ShielaPaxton36: Made Basic Bio Basic Info

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{{Short description|Indian Christian theologian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox academic
| honorific_prefix = The Reverend Sister
| name = Virginia Rajakumari, SAB<ref name="KJC"/>
| honorific_suffix = Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne, Bangalore (SAB)<ref name="Felix">{{cite journal |last1=Machado|first1=Felix|last2=de Lima|first2=Gilbert|last3=Fernandes|first3=Stephen|date=September 2009|title=About the Authors|url=https://standrewscollege.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Paul-Poupard-Journal-Nov-2009-Abt-authors-and-contributors.pdf|journal=Ethics and Society|volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=1–6|doi= |access-date=2024-11-17}}</ref>
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
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| birth_name = Virginia Rajakumari Sandiyagu
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|10|08}}<ref name="KJC">{{Cite web |url=https://kjcblr.org/sr-sandiyagu.html |title=Kristu Jyoti College, Bangalore|author= |date=2024-11-17 |website= KJC, Bangalore|publisher= Kristu Jyoti College|access-date=2024-11-17 |quote=}}</ref>
| birth_place =
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| citizenship = 
| other_names = V. R. Sandiyagu
| occupation = Spiritual Formator
| period = 21st century
| known_for = Scholarship in Biblical Studies
| title = The Reverend Sister
| boards =
*Society for Biblical Studies in India (President)
*Bible Commission, Archdiocese of Bangalore (Secretary)<ref name="KRCBC">{{Cite web |url=https://www.krcbcbible.org/BibleMarathon_Readers.php |title=Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops' Council, Commission for Bible|author= |date= 2024-11-17|website=KRCBC |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>
*Sisters of St. Anne, Bangalore (General Councilor)<ref name="SAB">{{Cite web |url=https://stannesofbangalore.org|title= Sisters of St. Anne, Bangalore|author= |date=2024-11-17 |website=SAB |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>
*St. Anne’s Educational Society, Bangalore (Governing Councilor)<ref name="SAES">{{Cite web |url= https://www.stannesfgcmillerroad.edu.in/governing-council|title=St. Anne's Educational Society |author= |date=2024-11-17 |website=SAES |publisher= |access-date= 2024-11-17|quote=}}</ref>
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| parents =
| relatives = Rev. Fr. Ignatius Anthappa
| awards = 
| website =
| education =
*[[Bachelor of Theology|B.Th.]] ([[Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram|DVK]]) {{small|(1995)}}<ref name="Felix"/>
*[[Master of Theology|M.Th.]] ([[St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary|SPPI]]) {{small|(1997)}}<ref name="Felix"/>
* [[Master of Arts|M.A.]] ([[KU Leuven]]) {{small|(2004)}}<ref name="RB">{{cite book |last1=Ibita|first1=MA Marilou S.|last2=Kurek-Chomycz|first2=Dominika|last3=Lemmelijn|first3=Benedicte|date=2023|title=Kindness, Courage, and Integrity in Biblical Texts and in the Politics of Biblical Interpretation: Festschrift Reimund Bieringer|publisher=Peeters|doi=10.2307/jj.3919375 |isbn=978-90-429-5048-1 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/jj.3919375}}</ref>
*[[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]] ([[KU Leuven]]) {{small|(2008)}}<ref name="RB"/>
| alma_mater =
*[[Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram]] (DVK),<ref name="Felix"/> Bangalore
*[[St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary|St. Peter's Pontifical Institute]] (SPPI),<ref name="Felix"/> Bangalore
*[[:nl:Maria-Theresia- en Veteranencollege|Maria-Theresia College]],<ref name="Maria">{{cite report |author= |author-link= |date=2007-02-14 |title=Doctoral Committee - Doctoraatscommissie Nr. 2, 2007/02/09 - 02.00 p.m. – 09/02/2007 – 14.00 uur Maria Theresia College 00.12 Sint-Michielsstraat 6, 3000 Leuven|url=https://theo.kuleuven.be/uploads/file/reports/doccomversl070209-062.pdf |publisher=KU Leuven |page=2 |docket= |access-date=2024-11-17 |quote=}}</ref> [[KU Leuven]] (Belgium)
