South Asia Theological Research Institute

South Asia Theological Research Institute (SATHRI) was established by the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College (BTESSC)[1] in the year 1989.[2] It is located at Mack House Complex in Serampore.

South Asia Theological Research Institute

SATHRI
Type	Centre for advanced theological research
Established	1989 (1989)
Dean	The Rev. Limatula Longkumer, D. Th. (Serampore)
Location	Serampore , West Bengal , India
Affiliations	Senate of Serampore College (University)
Website	http://www.senateofseramporecollege.edu.in/wings-of-senate/sathri/

It offers doctoral programmes in theology.[3]

Background

In the eighties, the BTESSC and the Senate of Serampore College (University) saw the urgency to establish initially one advanced research centre in the country to:

• develop,
• coordinate, and
• facilitate

research at doctoral and non-degree levels emphasizing its indigenous and contextual character.[4] Intense planning and negotiation led to the establishment of SATHRI in 1989 in Bangalore as the research wing of the BTESSC to deal with the promotion of contextualized research, both at the degree and the non-degree levels.[5]

It was meant to strengthen centres for research and to promote basic tools for theological education, to involve in publication of research work and to arrange for programmes that would strengthen the relationship between the theological institutions for the purpose of research.[5]

Validation

• The Senate of Serampore College (University) was one of the first institutions in India to be given the status of a University in 1829.[6]
• The Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College (BTESSC) established in 1975 is the theological arm under the Senate.[7]
• SATHRI is the research wing under BTESSC[4] established in 1989.

Courses offered

Succession of Deans of SATHRI
1989-2000,[8] The Rev. K. C. Abraham, Ph.D. (Princeton),[9] 2000-2009,[10] The Rev. Samson Prabhakar, Dr. Theol. (Berne),[11] 2009-2011,[12] The Rev. A. Wati Longchar, D.Th. (Serampore),[13] 2011-2014,[12] The Rev. H. Vanlalauva,[12] D.Th. (Serampore),[13] 2014-2018, The Rev. P. G. George, Th.D. (Toronto) 2018-present, The Rev. Limatula Longkumer, D. Th. (Serampore)[13]

Doctor of Theology in the fields of:

• Old Testament
• New Testament
• Theology and Ethics
• Women's Studies
• Dalit Theology
• Communication

Administration

A Dean oversees the programmes of SATHRI under the supervision of a Committee on Research of the Senate of Serampore College (University).

The present Dean is Rev. P. G. George[14]

Journal

The SATHRI Journal is an occasional bulletin published by SATHRI.[15]

References

Notes

1. Wati Longchar, "Challenges for Ecumenical Theological Education : Towards a common strategy and mechanism", Jorhat, 2002, p.2
2. Dr. K.C. Abraham Farewell to Rev. Samartha
3. Word Press Tyrst with the Academia
4. The Story of Serampore and its College"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 October 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2006.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) pp.116-117
5. Ibid.
6. Government of India "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Ministry of Human Resource Development
7. The Story of Serampore and its College"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 October 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2006.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) pp.112-114
8. John C. England (Edited), Asian Christian Theologies: Asia region, 7th-20th centuries ; South Asia ; Austral Asia, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2002, pp.300-301.
9. Philip Mathew, Indian Church mourns death of noted Asian theologian, 14 June 2016.
10. Minutes of the 35th Meeting of the Board of Theological Education of Senate of Serampore College held on 3rd and 4th February 2010 at the United Theological College, Bengaluru, Karnataka. - Report of the Director In-Charge, Research and SATHRI, p.6.
11. Geoffrey Wainwright, Karen B. Westerfield Tucker (Edited), The Oxford History of Christian Worship, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2006, p.xv.
12. Senate of Serampore College (University), Minutes of the Executive Committee, 5 November 2010, Kolkata, 2010, p.88.
13. Senate of Serampore College (University) List of the Recipient of the Degree of Doctor of Theology.
14. Indian Theological Library Association Resource Persons
15. World Cat SATHRI Journal

Further reading

• The Council of Serampore College (2005). "The Story of Serampore and its College" (Fourth Edition). Council of Serampore College. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
• Prabhakar, Samson, and Joseph, M.J. (Eds.) (2003). "Church's Participation in Theological Education". BTESSC/SATHRI. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)