DVK Pontifical Athenaeum also known as Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram Pontifical Athenaeum of Philosophy and Theology, is an institution of higher learning established by the

Syro-Malabar Catholic The Syro-Malabar Church, also known as the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, is an Eastern Catholic church based in Kerala, India. It is a ''sui iuris'' (autonomous) particular church in full communion with the Holy See and the worldwide Catholi ...

congregation of the

Carmelites of Mary Immaculate The Carmelites of Mary Immaculate () abbreviated CMI, formerly also known as the Servants of Mary Immaculate (), is a Catholic clerical religious congregation of pontifical right for men of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, and is the larg ...

(CMI) and is located in

Bengaluru Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore (List of renamed places in India#Karnataka, its official name until 1 November 2014), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the southern States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kar ...

, India. It is a Pontifical Athenaeum with degree-granting authority validated by the

Vatican Vatican may refer to: Geography * Vatican City, an independent city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy * Vatican Hill, in Rome, namesake of Vatican City * Ager Vaticanus, an alluvial plain in Rome * Vatican, an unincorporated community in the ...

, empowered to grant degrees, including Licentiate and

Doctorate A doctorate (from Latin ''doctor'', meaning "teacher") or doctoral degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism '' licentia docendi'' ("licence to teach ...

in Philosophy and Theology.

History

Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram was established at

Dharmaram College Dharmaram College is a major seminary of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate congregation. It was started in 1826 at Chethipuzha, Kerala and relocated to Bangalore, India in 1957. The name ''Dharmaram'' is a portmanteau of the Sanskrit words ...

, was established as a seminary in 1833 at Mannanam and later shifted to

Chethipuzha Chethipuzha is in Changanacherry , in kottayam district, Kerala, India. Chethipuzha is home to many prominent educational and healthcare institutions, including Placid Vidya Vihar, Kristu Jyothi School, and the St. Thomas Hospital, Chethip ...

. The institute at

, Kerala was moved to

Bangalore Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore (List of renamed places in India#Karnataka, its official name until 1 November 2014), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the southern States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kar ...

in 1957. On 8 December 1965, it became affiliated to the

Pontifical Gregorian University Pontifical Gregorian University (; also known as the Gregorian or Gregoriana), is a private university, private pontifical university in Rome, Italy. The Gregorian originated as a part of the Roman College, founded in 1551 by Ignatius of Loyo ...

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

. In 1976, DVK was granted the

charter A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the ...

to be recognised as a Pontifical Athenaeum by the Congregatio de Institutione Catholica

, through the decree ''Nobilissima Indiarum Gentes'', thereby authorising it to confer degrees in theology. Subsequently, in 1983, the decree ''Antiquissima Indorum Philosophica'' further enabled the institution to award degrees in philosophy, marking a significant advancement in its academic standing and contribution to higher education in theological and philosophical disciplines. The academic degrees are given by authority of the

Holy See The Holy See (, ; ), also called the See of Rome, the Petrine See or the Apostolic See, is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City. It encompasses the office of the pope as the Bishops in the Catholic Church, bishop ...

Faculties, institutes, and centres

Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram (DVK) Pontifical Athenaeum hosts various specialist centres and institutes dedicated to theological, philosophical, and interdisciplinary studies. These centres facilitate research, academic collaboration, and specialised training, contributing to the institution’s mission of higher education and intellectual formation in philosophy, theology, and allied disciplines.

Faculties and institutes

* Faculty of Theology * Faculty of Philosophy * Institute of Oriental Canon Law * Institute of Formative Spirituality and Counselling

Constituent centres

* Centre for Biblical and Theological Studies (CBTS) * Centre for Dalit Solidarity (CDS) * Centre for Environmental Studies (CES) * Centre for Science and Religion * Centre for the Study and Research on Kuriakose Elias Chavara (CSRKEC) * Centre for the study of World Religions (CSWR) * Centre for Women Studies (CWS) * Dharmaram Academy of Distance Education (DADE) * Dharmaram Institute of Languages (DIL) * Placid Podipara Centre for Eastern and Indian Christian Studies (PPCEICS) * Atmodaya: Centre for Psycho-Spiritual Development * Jnanodaya * Centre for Pastoral Leadership Studies * Centre for the Study of Second Vatican Council * Kuriakose Elias Chavara Study House (KECSH)

Extension study centres

* Chavara Institute of Indian and Inter-Religious Studies (CIIS),

, Italy * Chavara International Centre for Indian and Interreligious Studies (CICIIS),

Sacramento Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 p ...

, California, US

Affiliated institutes

The following institutes are affiliated with Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram * Darsana Institute of Philosophy, Wardha * Samanvaya Theology College, Bhopal * Vidya Deep College, Bengaluru * Carmelaram Theology College, Bengaluru * De Paul Institute of Religion and Philosophy, Bengaluru * Pushpaasharam Institute of Philosophy, Mysore * MMI College of Theology, Chennai * Kripalaya Institute of Philosophy and Religion, Mysore * St Joseph's Institute of Philosophy, Mangalore * Sacred Heart Philosophy College, Aluva * Gyanadhara, Dominican Institute of Philosophy, Goa * De Mazenod Institute of Philosophy, Thiruvallur

Academic collaboration and partnerships

Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome

The Institute of Oriental Canon Law (IOCL) is aggregated to the Faculty of Eastern Canon Law at the

Pontifical Oriental Institute The Pontifical Oriental Institute, also known as the Orientale, is a Catholic institution of higher education located in Rome and focusing on Eastern Christianity. The plan of creating a school of higher learning for Eastern Christianity had bee ...

in Rome. IOCL offers three academic programmes: the Licentiate in Oriental Canon Law (LOCL), awarded by the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome; and the Diploma (DOCL) and Certificate (COCL) in Oriental Canon Law, issued by DVK. The LOCL degree qualifies graduates to pursue a doctorate, teach in major seminaries or faculties of theology, and hold ecclesiastical offices requiring expertise in Canon Law.

