Cyril Rebello

Cyril Rebello is known as the Father of the Co-Operative Movement for Catholics in Western India and held the post of Accountant General of Bombay, a Justice of Peace and an Honorary Magistrate and also the Chairman of the municipality of Bandra. He founded numerous Co-operative Societies in the field of- housing, credit, education, religious and agricultural societies in Bombay, Dharwar, Belgaum, Poona, Nasik, Bassein, and Karachi but focusing on Catholics. He encouraged and supported Catholics to buy property at concessional rates and was instrumental in setting up the following Co-operative Societies: The Salsette Catholic Co-operative Housing Society Ltd in 1918 in Bandra. The St. Sebastian’s Home Co-operative Society Ltd in 1918 in Bandra. The Vile Parle Catholic Co-operative Housing Society Ltd. The Mangalorean Garden Homes Co-operative Society Ltd in 1916 in Bandra. The Nasik Catholic Sanatoria Co-operative Society Ltd in 1919. The Bombay Catholic Co-operative Housing Society Ltd in 1922 in Santa Cruz. The St. Anthony’s Homes Co-operative Society Ltd in 1925 in Chembur. The Dharwar Catholic Colony Co-operative Society Ltd.

Mr. Rebello was the first person in India to adopt the co-operative rules to education. He founded The Bombay East Indian Co-operative Educational Society Ltd in 1919, and The Mangalorean Catholic Co-operative Educational Society Ltd. Both societies were to help families to educate their children. He also founded the Salsette Catholic Co-operative Agricultural Association Ltd which bought large tracts of land at Kondivita and Sahar village to help rural communities to start co-operative farming. Subsequently, the Government took over some of the lands for the Santa Cruz airport. Mr. Cyril Rebello died on the 20th November 1934.