| thesis_title = Women as Eyewitnesses to the Christian Kerygma: The Galilean Women in the Redaction of Luke: An Exegetical Study of Luke 8:1-3
| thesis_url = https://kuleuven.limo.libis.be/discovery/delivery/32KUL_KUL:Lirias/12549996900001488
| thesis_year = 2008
| school_tradition = Theology
| doctoral_advisor = [[Reimund Bieringer]]
| academic_advisors = Lucien Legrand, MEP, <br> [[P. A. Sampath Kumar]]
| influences = [[Feminism]]
| era = 21st century
| discipline = [[Biblical Studies]]
| sub_discipline = New Testament
| workplaces =
*[[Bangalore]]
**SDB-Kristu Jyoti College, [[Krishnarajapuram]]<ref name="KJC"/>
**[[St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary]], [[Malleswaram]]<ref name="Felix"/>
**National Biblical, Catechetical & Liturgical Centre, [[Banaswadi]]<ref name="NBCLC">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nbclcindia.org/Virginia.php |title= National Biblical, Catechetical & Liturgical Centre|author= |date= 2024-11-17|website= NBCLC|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>
**[[Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram]], [[Bannerghatta Road]]<ref name="DVK">{{Cite web |url=http://demo.idynasite.com/dvk/departments/Theology/faculty
|title=Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram |author= |date=2024-11-17 |website= DVK|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>
**Indian Institute of Spirituality, [[Rajajinagar]]a<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.iispirituality.org/faculty/ |title= Indian Institute of Spirituality - Faculty|author= |date=2024-12-01 |website=Indian Institute of Spirituality |publisher= |access-date=2024-12-01 |quote=}}</ref>
*[[Mysore]]
**Dhyanavana - International Institute of Spirituality, R. S. Naidu Nagar<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dhyanavana.com/faculty.html
|title= Dhyanavana - The Teaching Faculty|author= |date=2024-12-01 |website=Dhyanavana |publisher= |access-date=2024-12-01 |quote=}}</ref>
| doctoral_students = 
| notable_students =
| main_interests = Women's participation in the Church
| notable_works =
| notable_ideas = Women in Christianity
| influenced = [[Biblical hermeneutics]]
| signature =
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}}
'''Virginia Rajakumari Sandiyagu''' (born 8 October 1965<ref name="KJC"/>) is a [[Biblical scholar]] belonging to Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne, Bangalore (SAB). She teaches [[Sacred Scriptures]] at Kristu Jyoti College, [[Krishnarajapuram]], [[Bangalore]]. Rajakumari is known for [[Biblical hermeneutics]],<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Nico. |first=Riemersma |date=2016 |title=Aan de dode een wonder gedaan : Een exegetisch-hermeneutische studie naar de dodenopwekking in Lucas 7,11-17 in relatie tot 1 Koningen 17,17-24 en Vita Apollonii IV,45 |url=https://pure.uvt.nl/ws/files/12388678/Riemersma_Aan_de_dode_03_06_2016.pdf|degree=Ph.D. |chapter= |publisher= Uitgeverij 2VM : Bergambacht|docket= |oclc= |access-date=2024-11-17}}</ref> especially her research on re-reading<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Kattampally|first1= Tomy Thomas |date= March 2021|title="Review: Sandiyagu, Virginia Rajakumari, Women as Eyewitnesses to the Christian Kerygma. The Galilean Women in the Redaction of Luke: An Exegetical Study of Luke 8:1-3, Bengaluru: Kristu Jyoti Publications, 2017"|url= https://dvkjournals.in/index.php/ah/article/view/3783/3323|journal=Asian Horizons |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages= 194–196|doi= |access-date=2024-11-17}}</ref> scriptures that hitherto relegated women to the background. Her re-interpretation has shed new light on importance<ref>{{cite thesis |last= Areeparampil|first= Merline|date=2009 |title=A relevant Theology of women empowerment in the contemporary Catholic Church and society in India with special reference to mulieris dignitatem|url=https://lirias.kuleuven.be/bitstream/123456789/233914/5/Ph.D+Thesis+Merline+Areeparampil.pdf|degree= Ph.D.|chapter= |publisher=KU Leuven|docket= |oclc= |access-date=2024-11-17}}</ref> of women in [[Old Testament]] and [[New Testament]].

