New Delhi: Padma Shri awardee, Jesuit priest, and distinguished educationist Father Thomas V. Kunnunkal S.J., a seminal architect of modern school education in India, passed away in New Delhi on January 28. He was 99. Father Kunnunkal breathed his last at the Jesuit Residence attached to St. Xavier’s School, Civil Lines, bringing to a close a life devoted almost entirely to the service of education and nation-building.
Recognized as one of the most influential figures in India’s academic administration, Father Kunnunkal left an indelible mark through his leadership of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). At the invitation of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, he assumed office as CBSE Chairman in 1980, serving until 1987. During this transformative period, CBSE evolved into a nationally respected benchmark for school education, noted for its academic rigour, standardization, and forward-looking reforms. Earlier, he had already earned wide respect as Principal of St. Xavier’s School, Delhi, serving two tenures between 1962 and 1974 and again from 1977 to 1979.
In recognition of his pioneering contribution to Indian education, the Government of India honoured Father Kunnunkal with the Padma Shri in 1974, the nation’s fourth-highest civilian award. His international standing was further acknowledged in 2006 when he was named an Honorary Fellow of the Commonwealth of Learning, Vancouver, an intergovernmental organization under the Commonwealth Heads of Government committed to expanding access to quality education.
One of the defining achievements of his career was his role in founding the National Open School in November 1989, established as an autonomous body under the National Policy on Education, 1986, through the Union Ministry of Education. As its first chairperson, a role he held until 1992, Father Kunnunkal laid the foundation for what is today the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) now the largest open schooling system in the world, offering flexible learning opportunities to millions of students.
Beyond institutional leadership, Father Kunnunkal played a significant role in shaping national education policy. He served as a member of both the National Commission for Teachers and the National Commission for Review of the National Education Policy, contributing his deep insight and experience to policy formulation. He also served as Director of the Jesuit-run Indian Social Institute in New Delhi and as President of the Islamic Studies Association, reflecting his strong commitment to social dialogue and inter-religious harmony.
Born on July 3, 1926, in Alappuzha, Kerala, Father Kunnunkal joined the Society of Jesus on June 20, 1945. He pursued advanced studies in the United States, earning master’s degrees in English, Educational Administration, and Educational Measurement. He was ordained a priest on June 18, 1958, at West Baden, USA, following his theological studies.
Closely associated with the Jesuit Education Association of India, which oversees a vast network of 101 high schools and 25 colleges across the country, Father Kunnunkal served the organization in several leadership roles, including President and General Secretary, guiding Jesuit education initiatives nationwide.
An author and thinker as much as an administrator, he published The Role of Teachers in National Regeneration in 2005, a work that encapsulated his lifelong belief in education as a transformative force for society and the nation.
The funeral Mass will be held at 3.00 pm on January 30, following public homage. His mortal remains will be kept at the Millennium Hall of St. Xavier’s School from 1.00 pm on the same day to allow students, colleagues, and admirers to pay their final respects.
Father Thomas V. Kunnunkal’s enduring legacy lives on through the institutions he strengthened, the policies he shaped, and the countless educators and students inspired by his vision, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the cause of education in India.
Source: Catholic Connect