Dharmakkan Dhanaraj (18 December 1950– 16 October 2017) was an Indian Old Testament scholar who taught at the Karnataka Theological College, Mangalore, a seminary established in 1965Vijaya Kumar, Ecumenical Cooperation of the Missions in Karnataka (India), 1834-1989: A Historical Analysis of the Evangelistic Strategy of the Missions, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2005, p.132. and affiliated to the nation's firstUNESCO Structures of University Education in India, 1952 university, the Senate of Serampore College (University).

After serving more than 40 years for the cause of spiritual formation and the teaching of German language studies, through the Karnataka Theological College and the Moegling Institute for German Language, both in Mangalore, Dhanaraj died on Monday, 16 October 2017 in Mangalore after a brief illness and his funeral mass was conducted at 16:00 hours on Tuesday, 17 October 2017, by Bishop emeritus John Sadananda, CSI, at the CSI-Shanthi Cathedral, Balmatta, Mangalore in the presence of Sydney Salins, CSI, H. R. Cabral, CSI, Annie Watson, CSI, F. Anilkumar, CSI, Bishop emeritus C. L. Furtado, CSI, D. R. Sadananda, CSI and Mohan Manoraj, CSI, the present CSI Bishop - in - Mangalore. Dhanaraj's demise comes close on the heels of the notable Old Testament Scholar, Bishop emeritus Samuel Amirtham, CSI, who departed during the last week of September 2017.

