John-Baptist Hoffmann
Johannes Baptist Hoffman (21 June 1857 – 19 November 1928), anglicized John-Baptist Hoffmann, was a German Jesuit linguist and missionary to the Mundas in India. Early life and training Hoffman was born in Wallendorf, Germany. After completing his early schooling i, Echternach and Luxembourg, Hoffmann joined the Jesuit novitiate in Arlon (Belgium) in 1877. He was still a novice when he arrived in India at the end of the same year. Further training in Asansol (Philosophy and Theology) completed his priestly formation. He was ordained priest in Calcutta on 18 January 1891. Gifted in languages he had learned also French and English along with the Ancient Greek and Latin. He started studying the Mundari language and acquired also a more than superficial knowledge of Indian culture during his theological studies in Asansol. Among the tribals of Chotanagpur Gifted as he was, Hoffmann was not a good professor. Attempts in Calcutta and Ranchi (St. John's High School, Ranchi) were not successful. He was asked then to study British and agrarian law in order to take Father Constant Lievens's succession in the legal defence of the tribals. In 1892 he moved into the tribal area, first in Khunti, Bandgaon then in Sarwada,