KU Leuven, Belgium

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram (DVK), Bangalore, India, and the

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) is a Catholic research university in the city of Leuven, Belgium. Founded in 1425, it is the oldest university in Belgium and the oldest university in the Low Countries. In addition to its main camp ...

(

KU Leuven KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) is a Catholic research university in the city of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Founded in 1425, it is the oldest university in Belgium and the oldest university in the Low Countries. In addition to its mai ...

), Belgium, facilitating academic collaboration between the institutions. The first MoU was signed between the Hoger Instituut voor Wijsbegeerte (HIW), Faculty of Philosophy,

, and the Faculty of Philosophy, DVK, on 23 May 2007, and was subsequently renewed in 2011, enabling the exchange of faculty and students based on mutual recognition of degrees. Similarly, in May 2019, an MoU was signed between the Faculty of Theology,

, and the Faculty of Theology, DVK, with the Rector and Dean of KU Leuven and the President and Dean of DVK as signatories. This agreement also allows for legitimate academic exchanges between the institutions.

Christ University

Students who complete a

Bachelor of Theology The Bachelor of Theology degree (BTh, ThB, or BTheol) is a two- to five-year undergraduate degree or graduate degree in theological disciplines and is typically (but not exclusively) pursued by those seeking ordination for ministry in a church, de ...

(BTh) at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram (DVK) have the option to obtain a

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA or AM) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Those admitted to the degree have ...

(MA) in Theology from

Christ University Christ University, earlier known as Christ College, is a private deemed-to-be-university located in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. On 22 July 2008, It was declared as an institution deemed to be university under section 3 of UGC Act 1956. Chr ...

through academic incorporation. Similarly, students pursuing a

Bachelor of Philosophy Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil, BPh, or PhB; or or ) is the title of an academic degree in philosophy that usually involves considerable research, either through a thesis or supervised research projects. Unlike many other bachelor's degrees, the ...

(BPh) or

Master of Philosophy A Master of Philosophy (MPhil or PhM; Latin ' or ') is a postgraduate degree. The name of the degree is most often abbreviated MPhil (or, at times, as PhM in other countries). MPhil are awarded to postgraduate students after completing at leas ...

(MPh) at DVK can opt for corresponding degrees at

, allowing them to earn dual qualifications. This collaboration enhances academic flexibility, providing students with recognised degrees from both institutions.

Dharmaram Publications

Dharmaram Publications publishes books dealing with theological, scriptural and philosophical topics in Christian as well as non-Christian traditions. Dharmaram regularly publishes many academic journals including, * Journal of Dharma: Dharmaram Journal of Religions and Philosophies * Asian Horizons: Dharmaram Journal of Theology * Vinayasadhana: Dharmaram Journal of Psycho-Spiritual Formation * Iustitia: Dharmaram Journal of Canon Law * Herald of the East: Dharmaram Journal of Chavara Studies

Faculty

* Thomas Aykara, Philosophy, and Past Rector * Antony John Baptist, Old Testament * Saju Chackalackal, Professor of Philosophy * Mathew Chandrankunnel, Professor of Philosophy of Science * Kurian Kachapally, Faculty of Philosophy * A. Mathias Mundadan, Church History and Past Rector *

Jose Nandhikkara Jose Nandhikkara CMI (born 16 February 1964) is a professor of philosophy at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram and Christ University, both in Bangalore, India. He is the author of several books, including ''Environmental Interface: Literature, Law, S ...

, Professor of Philosophy * Joseph Pathrapankal, New Testament * Emmanuel Giles Pothanamuzhi, Philosophy and Past Rector * Virginia Rajakumari, New Testament * William Sweet, Philosophy

Alumni

* Abraham V. M,

Vice-chancellor A vice-chancellor (commonly called a VC) serves as the chief executive of a university in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, other Commonwealth of Nati ...

. * Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, The

Major Archbishop In the Eastern Catholic Churches, major archbishop (sometimes also styled as major archeparch) is a title for the chief hierarch ("Father and Head") of an autonomous ('' sui juris'') particular Church that has not been "endowed with the patriarc ...

of the

Syro-Malankara Catholic Church The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, also known as the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, is an Eastern Catholic '' sui iuris'' particular church that employs the West Syriac Rite and is in full communion with the worldwide Catholic Church posse ...

. *

, Professor of Philosophy * Kurian Kachappilly, Professor of Philosophy * Paul Poovathingal, Carnatic Artist * Virginia Rajakumari, Biblical scholar, Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne, Bangalore (SAB)

References

{{Reflist

External links

Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram official website

Dharmaram Publications website
Carmelite Order Colleges in Bengaluru