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{{Short description|Indian academic (born 1937)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Thomas Aykara
| image =
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1937|01|23}}
| death_date = 
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| other_names =
| known_for = ''Philosophy and Comparative Religion''
| occupation = Professor of [[philosophy]]
}}

'''Thomas Aykara''' CMI (born 23 January 1937) is the rector of [[Dharmaram College]] in [[Bengaluru]], India.<ref name=Admin>{{cite web|url=http://www.dharmaram.in/administration|title=Administration|publisher=Dharmaram College|accessdate=23 February 2016}}</ref> He is a Catholic priest of the [[Syro-Malabar Church]]. He joined the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI)[[Carmelites of Mary Immaculate]] congregation, St. Joseph's Province Kottayam in 1954. He is a philosopher, theologian and religious. He is a scholar, teacher, author and thinker. Several academic centres in India and abroad originated through the efforts of Thomas Aykara.

==Birth and family==
Thomas Aykara was born to Joseph and Elisabeth on 23 January 1937 in [[Mevada]], [[Palai]], Kottayam district in Kerala, India.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} His siblings are Philip, Kuruvila, Joseph, Sr. Alphrida [[Congregation of Mother of Carmel]], Annakutty, Sr. Gailsw Congregation of Mother of Carmel, Mariyakutty, Sr. Josita Congregation of Mother of Carmel.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

==Education==
He completed his [[SSLC]] from St Antony High School, Mutholy. He joined the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) congregation, St. Joseph's Province Kottayam in 1954. He studied [[Latin language|Latin]], [[Syriac language|Syriac]] and [[English language|English]] languages. He received a [[Licentiate (degree)|Licentiate]] in [[Philosophy]] and a Licentiate [[Theology]], from [[Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth]], Pontifical Atheneum, in [[Pune]], [[India]]. He was sent to the Université Catolique de Louvain, [[Belgium]] in 1966, where he pursued his PhD in [[Philosophy]] on [[Alfred Schutz]], a German [[Philosopher]], in 1970, under the guidance of Jean Ladriere. Afterwards, he was sent to the [[Oxford University]] in 1970, where he pursued a PhD in Theology on Cosmic Consciousness:A Study on Sri Aurobindo and Teilhard De Chardin under the guidance of [[John Macquarrie]] in 1975.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

==Later career==
Thomas Aykara made his first religious profession on 16 May 1957 and was ordained<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/directory.php?type=priests | title=Syro Malabar Church Priest }}</ref> on 6 April 1964. He was the Prior General of the CMI congregation and Vice-Chancellor of [[Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram]] from 1978-1984. He was the Provincial of St. Joseph's Province Kottayam from 1984-1987. He also served DVK as its President<ref name="dvk.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.dvk.in/StaffDetails1.aspx?StaffId=41|title=Thomas Aykara|publisher=Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram|accessdate=27 February 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306083916/http://www.dvk.in/StaffDetails1.aspx?StaffId=41|archivedate=6 March 2016}}</ref> from 1991-1997. During this period he made seven main endowments by making a trust, namely, Bishop Jonas Thaliath<ref>Dharma Endowment Lectures Fund{{full citation needed|date=February 2016}}</ref> Endowment Lectures Fund, and Fund for Library,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvk.in/centrallibrary.aspx |title=Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram Bangalore |accessdate=2016-02-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222041345/http://dvk.in/centrallibrary.aspx |archivedate=2016-02-22 }}</ref> Fund for PG Students, Fr. Pried Lectures Fund, Fr. Roger Memorial Fund, and Biblical Studies Fund. He was appointed as the Managing Editor of ''[[Deepika (newspaper)|Deepika]]'', the earliest daily newspaper of [[Kerala]]. Later, he served as the Chairman and Director of Rashtra Deepika Company Ltd. during 1989-2001. He was appointed the Director of Centre for the Study of World Religions (CSWR), Bengaluru, India, in 1975-78. He became the National President of the Conference of Religious India (CRI) in 1978-83. In 1978-82, he was the State President of Kerala Conference of Major Superiors (KCMS) and also founder President of the Syro-Malabar Religious Conference (SMRC). He was the member of National Governing Body, [[Indian Newspaper Society]] since 1988-97. He was the member of International Federation of Catholic University since 1991-97. In 2011, he became the Rector of Dharmaram College.<ref name=Admin/>

