Divyadaan: Salesian Institute of Philosophy, Nashik
Divyadaan: Salesian Institute of Philosophy is a centre for philosophical studies at Don Bosco Marg, Nashik 422 005, India, offering bachelor's and master's degree courses in philosophy.
The institute is run by the international Catholic religious society called the Salesians of Don Bosco,1 and is aggregated to the Faculty of Philosophy of the Pontificia Universita Salesiana, Rome.2
Divyadaan began its existence at Don Bosco Youth Centre, 4 Koregaon Road, Pune 411 001, in June 1980. In June 1984, it was shifted to its present premises at Don Bosco Marg, Nashik 422 005.
It was affiliated to the Faculty of Philosophy of the Salesian Pontifical University in 1982, and aggregated to the same faculty in March 2000 (see decree of the Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, prot. n. 1035/98).
The students are mostly residential, though the centre is also open to non-residential students.
Program of Studies
The first cycle, which ends in a bachelor's degree, covers three years.
The second cycle, which ends in a master's degree, covers two years. The master's degree course offers specializations in education and communication.
Teaching Staff
The teaching staff consists of the following:
Dr Ivo Coelho, Reader: Chair of Gnoseology and Metaphysics. Dr Albano Fernandes, Lecturer: Chair of Classical Indian Philosophy. Dr Ashley Miranda, Lecturer: Chair of Moral Philosophy. Dr Robert Pen, Lecturer: Chair of Semiotics. Dr Savio D'Souza, Lecturer: Chair of Philosophy of Religion. Dr Edison Fernandes, Lecturer: Chair of Educational Psychology. Dr John Sequeira, Associate: Chair of Philosophy of the Human Person. Dr Maria Arockiam Kanaga, Associate: Chair of Contemporary Indian Philosophy. Dr Stanislaus Swamikannu, Associate: Chair of Modern and Contemporary Western Philosophy. Dr Jacob Srampickal, Associate: Chair of Philosophy of Communication.
Dr Nelson Falcao. Dr Aloysius Hemrom. Vinod Mascarenhas. Valerian Pereira. Wyman Gonsalves. Solomon Rapol. Diego Nunes. Barbara Braganza. V.S. Vamane. Anelfreda Miranda. Leon Cruz Ratinam.3
Divyadaan: Journal of Philosophy and Education
The centre publishes a journal called Divyadaan: Journal of Philosophy and Education. The journal is issued three times a year, and is currently in its 20th year. Besides articles of a philosophical and educational nature, it publishes also abstracts of doctoral dissertations in philosophy, education and communication done by people in the South Asia area, as also book reviews and notices.4
Library
The library has AbOUT 33,000 volumes, mostly in philosophy, but also in psychology, education, sociology, religion, empirical science, arts, literature, and salesiana.
It receives over 100 periodicals and magazines, scholarly and otherwise, mostly in English, but also in French, German and Italian.
The classification is a modified version of the Dewey Decimal System. In place of decimals, codes are given to authors. Thus an original work of Kant is classified as 193 KA, while a study on Kant is classified as 193 KA / SMI.N. This has the advantage of simplifying the classification as well as keeping original works of authors and studies together.
Publications
Ivo Coelho. Hermeneutics and Method: The 'Universal Viewpoint' in Bernard Lonergan. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2001. Ivo Coelho. "Hermeneutics as a Return to the Concrete: Fred Lawrence's Meditations on Heidegger, Gadamer and Lonergan." Divyadaan: Journal of Philosophy and Education 19/1-2 (2008) 235-268. Ivo Coelho. "Bibliography of the Writings of Frederick G. Lawrence." Divyadaan: Journal of Philosophy and Education 19/1-2 (2008) 283-290. Ivo Coelho, ed. Brahman and Person: Essays by Richard De Smet. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 2010. Nelson Falcao. "Christology in the Writings of Narayan Vaman Tilak (1861-1919)." Jeevadhara 38 (2008) 223-231. Nelson Falcao, ed. and tr. Phadara Thomas Stiphanskrta Khristapurana: Purana 1 va 2: Sudharita ani vistarita sampurna avrtti hastalikhita Marsden Marathi padya pratitila sloka, Marathi bhasantara; vistrta sandarbha, parisiste va granthasuchi. Bangalore: Kristu Jyoti Publications, 2009. Robert Pen. "Effects of Western Media on Indian Culture." Pluralism of Pluralism: A Pluralistic Probe into Philosophizing. Ed. Keith D'Souza. Bangalore: ATC Publications, 2008. 275-298.