Born on 11th June, 1957 in Ernakulam, Kerala, Varghese Theekanath had most of his education in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. After completing undergraduate studies (B.Sc) from Andhra Loyala College, pursued Postgraduate Degree (M.A.) in philosophy from Osmania University. Then went on to complete the M.Phil Programme in Development Studies as a Research Fellow from the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), Hydrabad. In between he also completed a four years programme in Theology (B.Th.) from Jnana DeepaVidayapeeth, Pune. He has a Diploma in Journalism, and also training in Social Analysis and Counselling.
He is a Life Member of an International Religious Society called the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel. It has primarily been involved in the field of education - primary, secondary, university, technical and special – since 1715 when it was founded in France. The Society manages hundreds of institutions in 32 countries all over the world.
The Society founded in India in 1903 manages 160 educational and social institutions all over the country. It is divided into 6 different administrative provinces. Since the last four years, Varghese is the Provincial and Chairman of the Central Region (AP, Maharashtra, Goa andTanzania in East Africa) with headquarters in Hydrabad. In this capacity, he has the responsibility to administer, animate, formulate policies and execute them in the 34 institutions/programmes with over 3000 employees. Since August 2004, he is also the President of the Conference of Religious, India (CRI) which is a confederation of Chairman/Chairpersons and Provincials of over 800 different religious organisations in India, with headquarters in Okhla, Delhi.
He has basically been a Social Activist. His first experience of working with people was immediately after graduation, when he joined Grameen Vikas, a community based organisation involved in education and empowerment of the Santhal Tribal people in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. He was the founder Director of People’s Initiative Network in Hydrabad from 1990 to 2001. In this capacity he initiated work among the urban poor, particularly in 60 slums through a network of schools, youth groups and women’s groups. Founded campaign for Housing and Tenurial Rights (CHATRI) in 1997 to resist increasing evictions of slum people from their habitations in the name of development and beautification. This became an important housing rights movement in the city of Hyderabad advocating equity and protection of rights of the poor in urban planning. He is stillactively involved with PIN and CHATRI.
The most commendable work of PIN and CHATRI has been the effective resistance to the attempt to commercialize the banks of the Musi River. If implemented, the project would have destroyed the lakes and canal network flowing in to the river, seriously affecting the hundreds of low leying areas of the city, causing destructive floods. Thanks to the people’s movement he provided leadership to, the Rs.400 crores projects was shelved.
Protection of the environment that pays equal attention to the development, rights and livelihood of the poor remain his particular area of interest.