==Teaching experience==
He was a teacher at Dharmaram, Bengaluru, India (1965–67, 1975–78, 1990–97). He also taught in Darsana Institute of [[Philosophy]], [[Wardha]], India(1984–85,1990) . He taught various theological subjects at CRI Brothers’ Theology Institute, Bengaluru (1990). Earlier, he taught at the University of Oxford (1973–74) and the [[Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas]], Rome (1998-2002).{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}

==Academic initiatives and new institutes and centres'==
# ''Journal of Dharma'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dharmaramjournals.in/journalofdharma/|title=Journal of Dharma|accessdate=21 January 2024}}</ref> a Research Quarterly, Published by Dharma Research Association, Bengaluru, 1974.
# Centre for the Study of world Religions (CSWR),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvk.in/Centers.aspx |title=Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram Bangalore |accessdate=2016-02-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222105613/http://dvk.in/Centers.aspx |archivedate=2016-02-22 }}</ref> Bengaluru, India, 1971.
# Centre for Indian and Inter Religious Studies (CIIS),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chavarainstitute.blogspot.com/p/about-us.html|title=Chavara Institute of Indian and Interreligious Studies - Rome: About us|accessdate=21 January 2024}}</ref> Rome, 1977.
# Darsana Cultural Centre,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://darsanaculturalcentre.com/darsanaacademy/1default.asp |title=Darsana Academy - Kottayam |accessdate=2016-02-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305011903/http://darsanaculturalcentre.com/darsanaacademy/1default.asp |archivedate=2016-03-05 }}</ref> Kottayam, Kerala, India, 1984.
# Vinayasadana(One year Diploma Course informative Spirituality),<ref name="dvk.in"/> at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bengaluru, India, 1992.
# Sakshatkkara, Centre for the Spiritual Realization (CSR), Pariyaram, Kerala, 1979.
# Darsana Institute of Philosophy,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darsanawardha.org/ |title=Darsana Institute of Philosophy, Wardha |website=www.darsanawardha.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531134258/http://darsanawardha.org/ |archive-date=2013-05-31}}</ref> Wardha, M.S., India, 1982.
# RashtraDeepika Company Ltd.,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tradeindia.com/Seller-5387178-Rashtra-Deepika-Ltd-/|title = Rashtra Deepika LTD. In Kottayam, Kerala, India - Company Profile}}</ref> Kottayam, 1989.
# Dharma Endowment Lectures,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://facultyofphilosophydvk.blogspot.in/2010/08/dharma-endowment-lectures-2010-2011_26.html|title=Faculty of Philosophy, DVK: DHARMA ENDOWMENT LECTURES 2010-2011|date=26 August 2010}}</ref> Faculty of Philosophy, DVK, 1993.
# Bishop Jonas Thaliath<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bthaliath.html|title = Bishop Jonas Thaliath [Catholic-Hierarchy]}}</ref> Memorial Lectures, Faculty of Theology,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvk.in/FacultyDetails.aspx?FacultyId=1 |title=Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram Bangalore |accessdate=2016-02-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221233707/http://dvk.in/FacultyDetails.aspx?FacultyId=1 |archivedate=2016-02-21 }}</ref> DVK, Bengaluru, 1994.
# Regional Theologate, Bhopal, 1983.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://trade.indiamart.com/details.mp?offer=6425681455|title=Trade|accessdate=21 January 2024}}</ref>
# Anudhavana, First Mission Novitiate at Mancherial (AP)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indiancatholiconline.com/Institution/Details/8024?it=r&iti=23&dn=Adilabad&pn=Mancherial |title=Catholic Directory of India - Educational Institution |accessdate=2016-02-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306205957/http://indiancatholiconline.com/Institution/Details/8024?it=r&iti=23&dn=Adilabad&pn=Mancherial |archivedate=2016-03-06 }}</ref> 1982.
# Purchase, Developing Starting of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara[[Kuriakose Elias Chavara]] Shrine at Kainakari[[Kainakary]], 1983.
# Sevasadan, CMI Transit House at Malad East,<ref>[https://www.zomato.com/mumbai/malad-east-restaurants Restaurants] zomato.com {{dead link|date=December 2023}}</ref> Bombay, 1980.
# Dharma Nivas, New CMI Center in New Jersey,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indeed.com/q-Cmi-l-New-Jersey-jobs.html|title=Cmi Jobs, Employment in New Jersey | Indeed.com|accessdate=21 January 2024}}</ref> USA, 1981
# Purchase New Flat in Rome, 1981.
# CMI Centre in Bonn,<ref name="managers.org.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.managers.org.uk/login.aspx?item=%2feducation-providers%2fexisting-cmi-centres%2fsupporting-you-and-your-learners%2fcentre-directory&user=extranet%5cAnonymous&site=website |title=Login {{!}} CMI - CMI |website=www.managers.org.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305003836/http://www.managers.org.uk/login.aspx?item=%2feducation-providers%2fexisting-cmi-centres%2fsupporting-you-and-your-learners%2fcentre-directory&user=extranet%5cAnonymous&site=website |archive-date=2016-03-05}}</ref> [[Friesdorf (Bonn)|Friesdorf]], Germany, 1981.
# Collaborated in the purchase of the Second Flat in Rome,<ref name="managers.org.uk"/> 1998.

