ref><ref name=dna>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-father-valles-sadhu-to-chalta-bhala-1618132|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |title =Father Valles: 'Sadhu to chalta bhala' |date=27 November 2011|accessdate =20 April 2014|first =Prakash|last=Jha|place =Ahmedabad}}</ref><ref name=c>{{cite news|url=http://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/1996/04/12/spanish-jesuit-gets-international-award-for-promoting-religious-harmony&post_id=7299|title =Spanish Jesuit gets International Award for Promoting Religious Harmony|date=12 April 1996|work =UCA News|accessdate =20 April 2014}}</ref>

===Years in India===
In India, Vallés attended [[Madras University]] and completed an MA in mathematics with first class honours in 1953. There, he learned English to complete his studies. He later started learning the Gujarati language, as he was asked to teach mathematics at the newly opened [[St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad|St. Xavier's College]] in [[Ahmedabad]], which had Gujarati students. He learned Gujarati for two years, and later practised writing it during his four-year [[theology|theological studies]] at [[Pune]]. He was [[Holy orders|ordained to the priesthood]] on 24 April 1958.<ref name=ow/><ref name=dna/>

He started teaching mathematics in Ahmedabad in 1960. He translated many mathematical concepts into Gujarati for [[Gujarat University]] and coined terms for them. He helped to start and contributed regularly to the first mathematical review in an Indian language, ''Suganitam''. He also contributed in Gujarati to the encyclopaedia ''Gnanganga'' on mathematical topics. He participated in World Mathematical Congress in Moscow, [[Exeter]] and Nice.<ref name=ow/><ref name=dna/>

In 1960, he wrote a Gujarati book titled ''Sadachar'', which he published with the help of his mother, since nobody agreed to publish it. It was successful and he was invited to write in the monthly ''[[Kumar (magazine)|Kumar]]'' by its editors. Five years later he started writing for ''Kumar'' and won its annual [[Kumar Suvarna Chandrak|Kumar Prize]] for best writing in the monthly.<ref name=ow/><ref name=dna/>

Later, he started writing in Sunday supplement of ''[[Gujarat Samachar]]'' in a column titled ''Navi Pedhine'' ("To the new generation"). It was successful and his articles were later published as a book. Later, he left his staff quarters in the college and started living with people to understand their life. He would live with one family for a few days and then move to the next one. He lived this way for ten years.<ref name=ow/><ref name=dna/>

===Later life===
Vallés retired from his mathematics chair and left India in 1990. He settled in [[Madrid]] and accompanied his ninety-year-old mother until she died at the age of 101. He continued to write in Gujarati, and began translating and writing in English and Spanish focused on his experiences in India and in Latin America.<ref name=ow/><ref name=dna/>

He died on 9 November 2020, five days after his 95th birthday, in [[Madrid]], Spain.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-09|title=Veteran author Father Valles dies at 95; PM Modi condoles death|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/books-and-literature/veteran-author-father-valles-dies-at-95-pm-narendra-modi-condoles-7027593/|access-date=2020-11-09|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Oza|first=Nandini|title=Father Carlos Valles passes away at 95|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/11/09/father-carlos-valles-passes-away-at-95.html|access-date=2020-11-09|website=The Week|language=en}}</ref>

==Works==
His works include 75 books in Gujarati, 24 in English and 42 in Spanish.<ref name=":0" /> He wrote twelve books on mathematics. He also co-authored the series of mathematics textbooks in Gujarati.<ref name=ow/><ref name=dna/><ref name=ie>{{cite news|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/father-valles-s-1st-book-on-gandhi-set-for-us-launch/991926/|work= The Indian Express|title =Father Valles's 1st book on Gandhi set for US launch|date=23 August 2012|accessdate =20 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=3&contentid=2009092620090926023713390656ead3f&sectxslt=
|title=Fr Valles to be honoured for contribution to Gujarati
|date=26 September 2009
|work=Ahmedabad Mirror
|accessdate=20 April 2014
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207235844/http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?page=article
|archivedate=7 December 2009
|df=dmy
}}</ref> His works are also translated in Chinese and other European languages.<ref name=":0" />