Contribution As a Scholar on Psalms, Dhanaraj's workD. Dhanaraj, Theological significance of the motif of enemies in selected psalms of individual lament, Augustin, Gluckstadt, 1992. was published in 1992 and simultaneously reviewed in three German journals, namely the Zeitschrift für die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft (1994),:de:Jürgen van Oorschot, Reviewed Work: Theological Significance of the Motif of Enemies in Selected Psalms of Individual Lament in Zeitschrift für die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft, Volume 106, Issue 1, 1994, p.153. the (1995)H. H. Schmid, "Reviewed Work: Theological Significance of the Motif of Enemies in Selected Psalms of Individual Lament" in :de:Verkündigung und Forschung, Volume 40, Issue 1, 1995, pp.29, 43. and the (1995)Erhard S. Gerstenberger, Reviewed Work: Theological Significance of the Motif of Enemies in Selected Psalms of Individual Lament in :de:Theologische Literaturzeitung, Volume 120, Issue 9, 1995, pp.779-781. followed by The Catholic Biblical Quarterly (1996)The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, Reviewed Work: Theological Significance of the Motif of Enemies in Selected Psalms of Individual Lament (Orientalia biblica et christiana 4) by Dharmakkan Dhanaraj, Review by: Mark S. Smith, Vol. 58, No. 2 (April 1996), pp. 308-310. and has also been listed in three of the annual editions of Elenchus of Biblica (Volumes 8, 10, 12 of 1992, 1994, 1996).Elenchus of Biblica 1992, Volume 8, 1995, p.276. Elenchus of Biblica 1994, Volume 10, 1997, p.229. ;Elenchus of Biblica 1996, Volume 12, 2000, p.156. Ellen T. Charry observes that Dhanaraj divided Psalm 3 into three segments depending on point of view taken by the speaker, a fact reiterated by John J. Ahn. Further, Dhanaraj's research work has been held in nearly 75WorldCat. library holdings ranging from Seminaries to state universities and National libraries across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America and has been referred by many Scholars over the years' including his Doktorvater, 1989 (), Rechtsgeschichte der Redaktionen im Kodex Ešnunna und im "Bundesbuch": Eine redaktionsgeschichtliche und rechtsvergleichende Studie zu altbabylonischen und altisraelitischen Rechtsuberlieferungen,(:de:Eckart Otto), Rechtsgeschichte der Redaktionen im Kodex Ešnunna und im "Bundesbuch": Eine redaktionsgeschichtliche und rechtsvergleichende Studie zu altbabylonischen und altisraelitischen Rechtsuberlieferungen, Orbis Biblicus et Orientalis 85, Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, Göttingen/University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 1989, p.78. 1989 (Edited by G. Johannes Botterweck, Helmer Ringgren, Heinz-Josef Fabry), Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, Volume 12,Hebrew: צִיּוֹן Tsiyyon in G. Johannes Botterweck, Helmer Ringgren, Heinz-Josef Fabry (Edited), Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, Volume 12, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, 1989, p.335. 1998 (Ulrich Bail), Gegen das Schweigen klagen. Eine intertextuelle Studie zu Psalm 6, Psalm 55 und 2 Samuel 13,1-22,Ulrich Bail, Gegen das Schweigen klagen. Eine intertextuelle Studie zu Psalm 6, Psalm 55 und 2 Samuel 13,1-22, University of Bochum, Bochum, 1998.. 2005 (Daniel J. Estes), Handbook on the Wisdom Books and Psalms,Daniel J. Estes, Handbook on the Wisdom Books and Psalms, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, p.30. 2011 (John J. Ahn), Exile as Forced Migrations: A Sociological, Literary, and Theological approach on the displacement and resettlement of the southern kingdom of Judah,John J. Ahn, Exile as Forced Migrations: A Sociological, Literary, and Theological approach on the displacement and resettlement of the southern kingdom of Judah, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, 2011, p.102. 2012 (Wilton Gerardo Sánchez Castelblanco), Que les caigan brasas de fuego (Sal 140,11) - Comentario exegético del salmo 140 (Let burning flames come down on them (Psalm 140,11) - Exegetical commentary of Psalm 140),Wilton Gerardo Sánchez Castelblanco, Que les caigan brasas de fuego (Sal 140,11) - Comentario exegético del salmo 140 (Let burning flames come down on them (Psalm 140,11) - Exegetical commentary of Psalm 140) in Franciscanum, Volume 54, Issue 158, July–December 2012. 2013 (D. Keith Campbell), Of Heroes and Villains: The Influence of the Psalmic Lament on Synoptic Characterization,D. Keith Campbell, Of Heroes and Villains: The Influence of the Psalmic Lament on Synoptic Characterization, Wipf and Stock, Oregon, 2013, p.185. 2014 (W. Dennis Tucker Jr.), Constructing and Deconstructing Power in Psalms 107–150,W. Dennis Tucker, Jr., Constructing and Deconstructing Power in Psalms 107–150, SBL, Atlanta, 2015, p.13. 2015 (Ellen T. Charry), Psalms 1-50 (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible),Ellen T. Charry, Psalms 1-50 (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible), Brazos, Grand Rapids, 2015. ; Unser Gästebuch - Gästebucheintrag erstellen - Welche persönliche Beziehung haben Sie zur Basler Mission?

General and spiritual studies After initial graduate studies at the CSI-American College in Madurai, Tamil Nadu where Dhanaraj pursued studies in sciences leading to B.Sc. in 1969, he discerned his avocation towards priesthood and became an aspirant with the Madurai-Ramnad Diocese of the Church of South India, then under the bishopric of The Right Reverend George Devadas, CSI who became his Spiritual Confessor and led Dhanaraj to take up seminary studies leading to Priesthood.

Spiritual studies Dhanaraj then underwent ministerial formation at the United Theological College, Bangalore between 1970 and 1974K. M. Hiwale (Compiled), Directory of the United Theological College 1910-1997, Bangalore, 1997. Past students of the college diploma course, p.44; Past students of the postgraduate course, p.112. during the Principalship of J. R. Chandran, CSI, studying for a Bachelor of Divinity (B. D.) under faculty comprising The Rev. G. D. Melanchthon, AELC, W. P. Peery, AELC, E. C. John, CSI and others.

