Dharmakkan Dhanaraj

Dharmakkan Dhanaraj
Born	1950[1] Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Theologian
Writings	1977, Towards a fruitful living,[2] 1977, The relationship of man to God as expressed in the piety of selected Psalms,[3] 1992, Theological significance of the motif of enemies in selected psalms of individual lament, 2008, A Survey of the History of Old Testament Theology[4]
Congregations served	Pollibetta and Kushalanagar
Offices held	Teacher - in - Old Testament, Karnataka Theological College (1978-2015)
Title	The Reverend Doctor

Dharmakkan Dhanaraj (born 1950^[1]) is an Old Testament Scholar who taught at the Karnataka Theological College, Mangalore, a Seminary established in 1965^[5] and affiliated to the nation's first^[6] University, the Senate of Serampore College (University).

As a Scholar on Psalms, Dhanaraj's work has been quoted by many Scholars. Elleen T. Chary observes that Dhanaraj divided Psalms 3 into three segments depending on point of view taken by the speaker,^[7] a fact reiterated by John J. Ahn.^[8] Further, Dhanaraj's research has been quoted by many over the years',

• 2005, Handbook on the Wisdom Books and Psalms^[9]
• 2011, Exile as Forced Migrations: A Sociological, Literary, and Theological approach on the displacement and resettlement of the southern kingdom of Judah.^[8]
• 2014, Constructing and Deconstructing Power in Psalms 107–150,^[10]
• 2013, Of Heroes and Villains: The Influence of the Psalmic Lament on Synoptic Characterization^[11]
• 2015, Psalms 1-50 (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible),^[7]

Studies

Graduate

Dhanaraj initially underwent ministerial formation at the United Theological College, Bangalore between 1970-1974^[12] during the Principalship of J. R. Chandran studying for a Bachelor of Divinity (B. D.) awarded by the Senate of Serampore College (University) under the Registrarship of C. Devasahayam. Dhanaraj's postgraduate companions during that period included Basil Rebera, G. Babu Rao, D. S. Satyaranjan, Timotheas Hembrom and others.

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 and Gerhard Wehmeier and submitted a dissertation entitled The relationship of man to God as expressed in the piety of selected Psalms^[3] and was awarded a Master of Theology (M. Th.) degree by the University under the Registrarship of D. S. Satyaranjan.

Research studies

From 1979-1983, Dhanaraj researched at the University of Hamburg under Prof. Klaus Koch entitling his dissertation as Theological significance of the motif of enemies in selected psalms of individual lament. Dhanaraj later transferred himself to the University of Osnabrück^[13] where he continued to research under Prof. Eckart Otto^[13] and was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy^[1] in 1988^[1] by the University of Osnabrück. Dhanaraj later published his dissertation in 1992.^[13] Dhanaraj's other companions at the University of Hamburg included J. W. Gladstone and also G. Babu Rao^[14] who came on a research exposure to the University.

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,^[15] the Maddock Memorial Church, Kushalanagar.^[16]

Teaching

Dhanaraj moved to Mangalore in 1978 and taught 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^[17] to resume their teaching responsibilities.

References

1. Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD), Deutscher Germanistenverband
2. D. Dhanaraj, Towards a fruitful living in United Theological College Magazine 1977, Volume XLIV, 1977, pp.48-51 available at the Archives in the library of Karnataka Theological College, Mangalore.
3. D. Dhanaraj, The relationship of man to God as expressed in the piety of selected Psalms in Thesis Titles, Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College, Bangalore, 1991, p.2.
4. D. Dhanaraj, A Survey of the History of Old Testament Theology in C. I. David Joy (Edited), Biblical Theology: A Reader, CSS, Tiruvalla, 2008, pp.15-27.
5. Vijaya Kumar, Ecumenical Cooperation of the Missions in Karnataka (India), 1834-1989: A Historical Analysis of the Evangelistic Strategy of the Missions, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2005, p.132.
6. UNESCO Structures of University Education in India, 1952
7. Ellen T. Charry, Psalms 1-50 (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible), Brazos, Grand Rapids, 2015. ; Unser Gästebuch - Gästebucheintrag erstellen - Welche persönliche Beziehung haben Sie zur Basler Mission?.
8. John J. Ahn, Exile as Forced Migrations: A Sociological, Literary, and Theological approach on the displacement and resettlement of the southern kingdom of Judah, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, 2011, p.102.
9. Daniel J. Estes, Handbook on the Wisdom Books and Psalms, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, p.30.
10. W. Dennis Tucker, Jr., Constructing and Deconstructing Power in Psalms 107–150, SBL, Atlanta, 2015, p.13.
11. D. Keith Campbell, Of Heroes and Villains: The Influence of the Psalmic Lament on Synoptic Characterization, Wipf and Stock, Oregon, 2013, p.185.
12. K. M. Hiwale (Compiled), Directory of the United Theological College 1910-1997, Bangalore, 1997. Past students of the college diploma course, p.44; Past students of the postgraduate course, p.112.
13. D. Dhanaraj, Theological significance of the motif of enemies in selected psalms of individual lament, Augustin, Gluckstadt, 1992.
14. Minutes of the meeting of the executive board of the academy mission at the University of Hamburg (Protokoll der sitzung des vorstandes der missionsakademie an der University of Hamburg) 6 April 1983
15. The United Theological College Year Book 1975, Change of addresses of past students, 1975, p.32, available at the Archives in the library of Karnataka Theological College, Mangalore.
16. The United Theological College Year Book 1976, Change of addresses of past students, 1976, p.38, available at the Archives in the library of Karnataka Theological College, Mangalore.
17. Dhanaraj transferred to the University of Osnabrück and it is not known whether he re-joined in 1983.

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