Dharmakkan Dhanaraj

Dharmakkan Dhanaraj (born 18 December^[1] 1950^[2]) is an Old Testament Scholar who taught at the Karnataka Theological College, Mangalore, a Seminary established in 1965^[11] and affiliated to the nation's first^[12] University, the Senate of Serampore College (University).

As a Scholar on Psalms, Dhanaraj's work has been quoted by many Scholars. Ellen T. Charry observes that Dhanaraj divided Psalm 3 into three segments depending on point of view taken by the speaker,^[13] a fact reiterated by John J. Ahn.^[14] Further, Dhanaraj's research has been quoted by many over the years',

• 2005, Handbook on the Wisdom Books and Psalms by Daniel J. Estes,^[15]
• 2011, Exile as Forced Migrations: A Sociological, Literary, and Theological approach on the displacement and resettlement of the southern kingdom of Judah by John J. Ahn,^[14]
• 2014, Constructing and Deconstructing Power in Psalms 107–150 by W. Dennis Tucker, Jr.,^[16]
• 2013, Of Heroes and Villains: The Influence of the Psalmic Lament on Synoptic Characterization by D. Keith Campbell,^[17]
• 2015, Psalms 1-50 (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible) by Ellen T. Charry,^[13]

Studies

After initial graduate studies at the American College in Madurai where Dhanaraj pursued study in the sciences leading to B.Sc.^[3] in 1969, he discerned his avocation and took to priesthood.

Graduate

Dhanaraj then underwent ministerial formation at the United Theological College, Bangalore between 1970-1974^[4] during the Principalship of J. R. Chandran studying for a Bachelor of Divinity (B. D.) under faculty comprising The Rev. G. D. Melanchton, W. P. Peery, E. C. John and others. During Dhanaraj's study period between 1970-1974, his companions included D. I. Hans, P. J. Lawrence, J. W. Gladstone, Sydney Salins, John Sadananda, P. Surya Prakash and others who were pursuing graduate courses while D. W. Jesudoss, G. Babu Rao,^[4] Basil Rebera, D. S. Satyaranjan, N. K. Achumi, Timotheas Hembrom, S. John Theodore and others^[4] were pursuing postgraduate courses at varying intervals.

In the ensuing convocation of the Senate of Serampore College (University) held on February 1, 1975^[18] at the Serampore College, Serampore under the Registrarship of C. Devasahayam, Dhanaraj was awarded a Bachelor of Divinity degree where the Convocation Commemoration Mass in Serampore was conducted by the Old Testament Teacher G. Babu Rao^[18] of Serampore College.^[19] at the CNI-St. Olave's Church, Serampore.

Post-graduate

Again from 1976-1978, Dhanaraj studied for a postgraduate course during the Principalship of J. R. Chandran specialising in Old Testament under E. C. John, G. M. Butterworth^[4] and Gerhard Wehmeier^[4] and submitted a dissertation entitled The relationship of man to God as expressed in the piety of selected Psalms^[8] and was awarded a Master of Theology (M. Th.) degree by the University under the Registrarship of D. S. Satyaranjan who had by that time become Registrar of the University succeeding J. T. Krogh. The 1979^[20] convocation of the University was held at Secunderabad in February^[20] at the Andhra Christian Theological College led by the Old Testament Scholars, Victor Premasagar and G. Babu Rao^[21] who had by that time moved from Serampore to Secunderabad and again conducted the Convocation Commemoration Mass at the St. Gregorious Malankara Orthodox Syrian Cathedral in the neighbourhood^[22] of the College.^[23]

During Dhanaraj's second period of studies at Bangalore between 1976-1978, his graduate companions included S. W. Meshack, M. Mani Chacko, K. David Udayakumar and others.^[4]

Research studies

The University of Hamburg where Dhanaraj began his research studies in 1979.

After a period of German language studies at the Goethe Institute, Pune between 1978-1979, Dhanaraj moved to Germany enrolling as a student for the period 1979-1983 and began researching at the University of Hamburg under Prof. Klaus Koch and Prof. de:Eckart Otto entitling his dissertation as Theological significance of the motif of enemies in selected psalms of individual lament. Dhanaraj's other companions at the University of Hamburg included Godwin Shiri,^[24] J. W. Gladstone,^[24] Ofosu Adutwum^[24] and also G. Babu Rao^[5] who went there on a 2½ years^[5] research exposure to the University.

University of Osnabrück in Lower Saxony which awarded the doctoral degree to Dhanaraj in 1987/1988.

Dhanaraj later transferred himself to the University of Osnabrück^[6] as his guide, Prof. de:Eckart Otto had moved out from the University of Hamburg to join the University of Osnabrück and Dhanaraj continued his research there under Prof. de:Eckart Otto^[6] and was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy^[2] in 1987^[25]/1988^[2] by the University of Osnabrück. In 1992, Dhanaraj published his dissertation^[6] which was reviewed in the The Catholic Biblical Quarterly.^[25]

Ecclesiastical ministry

Pastoral

Dhanaraj pastored parishes falling under the ecclesiastical purview of the Karnataka Southern Diocese of the Church of South India beginning with the Christ Church, Pollibetta,^[26] the Maddock Memorial Church, Kushalanagar.^[27]

Seminary

Dhanaraj moved to Mangalore in 1978 after completing his postgraduate studies in Old Testament at the Protestant Regional Theologiate in Bangalore and began teaching at the Karnataka Theological College along with C. D. Jathanna and also John Sadananda. After a year of teaching, Dhanaraj proceeded on a 5-year study leave for research studies to Germany and returned in 1983^[28] to resume his teaching of the Old Testament, Hebrew language and Aramaic language to ministerial candidates studying for Bachelor of Divinity course offered through the Senate of Serampore College (University).^[3] In 2003, Dhanaraj went on sabbatical leave to the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and taught courses during spring semester.

German language teaching

With Dhanaraj's expertise in the German language, the Moegling Institute for German Language^[29] (permanently affiliated to the University of Mangalore),^[30] the only^[31] German language institute in Mangalore set up within the premises of the Karnataka Theological College took Dhanaraj as one of its faculty members after his return from Germany in 1983 and after nearly a decade of teaching, Dhanaraj became Principal of the institute in 1992.^[30] The Institute has been notable for admitting students with basic school certificate^[32] and metamorphose students into basic German language speakers within a year and also award them a proper UGC recognised certificate from the Mangalore University.^[33]

In 2004, when the University of Mangalore Syndicate was reconstituted during the term of Vice Chancellor B. Hanumaiah, the University included Dhanaraj as a representative of the Moegling Institute of German Language in the newly-reconstituted 22-member highest body of the University.^[34]

References

Further reading

• Johann Anselm Steiger (Edited) (2005). "500 Jahre Theologie in Hamburg: Hamburg als Zentrum christlicher Theologie und Kultur zwischen Tradition und Zukunft". ISBN 978-3-1101-8529-4. 

1. ↑ Daijiworld Media Network, Mangalore, Wednesday, July 04, 2012. Mangalore: City Crime Branch Inspector to be Honoured on KACES Day. ; Unser Gästebuch Gästebucheintrag erstellen - Welche persönliche Beziehung haben Sie zur Basler Mission?
   2012-Present
2. 1 2 3 Moegling Institute of German Language.