Ch. Vasantha Rao
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| Ch. Vasantha Rao | |
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| Born | December 22, 1962 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh |
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| Church | Church of South India, Diocese of Medak |
| Education |
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| Ordained | September 1989 |
| Writings | See Contents - 3.Writings |
| Offices held |
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| Title | Reverend Doctor |
| Parents | Mother: Smt. Chilkuri Vajramma |
| Data as of March 2009 | |
 Christianity Portal |
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Ch. Vasantha Rao is an Indian Theologian and a member[1] of the scholarly Society for Biblical Studies in India, a Learned society, incorporating Biblical Scholars of the Protestant, Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Charismatic traditions.
Prof. Rao was Senior Visiting Scholar for 2008-2009 at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts[2].
Vasantha Rao speaks Telugu, Hindi, English, and German. He is also well-versed[3] in Sanskrit[4], Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, Aramaic and has an orientation of Akkadian, Ugaritic, Phoenician and Egyptian hieroglyphs[4].
He is an expert on Environmental preservation and Animal laws in the Biblical context[5].
Contents |
[edit] History
Ch. Vasantha Rao was born to Smt. Chilkuri Vajramma and Sri Chilkuri Samuel[6]. He completed schooling at Saint Patrick's High School, Secunderabad by 1978 and joined the Andhra Vidyalaya College, Hyderabad for pre-university studies. For graduate studies, he enrolled at the Nizam College, Hyderabad and pursued a degree in Commerce. By 1983, he was awarded a B.Com. by the Osmania University.
Vasantha Rao was inclined to pursue the priestly vocation and was admitted as a ministerial candidate in the Diocese of Medak of the Church of South India in Tonigandla Village under the Ramayampet Pastorate of the diocese under the able supervision of Rev. B. C. Devavaram[7]. During the academic year 1984-1985, the Diocese of Medak sent Vasantha Rao to the United Theological College, Bengaluru then headed by the Biblical Scholar E. C. John. By the year 1988, Vasantha Rao obtained a B. D. from the College and was also awarded the Senators Prize for Autonomous Colleges[8] under the Senate of Serampore College (University) for the highest proficiency in the B. D. examinations of 1988. The then President of the Senate, Dr. Jacob Verghis[9] handed over the prize in the convocation of 1989.
Rao was then assigned a ministerial role in his Diocese. He was posted to Mandamarri-Ramakrishnapur pastorate near Mancherial in Adilabad district and served there until 1990. Thereafter, he was transferred to Bellampalli Pastorate of the Diocese of Medak in Adilabad district.
With interest to pursue higher studies in theology, the Diocese of Medak sent him again to the United Theological College, Bengaluru in the year 1993 for post-graduate studies . His supervisor there was James Vijayakumar, then Lecturer of Old Testament at the seminary in Bengaluru. In the year 1995, Vasantha Rao obtained an M. Th. in the discipline of Old Testament and returned to his Diocese which posted him to Nizamabad district for pastoral work.
In the year 1996, the ecumenical Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad invited Vasantha Rao to be on its faculty. The Diocese of Medak then under the leadership of Bishop B. P. Sugandhar loaned his services to the ecumenical enterprise.
[edit] Contribution
[edit] Translation
Vasantha Rao, as a Pastor while in Bellampalli, was on the 30-member specialists panel of the Telugu Old Testament Common Language Translation of the Bible Society of India Andhra Pradesh Auxiliary[10] headed by the Old Testament Scholar Victor Premasagar.
[edit] Indigenization
Pastor Vasantha Rao's thesis submitted to the Senate of Serampore College (University) in 1988 in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the B. D. degree was entitled[11] "A phenomenological study of the role of Edu-Payala Jathara in the religious life of its participants and its impact on the Christhu-Punaruddhana Jathara of Medak Diocese of Church of South India". The thesis was undertaken under the guidance of Rev. Dr. Eric J. Lott, then Professor of Religions at the United Theological College, Bengaluru. The methods of inculturation learnt from his Professor kept Vasantha Rao going. As a Pastor, he adopted indigenous methods [12] in worship practices including bhajan and Dalit drums. Although the Diocese of Medak was predominantly British Wesleyan[13], Vasantha Rao carried on with indigenization wherever he served as Presbyter[14].