==Early life and education==
Sandiyagu, V. R. professed as a [[Nun]] on 21 May 1985<ref name="KJC"/> with Sisters of St. Anne of Bangalore (SAB). She studied in [[Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram]], [[Bangalore]], graduating in 1995<ref name="Felix"/> with a [[Bachelor of Theology|B.Th.]] degree. She continued her studies in [[St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary]], enrolling in a postgraduate course leading to [[Master of Theology|M.Th.]] The faculty included Lucien Legrand, MEP and [[P. A. Sampath Kumar]]. Sandiyagu graduated in 1997.<ref name="Felix"/>

In the 2000s, Sandiyagu enrolled with [[KU Leuven]] in [[Leuven, Belgium]], where she was guided by [[Reimund Bieringer]]. In 2004,<ref name="RB"/> she graduated with a [[Master of Arts|M.A.]]<ref name="RB"/> degree and continued her studies at KU Leuven, enrolling in a doctoral programme. She studied in Maria-Theresia College.<ref name="Maria"/> During her time at KU Leuven, Sandiyagu also took part in an International research project ''Mary Magdalene and the Touching of Jesus. An Intra- and Interdisciplinary Investigation of the Interpretation of John 20,17 in Exegesis, Iconography and Pastoral Care''.<ref>{{cite report |author=KU Leuven |author-link= KU Leuven|date=2008 |title=CONF: Noli me tangere: Text, Image, Context (Rome, 2-3 Apr 08). In: ArtHist.net, Mar 14, 2008|url=https://theo.kuleuven.be/fckupload/file/programma_eng.pdf |publisher=KU Leuven |pages=1–2 |docket= |access-date=2024-11-17|quote=}}</ref> In 2008, Sandiyagu graduated with a [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]] degree. Her dissertation was listed in [[:fr:Revue théologique de Louvain]].<ref>{{cite journal |author= |date=2009 |title= Index international des dissertations doctorales en théologie et en droit canonique présentées en 2008|url= https://www.persee.fr/doc/thlou_0080-2654_2009_num_40_4_3807|journal=Revue Théologique de Louvain |volume=40 |issue=4 |pages=613–664 |doi= 10.2143/RTL.40.4.2042732|access-date=2024-11-17}}</ref>

==Career==
Sandiyagu teaches Sacred Scriptures at [[Salesians of Don Bosco]]-run Kristu Jyoti College, [[Krishnarajapuram]] as a permanent faculty. She also teaches as a guest faculty at [[St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary]], [[Malleswaram]],<ref name="Felix"/> National Biblical, Catechetical & Liturgical Centre, [[Banaswadi]]<ref name="DVK"/> and [[Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram]], [[Bannerghatta Road]]<ref name="DVK"/>

As a scholar in [[Biblical Studies]], Sandiyagu is engaged in scripture engagement as Secretary of Bible Commission, Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops' Council<ref name="KRCBC"/> In November 2024, she got elected as President of Society for Biblical Studies in India for biennium 2024-2026, succeeding Old Testament Scholar, K. Jesurathnam, [[Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches|STBC]].

She is on the Council of Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne, Bangalore as General Councilor.<ref name="SAB"/> Sandiyagu is also Governing Councilor of St. Anne’s Educational Society, Bangalore that manages St. Anne's First Grade College for Women in Bangalore.<ref name="SAES"/>

