By Kochurani Abraham

Kottayam: For any organization, movement or institution, the passing away of its founder is a jolting moment yet graced with gratitude for the vision transmitted and realized in the course of its trajectory.

The members of the Indian Theological Association (ITA) share these sentiments at the demise of Father Constantine Manalel, CMI, its founder and guide on the path of its significant growth.

“The ITA came into existence because of the creative action of this great visionary,” says its former president Fransalian Father Jacob Parappally. “Fr. Constantine challenged theologians to dialogue with the religious, social, cultural, economic and political contexts of our country while theologizing.”

The launching story of Indian Theological Association has been recorded by Kuncheria Pathil, CMI as follows: ‘In the post-Vatican II scenario, it was Rev. Joseph Constantine Manalel who proposed the idea of forming an association of Indian theologians. In 1971 he had already published a theology journal, named Jeevadhara in two editions, English and Malayalam, for which he had formed a society, called, “Jeevadhara Theological Society’. On August 28, 1975, he convened a meeting of the above society where for the first time he proposed the idea of forming an all India association of Indian theologians.

The period after Vatican II was, indeed, an extraordinary spring time for the Church in India. After elaborate preparations the “Church in India National Seminar” was held in 1968 in Bangalore at Dharmaram College, in order to plan and implement the recommendations of Vatican II and to translate its implications for the Church in India. To follow up the work of the Church in India Seminar several National and Regional consultations and meetings were held.

In January 1976 a Dialogue between Bishops and theologians was held at Jeevan Jyothi, Hyderabad. After the official dialogue meeting, at the initiative of Fr. Constantine Manalel, a group of theologians, separately met to deliberate on the founding of an “Indian Theological Association”. Those theologians should be considered as the “founding fathers” of the ITA among whom were included Constantine Manalel, John Britto Chethimattam, Samuel Rayan, Kurien Kunnumpuram, Joseph Pathrapankal, Paul Puthanangady, Georges-Soares Prabhu, Sebastian Kappen, Thomas Manickam, and Dhiranand Bhatt.

In his inaugural address, Father Manalel highlighted the Indian political, social, cultural, and ecclesial scenario and he emphasized the significant role to be played by Indian theologians at a critical period of history in building up both the Nation and the Church. The theologians gathered at Hyderabad had a lively discussion and exchange and at the end they took a unanimous decision to found the “Indian Theological Association” and they drafted a one page Constitution of the Association without much formality.

According to the Constitution, the objectives of ITA were the following: to be a forum for theologians to meet and discuss current theological issues; to promote the development of an Indian Christian Theology; to foster research in matters of religion and society; and to give theologians the encouragement and support they need. (Pathil, “Towards Authentic and Innovative Indian Theologies” in Theologizing Today: Voices of Indian Theologians, 2019, pp.4-5)

Father Felix Wilfred, a former ITA president and a leading liberation theologian, has this to say about Father Manalel: “The first thought that crossed my mind on hearing the death of Fr Constantine Manalel is that we have lost a great prophet who could constantly speak truth to power in the Church, and hold his head high in self-respect, unafraid. He was a pioneer who took Indian theology on a creative path in the post-Conciliar period. If age is a matter of mind, it applies to him most fittingly. A youthful spirit with a will of steel, he will ever remain a beacon of light on the Indian theological horizon.”

For Presentation Sister Shalini Mulackal, another past ITA president, “Fr. Manalel’s vision for the post Vatican II Church in India and the role theologians are called to play in this project gave birth to the idea of having a theological association. History of ITA and the role it is playing for the past 45 years shows that his vision was in the right direction. I join all Indian Theologians in thanking God for this visionary and pray that God give him eternal happiness and joy. May he continue to intercede for us.”

Father Vincent Kundukulam, the current president of ITA, sees the initiative of Father Manalel and others as a response to the call of the Second Vatican Council to read and interpret the signs of time and to translate pertinently God’s plan for humanity to Church and Society in India. Father Manalel has succeeded in responding to the new challenges with freedom and responsibility, with openness and faithfulness and with courage and maturity.

The ITA says good bye to its prophetic and visionary founder with deep gratitude and appreciation for the gift of his radiant long life, so meaningfully lived. May his soul enjoy eternal bliss!

(Kochurani Abraham is the vice president of ITA)