[edit] Teacher
Old Testament forms part of the core subjects in any seminary or theological faculty of a University. Vasantha Rao chose Old Testament at the post-graduate level at the seminary in Bengaluru and studied Old Testament under learned Professors including Theodore N. Swanson, Gnana Robinson, James Vijayakumar and D. Jones Muthunayagom[15] From the academic year 1996-1997 onwards, he began teaching at the Serampore-affiliated Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad.
[edit] Leadership
Vasantha Rao is on the Working and Academic Committees of the Henry Martyn Institute International Centre for Research, Interfaith Relations and Reconciliation[16], Hyderabad. He also is a member of the Management Board of Sattal Christian Ashram established in 1930 by E. Stanley Jones in Uttaranchal[17].
In December 2008, Rao was elected to the Executive Committee of the Society for Biblical Studies in India at its biennium held in Thiruvananthapuram[18].
[edit] Environmental preservation
Vasantha Rao's post-graduate thesis was on preservation and continuation of life and species on planet Earth. The Biblical Scholar Victor Premasagar notes that Vasantha Rao's work[19] took into account the whole creation, the flora and fauna - the trees and herbs, the birds of the air and beasts in the forests, the fishes in the ocean and the smallest creeping insects on the Earth. Hebrew, Greek, and Syriac were used well in the interpretation of the texts[19]. Exegetical work on selected passages of Deuteronomy 20:19-20; 22:6-7 and Genesis 1:26-28 was done to bring out the Biblical message on preservation of flora and fauna[19].
[edit] Animal laws
The Biblical Scholar Klaus Koch writes[20] that Vasantha Rao is able to prove the real view of the biblical authors of the biblical message of the close relation of God the creator to all living creatures and his care for animals as well as human beings.
[edit] Writings
- Jathara - A Festival of Christian Witness, The Liturgy and Literature Committee, Diocese of Medak, Secunderabad, 1997.[21]
- Let the Mother Bird go... - Preservation Motif in Pentateuch, National Christian Writer's Forum, Hyderabad, 1996.[22]
- Struggles to Celebrate Life (Edited with Evangeline Anderson Rajkumar, Roger Gaikwad and Moses Paul Peter), Student Christian Movement of India, Bengaluru, 1998[23].
- Echo, National Christian Writer's Forum, Hyderabad, 2000.
- Ecological and Theological Aspects of Some Animal Laws in the Pentateuch, Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, New Delhi, 2005.[24]
- The Broken Fetters - Bible Studies from Exodus on Dalit Issues, Telugu Theological Literature Board, Hyderabad, 2006.
- Heads and Tales, Liturgy and Literature Committee, Diocese of Medak, Secunderabad, 2008.
[edit] Higher Studies
The Diocese of Medak and the Board of Governors of the Andhra Christian Theological College granted study leave to Vasantha Rao in the year 1998 and he proceeded to Germany to the Ökumenischen Studienwerks e.V.[25] in Bochum for a course in German as it is mandatory[26] for a student in order to enroll in any German University. By 1999, Vasantha Rao enrolled as a doctoral candidate at the University of Hamburg, Hamburg the mecca for Old Testament research and studied under Ina Willi-Plein[27] and Friedhelm Hartenstein[28]. In the academic year 2003-2004, Vasantha Rao submitted his doctoral dissertation to the University of Hamburg entitled "Ecological and Theological Aspects of Some Animal Laws in the Pentateuch[29]".