==Notable works==
*{{cite thesis |last= Sandiyagu|first=V.R. |date= 2004|title= Galilean Women in the Company of Jesus: A Text-Critical and Syntactical Analysis of Luke 8:1-3|url= https://theo.kuleuven.be/en/research/centres/centr_women/centr_women_report03|degree=M.A.|chapter= |publisher= KU Leuven|docket= |oclc= |access-date=2024-11-17}}
*{{cite journal |last=Sandiyagu|first=V.R. |author1-mask=3|date=2005|title=Review: Filiop Noël, The Travel Narrative in the Gospel of Luke, Interpretation of Lk 9,51-19,28 (Collectanea Biblica et Religiosa Antiqua, 5)|url= https://lirias.kuleuven.be/1874577&lang=en|journal=
Bijdragen: Tijdschrift voor Filosofie en Theologie|volume=66|issue=3 |pages=343–352|doi= |access-date=2024-11-17}}
*{{cite journal |last=Sandiyagu |first= V.R.|author1-mask=3|date= January 2006|title=ἕτερος and ἄλλος in Luke |url=https://go.exlibris.link/JB3dtKsf |journal= Novum Testamentum|volume= 48|issue=2 |pages=105–130 |doi= 10.1163/156853606777065350|access-date=2024-11-17|url-access=subscription}}
*{{cite journal |last=Sandiyagu|first=V.R. |author1-mask=3|date=2007 |title= Misreading Mary Magdalene: a critical review of Bruce Chilton's recent book on Mary Magdalene|url=https://doi.org/10.2143/BIJ.68.1.2019445|journal= Bijdragen, International Journal in Philosophy and Theology |volume=68|issue=1 |pages=87–104 |doi= 10.2143/BIJ.68.1.2019445|access-date=2024-11-17|url-access=subscription}}
*{{cite thesis |last= Sandiyagu|first=V.R. |author1-mask=3|date= 2008|title= Women as Eyewitnesses to the Christian Kerygma: The Galilean Women in the Redaction of Luke: An Exegetical Study of Luke 8:1-3|url=https://kuleuven.limo.libis.be/discovery/delivery/32KUL_KUL:Lirias/12549996900001488 |degree=Ph.D. |chapter= |publisher= K.U.Leuven. Faculteit Godgeleerdheid|docket= |oclc= |access-date=2024-11-17}}
*{{cite journal |last=Sandiyagu|first=V.R. |author1-mask=3|date=2008|title=Joanna in Biblical Scholarship: Fact or Fiction?
|url= http://ubs-koha.informindia.co.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl?q=ccl=ti%2Cphr%3AVidyajyoti%20Journal%20of%20Theological%20Reflection&offset=340&sort_by=relevance_dsc|journal=Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Reflection|volume=72|issue=|pages=340–355|doi= |access-date=}}
*{{cite journal |last=Sandiyagu|first=V.R. |author1-mask=3|date=March 2009|title=Women's Prayer in the Bible: A Contextual Understanding in Reference to the Psalms|url=http://59.99.154.81:8000/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=46814 |journal=Kristu Jyoti|volume=25|issue=1|pages=25–42|doi= |access-date=}}
*{{cite journal |last=Sandiyagu|first=V.R. |author1-mask=3|date=September 2009|title=The crucial role of Women in fostering inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue in the Asian context|url= https://standrewscollege.ac.in/ethics-and-society-2009/|journal=Ethics and Society|volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=152–165|doi= |access-date=2024-11-17}}
*{{cite journal |last=Sandiyagu|first=V.R. |author1-mask=3|date=2019 |title= Discipleship in Luke: Struggles in Interpretation and Living
|url= https://bible.ixtheo.de/Record/1668752018?sid=120135078|journal= Malabar Theological Review|volume=14 |issue=1/2 |pages=110–132 |doi= |access-date=2024-11-17}}
*{{cite journal |last=Sandiyagu|first=V.R. |author1-mask=3|date=December 2020 |title=Daughters of Zelophehad: Story of Inheritance and Influence |url=https://dvkjournals.in/index.php/ah/article/view/3631/3253 |journal=Asian Horizons |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=988–1004 |doi= |access-date=2024-11-17}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-npo|pro}}
{{s-bef|before=K. Jesurathnam, [[Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches|STBC]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=President,<br />Society for Biblical Studies in India|years=2024-2026}}
{{s-aft|after=''Incumbent''}}
{{S-end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sandiyagu, Virginia Rajakumari}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Christian clergy from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Indian Christian theologians]]
[[Category:KU Leuven alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Virginia Rajakumari - Revision history

ShielaPaxton36: Made Basic Bio Basic Info