Selvanather was born at Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu. He was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Salem on 26 October 1941. He was appointed Bishop of Salem on 3 March 1949. He was consecrated by Bishop Henri-Aimé-Anatole Prunier on 1 May 1949.[2] He was the Bishop of Salem from 1949 to 1973 and participated in Second Vatican Council as a Council Father.[2] He was appointed as Archbishop in 1973, retiring on 24 June 1992. He was succeeded by Archbishop Michael Augustine as Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. He died on 14 October 1993.[citation needed]
Archbishop
As Archbishop, Selvanather was responsible for the establishment of Pondicherry Multipurpose Social Service Society (PMSSS) and South Arcot Multipurpose Social Service Society (SAMSSS).[1] He started St.Joseph’s College of Arts & Science and St.John’s College Seminary at Cuddalore. He also started Pope John Paul II College of Education at Pondicherry.[3]