A communication from Rome read, “He will be working with the Department of Youth Ministry, under the leadership of Fr. Miguel Angel García Morcuende, the General Councillor for Youth Ministry, effective September 1, 2024. Fr. George Thadathil will be asked to accompany universities and institutions of higher education.”
An ace educationist, Thadathil has served 42 years in Darjeeling, first as the director of youth services in the diocese of Darjeeling-Sikkim and the first co-pastor of St Theresa’s Parish Sonada while teaching Philosophy at Salesian College Sonada. In 2000, Thadathil took over the reins as the 14th Principal of Salesian College (est. 1933) and served 23 years.
Thadathil completed both an M.Phil in Philosophy and Christian Studies from Madras University in 1997 and went on to pursue PhD in Inter-Disciplinary Research (Philosophy-Sociology) over two years (1998 to 2000) from the School of Religion and Philosophy, University of Madras.
During that same period, Thadathil was a Junior Research Fellow with the Indian Council of Philosophical Research under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, New Delhi. After completing doctoral studies, Thadathil stayed at Salesian College Sonada from 2000 as Head of the Philosophy Department.
Thadathil spent two Sabbaticals visiting the Ivy League Universities of Princeton, Yale, and Stanford, as well as leading Catholic Universities on the East and West Coasts of the U.S. As a founding Executive Board member of IUS since 2001, Thadathil visited Salesian University institutions in South America, Asia, and Europe.
Starting as a Board Member of Mount Hermon Teacher Training College, Darjeeling, since 2000 Thadathil was also the Executive Secretary of the Commission for Dialogue and Ecumenism for the Diocese of Darjeeling. He has been an Executive Board member of the All India Association of Christian Colleges (AIACHE) and the Association of Catholic Colleges (Xavier Board) since May 2004. Since 2006, he has been an Executive Committee Member of India's Association of Christian Philosophers.
In addition to holding Executive Membership at North Bengal University, Thadathil served two terms as a member of the NBU Court. He is also a member of the National Academic Accreditation Council, which served the University Grants Commission and has now become the Higher Education Council of India. During his tenure as principal, Salesian College was awarded Autonomous status in May 2023.
Fr C.M. Paul SDB