[edit] Visiting Scholar
Vasantha Rao was invited by the Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts to teach in the Spring of 2008-2009 at the Harvard Divinity School's Centre for the Study of World Religions[2].
| Professional and academic associations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Member Society for Biblical Studies in India 1998 – |
Succeeded by ' |
| Preceded by ' |
Member[30]
Working Committee |
Succeeded by ' |
| Preceded by ' |
Panel Member
Telugu Old Testament Common Language Translation of the Bible Society of India - Andhra Pradesh Auxiliary, Hyderabad |
Succeeded by ' |
| Educational offices | ||
| Preceded by ' |
Member
Henry Martyn Institute International Centre for Research, Interfaith Relations and Reconciliation, Hyderabad |
Succeeded by ' |
| Preceded by N. V. Luther Paul |
Director
Village Theological Centre |
Succeeded by - |
| Awards | ||
| Preceded by ' |
Recipient of the Senators Prize for Autonomous Colleges awarded by the Senate of Serampore College (University) for Highest Proficiency in B. D. Exams |
Succeeded by ' |
| Non-profit organization positions | ||
| Preceded by ' |
Board Member
Sattal Christian Ashram, Uttaranchal |
Succeeded by ' |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by Jan Sokol |
Senior Visiting Scholar
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts |
Succeeded by ' |
| Preceded by B. W. David Raju |
Registrar |
Succeeded by K. Reuben Mark |
| Preceded by D. J. Jeremiah |
Bursar ACTC, Hyderabad |
Succeeded by K. Suraj Kumar |
| Preceded by N. V. Luther Paul |
Lecturer of Old Testament
Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad |
Succeeded by T. Matthews Emmanuel |
| Religious titles | ||
| Preceded by ' |
Presbyter
Church of South India |
Succeeded by ' |
[edit] References
- Notes
- ^ Fr. Max Gonsalves (Ed.), Society for Biblical Studies in India Directory 1998.
- ^ a b Centre for the Study of World Religions. Web Site. Internet, accessed 15 October 2008.[1]
- ^ Victor Premasagar in introducing the author in Let the Mother Bird go... - Preservation Motif in Pentateuch, National Christian Writer's Forum, Hyderabad, 1996.
- ^ a b Cf. section on higher studies.
- ^ Cf. Author's writings on ecology and Animal laws cited elsewhere in this article.
- ^ See Dedication Page in Vasantha Rao, Let the Mother Bird go... - Preservation Motif in Pentateuch, National Christian Writer's Forum, Hyderabad, 1996.
- ^ T. David Livingstone, Life of St. Paul the Apostle, Published by Hannah Christian Charitable Trust, 375/C, S. R. Nagar, Hyderabad 500 038, July 2008. See Foreword by Ch. Vasantha Rao, p. VIII. Mention is also made about the school dropouts sitting idle at homes who were not even of use to their parents to generate income as agricultural coolies. Subsequent efforts through Nava Jyothi, a non-governmental organisation, made possible the opening of coaching centres in Ramayampet Pastorate that eventually saw through the mainstreaming of these these dropouts in 2002.
- ^ Senate of Serampore College (University), B. D. Examinations 1988, Senators Prize for Autonomous Colleges.
- ^ Cf. Presidential Succession of the Senate of Serampore College (University). Internet, accessed 27 November 2008. [2]
- ^ Bible Society of India, Address List of Telugu Old Testament Common Language Translation Panel, Bible House, 132 Rashtrapathi Road, Secunderabad 500 003, 1992.
- ^ Vasantha Rao, Jathara - A Festival of Christian Witness, The Liturgy and Literature Committee, Diocese of Medak, Secunderabad, 1997. Publisher Information Page. [3]
- ^ Cf. Wikipedia articles on B. V. Subbamma, D. S. Amalorpavadass and Y. D. Tiwari
- ^ Martin Senftleben, Influences of Hinduism on Christianity in Andhra Pradesh, Ph.D. thesis, Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupathi, 1992. P. 48. [4]
- ^ Nathan Productions, Side by Side India Visit, 1998. [5]
- ^ Refer Wikipedia article on United Theological College, Bengaluru.
