T. Swami Raju

T. Swami Raju (born 1959) is an Indian Theologian, a prolific writer and a participant in inter-faith dialogue. Raju is a Sishya of R. R. Sundara Rao who mentored him since his graduate days at the Seminary in Hyderabad.

Prof. Swami Raju teaches Religions at the Andhra Christian Theological College [affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University)], Hyderabad.

History

Swami Raju was born on 10 October 1959 in Thadivakavaripalem in Nagaram Mandal of Guntur District into an Orthodox Hindu Family to Smt. Rama Tulasi and Sri Thadipaka Rama Rao. His mother came under the influence of Pastor Premaiah of the adjoining Pudivada Village who used to begin his day by playing the Sitar and worshipping the Lord. Much against family reluctance, she became a Christian and later other members of her family followed suit.

Raju underwent schooling in Muthupalli and Nagaram villages in Guntur District and later joined for B.Sc. at the local Sri Velagapudi Ramakrishna Memorial College in Nagaram and completed it by 1981.

Although Swami Raju chose to pursue divinity, it was opposed by his Church society (Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church) which argued that donning the priestly mantle was an arduous task and Raju would not be able to succeed. However, Swami Raju was able to convince his Church society which was then headed by K. Nathaniel, the President and obtained permission to pursue divinity at the Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad then headed by K. David (Ph.D. - Edinburgh). He enrolled for the graduate course of B. D. in the academic year 1983 - 1984 and studied varied subjects of theology under learned Professors at the Seminary.

At the end of the three-year graduate course, he submitted a thesis on Swamy Vivekananda's Philosophy under the able supervision of R. R. Sundara Rao (Ph.D. - Wisconsin) in 1986. In the Senate Examinations of 1986, Raju scored the highest marks at the University Level and was awarded the prestigious George Howells Prize for highest proficiency in Christian Theology at the 1987 Convocation of the University held in Serampore.

Contribution

Parish Priest

Soon after graduating from the ecumenical seminary in Hyderabad, the Church Society to which Swami Raju belonged posted him to Srisailam where he began to administer the Parish there.

Teacher

Swami Raju had been teaching Religions from the academic year 1993 onwards along with K. D. G. Prakasa Rao then Lecturer of Religions at the ecumenical seminary in Hyderabad.

Writer

As a prolific writer, Raju had been penning a number of books. His writings include:

• Modern Renaissant Movements in India, A Textbook for B. Th. and B. D. students under Serampore University.
• Me and my Lord : Living Witness (Telugu), Swami Publications, ACTC, Hyderabad 500 080.
• Vira Cult in Folk Religion of Guntur District: A Dalit Perspective, Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, New Delhi, 2005.
• The Study of Religion : Methods and Perspectives, Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College (University) / South Asia Theological Research Institute, Bengaluru, 2004.
• Christian Responses to Plurality of Religion, Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College (University) / South Asia Theological Research Institute, Bengaluru, 2006.
• Christian Witness in a Pluralistic Context of India (Telugu), Telugu Theological Literature Board, Hyderabad, 2006.
• Research and Writing Methods (Telugu), Telugu Theological Literature Board, Hyderabad, 2007.
• Neo-Vedanta of Vivekananda, Telugu Theological Literature Board, Hyderabad, 2008.

Higher Studies and Research

Higher Studies

In the year 1991, Swami registered for the post-graduate degree of M. Th. in the discipline of Religions at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai and studied under R. R. Sundara Rao. In 1993 his Church Society made Raju a Lecturer at the Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad.

Research

Swami Raju registered as a doctoral candidate at the South Asia Theological Research Institute, Bengaluru in 1996 for pursuing a D. Th. in Religion under David C. Scott. The SATHRI was then headed by K. C. Abraham.

The Lutheran World Federation granted Raju a financial scholarship After undergoing research exposure at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, Raju finally submitted his doctoral dissertation entitled Vira Cult in Folk Religion of Guntur District: A Dalit Perspective to SATHRI.

In the 2002 convocation of the Senate of Serampore College (University) held in Aizawl, he was awarded the doctoral degree of D. Th.. The dissertation was later published in book form in 2005.

See also

• B. V. Subbamma
• Y. D. Tiwari
• Stanley Jedidiah Samartha
• Ch. Vasantha Rao
• P. Victor Premasagar

References

Notes

Further reading