==Publications==

===Books===
* ''Meeting of Religions'',<ref name="dvk.in"/> (ed.) Dharmaram publications, Centre for Indian and Inter-Religious Studies, Rome, 1978.
* ''Living Flame: Church of St. Thomas in India''.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2MnPHAAACAAJ |title = Living Flame: Church of St. Thomas in India : Its History, Problems and Hopes|last1 = Aykara|first1 = Thomas A.|year = 1986}}</ref> St. Joseph's Press, Mannanam, 1986. It is a book about the Church of St. Thomas in India and deals with history, problems, hope, liturgy, etc., of the St. Thomas Christians.
* ''Phenomenology of the Social World''.
* ''Cosmic Consciousness: A Comparative Study on Teilhard de Chardin and Sri Aurobindo'',<ref>{{Cite book |title=Archived copy |id={{ASIN|8186861025|country=uk}} }}</ref> 1992. It is a comparative cosmic consciousness study of Sri Aurobindo and Teilhard. They are the two eminent exponents of the east and west respectively.
* ''Mission of the Church in India Today: Challenges and Changes''.
* ''Missiology for the Third Millennium'', 1994. It is a collection of twenty four articles about Bishop Januarius, the first bishop of Chanda Diocese, edited by Thomas Aykara.

===Article===
* Theologizing Versus Living Unique and Universal, edited by Dr. Chethimattam, Dharmaram Publications, Bangalore, 1972.<ref name="dvk.in"/>
* Phenomenology Yesterday and Today in Darsanam, ed. by Dr. Nambiaparambil, Janatha Books, Thevara, 1970.<ref name="dvk.in"/>
* Prophetic Role of Religious Life Today in Samarpitha, 1981.<ref name="dvk.in"/>
* Inculturation and Formation Dominican Asram, Dec. 1993.<ref name="dvk.in"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Aykara, Thomas}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English-language Indian writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian Roman Catholic theologians]]
[[Category:People from Pala, Kerala]]
[[Category:Heads of universities and colleges in India]]
[[Category:Christian clergy from Kottayam]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian Roman Catholic theologians]]

Thomas Aykara - Revision history

Saurabh jain: new - done