- ^ Author introduction on back cover of Vasantha Rao, Ecological and Theological Aspects of Some Animal Laws in the Pentateuch, Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, New Delhi, 2005. [6]
- ^ Holiday IQ Web Site. Internet, accessed 15 October 2008.[7]
- ^ Cf. Executive Committee List in article on Society for Biblical Studies in India.
- ^ a b c Victor Premasagar, Foreword, Let the Mother Bird go... - Preservation Motif in Pentateuch, National Christian Writer's Forum, Hyderabad, 1996. [8]
- ^ Klaus Koch, Foreword, Ecological and Theological Aspects of Some Animal Laws in the Pentateuch, Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, New Delhi, 2005. [9]
- ^ Jathara - A Festival of Christian Witness, The Liturgy and Literature Committee, Diocese of Medak, Secunderabad, 1997. [10]
- ^ Let the Mother Bird go... - Preservation Motif in Pentateuch, National Christian Writer's Forum, Hyderabad, 1996. [11]
- ^ Evangeline Anderson Rajkumar, Roger Gaikwad (Edited), Struggles to Celebrate Life, Student Christian Movement of India, Bengaluru, 1998. [12]
- ^ Ch. Vasantha Rao, Ecological and Theological Aspects of Some Animal Laws in the Pentateuch, Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, New Delhi, 2005. [13]
- ^ Ökumenischen Studienwerks e.V., Bochum. Internet, accessed 15 October 2008.[14]
- ^ Refer Daniel Jeyaraj, Making Missionary Heritage Alive through Archival Research: Experiences of a Researcher-Archivist, Paper presented at the 2002 Conference of the International Association for Mission Studies, Urbana University, Rome. [15]
- ^ Prof. Ina Willi-Plein, University of Hamburg Web Site. Internet, accessed 15 October 2008.[16]
- ^ Prof. Friedhelm Hartenstein, University of Hamburg Web Site. Internet, accessed 15 October 2008.[17]
- ^ List of dissertations submitted in the academic year 2003-2004 to theological faculties of the Universities of Germany. [18]
- ^ AÖF 13th Annual Meeting -"Cross-cultural exegesis of the Bible", 2001, Main speaker: Chilkuri Vasantharao. [19]
- Further reading
- Johann Anselm Steiger (2005). 500 Jahre Theologie in Hamburg: Hamburg als Zentrum christlicher Theologie und Kultur zwischen Tradition und Zukunft. http://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&id=qR12bdI0KisC&dq=500+jahren+hamburg&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=eREZBV-041&sig=sD5xRxXYqWm5VWFx6MSmUxlZgt8&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA477,M1.
- Vasantha Rao (2003). Daridhra Narayana – Gott der Armen Eine Dalit-Version des Psalm 22.. http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:p3H_MWze-ZsJ:www.emw-d.de/fix/files/wmh_51_dalit.pdf+Chilkuri+Vasantha+Rao&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=55&gl=in.
- Vasantha Rao (2003). Bibelarbeiten. http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:p3H_MWze-ZsJ:www.emw-d.de/fix/files/wmh_51_dalit.pdf+Chilkuri+Vasantha+Rao&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=55&gl=in.
- Johann Sebastian von Drey, Walter Kasper, Michael Kessler, Max Seckler (2003). Theologie, Kirche, Katholizismus: Beiträge zur Programmatik der Katholischen Tübinger Schule ; mit reprographischem Nachdruck der Programmschrift Johann Sebastian Dreys von 1819 über das Studium der Theologie. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=PmowAAAAYAAJ&dq=.
- Joachim Lüdemann (2002). August Mylius (1819-1887). http://books.google.co.in/books?id=AWxBwvWTA3QC&dq=Chilkuri+Vasantha+Rao&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0.
- Senftleben, Martin (1992). Influences of Hinduism on Christianity in Andhra Pradesh. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati. I. http://www.drmartinus.de/bio/de/thesis1.pdf.
- _______________, (1992). Influences of Hinduism on Christianity in Andhra Pradesh. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati. II. http://www.drmartinus.de/bio/de/thesis2.pdf.
