Mysuru: Rev. Dr. Dayananda Prabhu has demitted the Office of the Visiting Professor, Chair in Christianity, University of Mysore recently after serving the Chair for the last three years.

He was appointed to the Chair in Nov. 2014 by the then Vice- Chancellor Prof. K. S. Rangappa at the recommendation of Most Rev. Dr. Thomas A. Vazhapilly, retired Bishop of Mysore Diocese. The Bishop of Mysore is the patron of the Chair.

Dr. Dayananda Prabhu was given two more terms to serve in the Chair which was established in the University way back in 1978-79. The Vatican Society Propagation of Faith had given an endowment of Rs. 5,00,000 to the University as fixed deposit for the financial management of the Chair. At that time, the Most Reverend Dr. Cardinal Lourdusamy was the Secretary General of the Society. It was his goodwill and interest that saw the establishment of the Chair. His younger brother Rev. Dr. Amalorpavadas was appointed the first Visiting Professor to the Chair.

It was because of the hard work of the then Bishop of Mysore the Most Rev. Dr. Mathias Fernandez and late Sr. Margaret this dream could be realised. It was the first Chair in Christianity in the whole of the country.

No Office Room

But unfortunately during the tenure of the previous in-charge VC the Visiting Professor’s Office Room in Humanities Block, Manasagangothri, was taken over by the University in March last and so far no Office Room is provided to the Visiting Professor.  

When contacted, in-charge VC Prof. C. Basavaraju said he was not aware of this and added that he would issue notice to the illegal occupants of the Office Room.