During Dhanaraj's study period between 1970 and 1974, his companions included D. I. Hans, CSI, P. J. Lawrence, CSI, J. W. Gladstone, CSI, Sydney Salins, CSI, John Sadananda, CSI, P. Surya Prakash, CSI and others who were pursuing graduate courses while R. Yesurathnam, CSI, D. W. Jesudoss, TELC, G. Babu Rao, CBCNC, Basil ReberaLaity, D. S. Satyaranjan, IPC, Nitoy Achümi, NBCC, Timotheas Hembrom, NELC, S. John Theodore, CSI and others were pursuing postgraduate courses at varying intervals including G. Solomon, STBC who came there for a specialized course in Biblical Hebrew.

In the ensuing convocation of the Senate of Serampore College (University) held on February 1, 1975Convocation Brochure, February 1, 1975 Serampore College, Serampore. at the Serampore College, Serampore under the Registrarship of C. Devasahayam, CBCNC, Dhanaraj was awarded a Bachelor of Divinity degree where the Convocation Commemoration Mass in Serampore was conducted by the Old Testament TeacherGuide to Indian Periodical Literature, Volume 23, 1989, p.57 G. Babu Rao, CBCNC of Serampore CollegeThe Story of Serampore and its College, Council of Serampore College, Serampore (Fourth Edition), 2005, p.92. at the CNI-St. Olave's Church, Serampore.

Advanced spiritual studies Again from 1976 to 1978, Dhanaraj studied for a postgraduate course during the Principalship of J. R. Chandran, CSI specialising in Old Testament under E. C. John, CSI, G. M. Butterworth, CoE and Gerhard Wehmeier, EKD and submitted a dissertation entitled The relationship of man to God as expressed in the piety of selected Psalms and was awarded a Master of Theology (M. Th.) degree by the university under the Registrarship of D. S. Satyaranjan, IPC who had by that time become Registrar of the university succeeding J. T. Krogh, NELC. The 1979Religion and Society, Volume 26, Issue 2, Bangalore, 1979, p.77 convocation of the university was held at Secunderabad in February at the Andhra Christian Theological College led by the Old Testament Scholars, Victor Premasagar, CSI and G. Babu Rao, CBCNCG. Babu Rao, Content Analysis of Theological Syllabi – Old Testament in Religion and Society, Bangalore, 1985. who had by that time moved from Serampore to Secunderabad and again conducted the Convocation Commemoration Mass at the St. Gregorious Malankara Orthodox Syrian Cathedral in the neighbourhoodSt. Gregorious Malankara Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad. of the college.Convocation brochure of the University, 1979, Secunderabad

During Dhanaraj's second period of studies at Bangalore between 1976 and 1978, his graduate companions included S. W. Meshack, IELC, M. Mani Chacko, CSI, K. David Udayakumar, SALC and others.

Research studies

After a period of German language studies at the Goethe Institute, Pune during the final years of the 1970s, Dhanaraj moved to Germany enrolling as a student for the period 1980-1985 and began researching at the University of Hamburg under Prof. Klaus Koch and Prof. entitling his dissertation as Theological significance of the motif of enemies in selected psalms of individual lament. Dhanaraj's other companions at the University of Hamburg included Godwin Shiri, CSIJohann Anselm Steiger (Edited), 500 Jahre Theologie in Hamburg: Hamburg als Zentrum christlicher Theologie und Kultur zwischen Tradition und Zukunft, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, 2005, pp.451, 453. J. W. Gladstone, CSI Ofosu Adutwum, PCG and also G. Babu Rao, CBCNCMinutes of the meeting of the executive board of the academy mission at the University of Hamburg (Protokoll der sitzung des vorstandes der missionsakademie an der University of Hamburg) 6 April 1983 who went there on a 2½ years research exposure to the university.

Dhanaraj later transferred himself to the University of Osnabrück in 1986 as his guide, Prof. had moved out from the University of Hamburg to join the University of Osnabrück and Dhanaraj continued his research there under Prof. and was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy in the year 1988 by the University of Osnabrück and a couple of years later, his thesis was published in 1992 by based in Glückstadt, Germany.

Ecclesiastical ministry Pastoral