Pune (Fides Service) - Jesuit Father Noel Sheth, Rector of the Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth Pontifical Institute for Philosophy and Religion in Pune in the central western Indian state of Maharashtra, was recently declared the best Rector of a Christian Institute in India in 2004-2005. The award, assigned by a committee which includes members of the All India Association of Christian Higher Education and several universities, consists of a certificate of recognition and a cheque for 10.000 Rupees. The motivation for the Jesuit’s nomination included “leadership, dedication to academic and educational activities, role of innovation and commitment to maintain high moral and professional standards”. The Jesuit, a scholar of ancient languages including Sanskrit, and of ancient Indian philosophies and religions, “is an excellent administrator, an inspired teacher, a refined scholar” the certificate said.
The award is assigned annually to a Christian headmaster or rector of colleges or institutes of all denominations. One of Father Sheth’s books The Divinity of Krishna is mentioned in a famous Encyclopaedia of Religions by Mircea Eliade.
(Agenzia Fides 21/03/2005 Righe: 15 Parole: 154)