Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram

Pontifical Athenaeum Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram also known as Pontifical Athenaeum DVK, is an institution of higher learning established by the Syro-Malabar Catholic congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) and is located in Bengaluru, India.^[1] It is a Pontifical Athenaeum^[2] with a charter from the Vatican,^[3] authorised to grant degrees, including Licentiate and Doctorate in Philosophy and Theology.^[4] It is the only Pontifical Athenaeum in India.

Pontifical Athenaeum
Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram

Motto	Isha Bhakti Paramjnanam
Motto in English	"Devotion to Lord is Supreme Wisdom"
Type	Pontifical Athenaeum
Established	1833 at Mannanam (192 years ago); 1918 moved to Chethipuzha (107 years ago); 21 June 1957 relocated to Bangalore (68 years ago)
Affiliation	Holy See
Chancellor	Major Archbishop Mar Raphel Thattil
Vice-Chancellor	Very Rev. Dr. Thomas Chathamparampil CMI
Rector	Rev. Fr. Varghese Vithayathil CMI
Location	Bangalore, India 12°56′10.8″N 77°36′10.5″E
Campus	Urban
Website	dvk.in

History

Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram,^[5] was established as a seminary in 1833 at Mannanam and later shifted to Chethipuzha.^[6] The institute at Chethipuzha, Kerala was moved to Bangalore in 1957. On 8 December 1965, it became affiliated to the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

In 1976, DVK was granted the charter to be recognised as a Pontifical Athenaeum by the Congregatio de Institutione Catholica Rome, 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.^[7] The academic degrees are given by authority of the Holy See.^[4]

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
• Writing Centre
• Kuriakose Elias Chavara Study House (KECSH)

Extension study centres

• Chavara Institute of Indian and Inter-Religious Studies (CIIS), Rome, Italy
• Chavara International Centre for Indian and Interreligious Studies (CICIIS), Sacramento, 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

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), Belgium, facilitating academic collaboration between the institutions.^[8]

The first MoU was signed between the Hoger Instituut voor Wijsbegeerte (HIW), Faculty of Philosophy, KU Leuven, 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, KU Leuven, 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.^[9]

Tilburg University, Netherlands

The DVK Faculty of Theology and the Tilburg School of Catholic Theology at Tilburg University, Netherlands, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote academic cooperation in the field of theology, with the aim of strengthening collaboration through faculty and student exchanges, joint research initiatives, academic events, and other scholarly activities of mutual interest, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing theological education and research within an international academic framework.

University of Opole, Poland

The Faculty of Theology at the University of Opole, Poland signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram (DVK) Pontifical Athenaeum of Philosophy and Theology in Bangalore, India, on 27 January 2025, aimed at strengthening academic collaboration through joint scientific and educational research, exchange of academic staff and students, sharing of scientific information, literature, curricula and publications, and the organization of joint seminars, conferences, and guest lectures, formalizing and expanding long-standing informal cooperation between the two institutions.^[10]

Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome, Italy

The Institute of Oriental Canon Law (IOCL) is aggregated to the Faculty of Eastern Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute 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.^[11]

Christ University, India

Christ University was established in the 1960s by the CMI fathers of Dharmaram College on the Dharmaram campus. It is regarded as a daughter institution of Dharmaram. The Rector of Dharmaram serves as the Chancellor of Christ University.

Students who complete a Bachelor of Theology (BTh) at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram (DVK) have the option to obtain a Master of Arts (MA) in Theology from Christ University through academic incorporation. Similarly, students pursuing a Bachelor of Philosophy (BPh) or Master of Philosophy (MPh) at DVK can opt for corresponding degrees at Christ University, allowing them to earn dual qualifications. This collaboration enhances academic flexibility, providing students with recognised degrees from both institutions.^[12]

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

People

Notable faculty

• Thomas Aykara, Former Rector and Professor of Philosophy
• Roger Burggraeve, Professor of Moral Theology
• Antony John Baptist, Old Testament
• Saju Chackalackal, Professor of Philosophy
• Mathew Chandrankunnel, Professor of Philosophy of Science
• Kurian Kachapally, Professor of Philosophy
• A. Mathias Mundadan, Former Rector and Professor of Church History
• Jose Nandhikkara, Professor of Philosophy
• Joseph Pathrapankal, Professor of New Testament
• Mar Emmanuel Giles Pothanamuzhi, Bishop of Mananthavady, former Rector and Professor of Philosophy
• Virginia Rajakumari, New Testament
• William Sweet, Philosophy
• Mar Jonas Thaliath, Bishop of Rajkot, Former Rector and Professor

Alumni

• Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, The Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
• Saju Chackalackal, Philosopher
• Kurian Kachappilly, Philosopher
• Mar Awgin Kuriakose, The Metropolitan of the Chaldean Syrian Church
• Jose Nandhikkara, Philosopher
• Paul Poovathingal, Carnatic Artist
• Virginia Rajakumari, Biblical scholar, Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne, Bangalore (SAB)
• Abraham V. M, former Vice-chancellor of Christ University, Bangalore.

See also

Dharmaram College, a major seminary of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate congregation in Bangalore.