Suvidya College, Bangalore

Suvidya College, inaugurated on June 5, 1984, is the formation house of the MSFS in India for philosophical studies. Began as a common philosophate for the province of Visakhapatanam and Vice Province of North East India it was later converted into inter provincial philosophate of all the Provinces of India and East Africa. With minimum of staff members and a small batch of students, Suvidya had a very modest beginning. On January 24, 1992, Fr Emile Mayaraz, the Superior General, decreed that ‘the Suvidya College be a formation house for philosophy students of the whole Congregation, especially of the Indian Provinces’. Subsequently, students of all the Indian Provinces are sent to Suvidya College for their philosophical studies and formation after their novitiate in their respective provinces. The service of several visiting professors and lecturers, both MSFS and non-MSFS, provide a-three-year programme of philosophical and pastoral formation. During the same period, the students enrol in a secular university for the pursuit of Bachelor’s Degree in Arts. The academic year is divided into three terms of which the first two are entirely devoted to philosophy and the last for the secular studies. The formators and staff of the institute are provided by the different provinces of India.

Confreres of the Province who served the Institute

As a result, North East India Province has been constantly lending confreres to Suvidya College in various capacities. Fr Sebastian Paredom was Vice Rector of the Institute from 1987-1990. In June 1992, Fr George Panthanmackel joined the staff of Suvidya college. Fr Abraham Mullenkuzhy, a regular visiting professor of the Institute from its inception, was a resident professor from 1990-1992. In 1993, Fr George Panthanmackel the first Doctor of Philosophy prepared for this Institute took over as its Dean. Fr Abraham Mullenkuzhy was its Rector from June 1994-2000. In 1996, Fr Joseph Kunjaparambil was appointed on the staff from 1994 to 1997. Fr Emmanuel Uppamthadathil joined Suvidya in June 1997. Fr George Parampukattil, during his term as Provincial, served Suvidya College as the Chairman of its Governing Body from 1997. Fr Francis Poovelil (from 2001 to 2004) and Fr Jose Thekkel (from 2004 to 2010) served as Finance Officers of Suvidya College. Fr Emmanuel Uppamthadathil was sent for doctoral studies in 2001. In 2006, on his return, Fr Emmanuel Uppamthadathil was appointed Dean and continued there till April 2014.

For a year (from March 2009 to March 2010), Fr George Panthanmackel was at IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National University) as the coordinator for the formation of B.A. Philosophy Syllabus. After his assignment at IGNOU he returned to Suvidya and was appointed Rector of Suvidya College from 2012 to 2014, until he was appointed Provincial of Northeast India Province. Fr Roy (Dominic) Karakkattu was on the staff from 2011 to 2014, till he left for his doctoral studies in Philosophy to England. Fr Francis Thadathil, during his termas Provincial, served Suvidya College as the Chairman of its Governing Body from 2012. Frs Joseph Thazhathukunnel and James Pattarakalayil served the Institute as Spiritual Director and Dean respectively. In the year 2019, Fr. Sabukuttan Francis, was appointed as the Rector of Suvidya College and served the institute for a few months as he was appointed as the Proincial of Guwahati Province. Currently, Fr. Philip Thomas Kizhakkumpurathu is serving the institute as its Rector.