His selected works include:<ref name=ow/><ref name=dna/><ref name=ie/>
*''Gandhi: Alternative to Violence''
*''Nine Nights in India''
*''Life with honour''
*''Leader of leaders''
*''Teacher to a nation''
*''Himalayan Blunder''
*''Cult of excellence''
*''Two Countries, One Life''

;Gujarati
*''Sadachar''
*''Lagnasagar''
*''Gandhiji and Navi Pedhi''
*''Kutumb Mangal''
*''Dharma Mangal''
*''Atmiya Kshano''
*''Vvyaktitva Ghadatar''
*''Jivan Darshan''
*''College Jivan''
*''Charitrya Yagna''
*''Sanskar Tirth''
*''Gharna Prashno''

His collections of essays include ''Maru Sukh, Maru Dukh'', ''Aagekooch'', ''Bhagwanni Rojnishi'', ''Jeevanni Taiyari'', ''Taramaitrak'', ''Shabdalok'', ''Mor Ane Dhel''.<ref name= "agsi">{{cite book|title=અર્વાચીન ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યનો ઈતિહાસ – આધુનિક અને અનુઆધુનિક યુગ (History of Modern Gujarati Literature – Modern and Postmodern Era)|first=Prasad|last=Brahmabhatt |publisher=Parshwa Publication|location=Ahmedabad|year=2010|page=310|isbn=978-93-5108-247-7|language=gu}}</ref> His autobiography, ''Atmakathana Tukda'' in Gujarati was translated by Amit Joharapurkar into Marathi as ''Atmakathecha Ansh'', in 2020.<ref>Aatmakathecha Ansh, translated by Amit Joharapurkar, Padmagandha Prakashan, {{ISBN|9789386594747}}</ref>

==Recognition==
Vallés won the literary prize for essays from the [[Government of Gujarat]] five times. He received the [[Kumar Chandrak]] in 1966. He was awarded the [[Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]], the highest award in Gujarati literature, in 1978.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P-xjAAAAMAAJ&q=ranjitram+chandrak+father+valles&dq=ranjitram+chandrak+father+valles&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NQhUU-qVFYPPkwWgmYDACA&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAQ|title=Christian Contribution to Indian Languages and Literatures|first=Cū|last=IIn̲n̲āci|publisher=Mariyakam|year=1994|page=48}}</ref> He was the first foreign recipient of the prize. His domestic wandering to understand culture and people won him the ''Acharya Kakasaheb Kalelkar Award for Universal Harmony'' in 1995 and the ''Ramakrishna Jaidalal Harmony Award'' in 1997. He was also named an ''Honorary Jain'' for his friendship with [[Jain]] community in Mumbai.<ref name=ow/><ref name=dna/><ref name=c/> He was awarded the Santokbaa Award.<ref>{{cite web|title=Santokbaa Award|url=http://santokbaaaward.org/|website=Santokbaa Award|accessdate=29 May 2018|location=Surat, India.|language=English}}</ref>

In 2021, Vallés was posthumously awarded the [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest civilian award of India, by the Government of India for his contribution in literature and education.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-26|title=Keshubhai Patel among six Padma awardees from Gujarat|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/keshubhai-patel-among-six-padma-awardees-from-gujarat-7161577/|access-date=2021-01-26|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-25|title=India honors Spanish Jesuit missionary posthumously|url=https://mattersindia.com/2021/01/india-honors-spanish-jesuit-missionary-posthumously/|access-date=2021-03-05|website=Matters India|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Padma Awards 2021 {{!}} Sikhism|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/492056350/Padma-Awards-2021|access-date=2021-03-05|website=Scribd|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Gujarati-language writers]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.carlosvalles.com/ningles/ibiogra.htm Official website]
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Literature & Education}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valles, Carlos G.}}
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature & education]]
[[Category:20th-century Spanish Jesuits]]
[[Category:21st-century Spanish Jesuits]]
[[Category:Gujarati-language writers]]
[[Category:Indian Jesuits]]
[[Category:People from Logroño]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Spanish writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Spanish male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian biographers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]]
[[Category:Spanish expatriates in India]]
[[Category:Writers from Ahmedabad]]

Carlos G. Vallés - Revision history

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