By Matters India Reporter
Kigali, August 9, 2026: Indian media professional, academic and filmmaker Magimai Pragasam has been elected Vice President of SIGNIS World, the World Catholic Association for Communication, during its global congress in Kigali, Rwanda.
The election, held August 7, places him in one of the association’s highest leadership roles, representing communicators across more than 100 countries.
The weeklong SIGNIS World Congress, running August 3–8, brought together Catholic media professionals to discuss communication for peace, social transformation and human development.
Pragasam’s election was hailed as a milestone for India’s growing presence in global Catholic communication.
Bishop Vijay Kumar Rayarala, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India Commission for Social Communication, called the appointment “a well-deserved recognition of his decades of dedicated service, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to value-based and faith-filled communication.”
Pragasam has more than 25 years of experience in communication and media, with expertise in training, production and research.
His academic background includes master’s degrees in sociology and mass communication, and a doctorate in anthropology from the University of Madras, where he studied communication and women’s empowerment.
He also trained in communication at the University of Leeds, cross-cultural studies in Birmingham, and television production in London. He later taught video production at the University of Lyon in France.
Over the years, he has conducted international workshops in Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, France, Sri Lanka and Cambodia, focusing on media education, capacity building and communication for social development.
Within SIGNIS, he has served as vice president of SIGNIS India and SIGNIS Asia, secretary and treasurer of SIGNIS Tamil Nadu, and as a member of the SIGNIS World Board.
Pragasam has authored books on communication and directed short films addressing social values and contemporary concerns. His election underscores the contribution of Indian media professionals to the global Catholic mission and opens new opportunities for collaboration across continents.
Alongside Pragasam, the new SIGNIS World leadership team includes Father Walter Ihejirika of Nigeria as president, Pamela Aleman of Canada as second vice president, Adriana Racasan of Romania as treasurer, and Peter Rachada Monthienvichienchai as secretary general.
The CBCI Office for Social Communication said the election “marks a significant moment for India,” strengthening the role of Indian communicators on the international stage.
The appointment is seen as both recognition of past contributions and a platform for future initiatives in Catholic communication worldwide.
(Photo supplied)