Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth


Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth is a Pontifical institute for philosophy and religion located at Pune, India. Established by the Jesuits in Kandy in 1893, it was transferred to Pune in 1955. Catering primarily to the formation of candidates to the Catholic priesthood it is still run by the Society of Jesus.

History

JDV is the degree granting athenaeum of the Papal Seminary which was founded in 1893 at Kandy, Sri Lanka. The seminary was founded by the Apostolic Delegate to India, Mgr Lasdislaus Zaleski and the Belgian Jesuits in response to the letter Ad extremas of pope Leo XIII calling for the establishment of institutes for the training of the local clergy. Sri Lanka, with India and Burma was then part of the British Empire. After Indian Independence, it became increasingly difficult for Indian citizens to go to Sri Lanka for studies. In 1955, the Papal Seminary along with its Athenaeum moved to Pune, Maharashtra, and merged with the academic section of the Jesuit 'De Nobili College'.
The Athenaeum of the Papal Seminary adopted the Indian name 'Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth' in 1972. In 2015 it celebrated its diamond jubilee of transfer to Pune. It continues to offer philosophy and theology courses for those studying for the Catholic priesthood. It also serves as an intellectual centre for the Catholic Church in India, having taken a leading role in promoting inculturation since the 1970s. Its "Department of Indian Studies" brings "Indian" insights to the Christian faith.

Programs

In the 1970s and 1980s JDV was the driving force for inculturation, inter-religious dialog, and "liberation theology" for the Indian church. Personalities like Richard De Smet, George Lobo, and George-Soares Prabhu enabled JDV to lead a Catholic movement toward the concerns of the poor and marginalised in Indian society. Sara Grant taught philosophy and theology at the institute.
JDV has continued in its pioneering activities in the Indian church, for more than a decade pursuing dialog between science and religion. It offers a Masters in Science and Religion. More practical, contextual studies in sacred scripture have seen a revival, with the addition of a master's program in contextual spirituality. Diploma and Master's Programme in Ignatian Spirituality began in the academic year 2016-17. Also, a pastoral management course was instituted for the administrative and service sector.

Eminent faculty