Virginia Rajakumari

The Reverend Sister Virginia Rajakumari, SAB[4] Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne, Bangalore (SAB)[1]
Born	Virginia Rajakumari Sandiyagu (1965-10-08) October 8, 1965 (age 59)[4]
Nationality	Indian
Other names	V. R. Sandiyagu
Occupation	Spiritual Formator
Years active	21st century
Known for	Scholarship in Biblical Studies
Title	The Reverend Sister
Board member of	Society for Biblical Studies in India (President) Bible Commission, Archdiocese of Bangalore (Secretary)[9] Sisters of St. Anne, Bangalore (General Councilor)[10] St. Anne’s Educational Society, Bangalore (Governing Councilor)[11]
Relatives	Fr. Ignatius Anthappa
Academic background
Education	B.Th. (DVK) (1995)[1] M.Th. (SPPI) (1997)[1] M.A. (KU Leuven) (2004)[2] Ph.D. (Ku Leuven) (2008)[2]
Alma mater	Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram (DVK),[1] Bangalore St. Peter's Pontifical Institute (SPPI),[1] Bangalore Maria-Theresia College,[3] Leuven (Belgium)
Thesis	Women as Eyewitnesses to the Christian Kerygma: The Galilean Women in the Redaction of Luke: An Exegetical Study of Luke 8:1-3 (2008)
Doctoral advisor	Dr. Reimund Bieringer
Other advisors	Fr. Lucien Legrand, MEP, Fr. P. A. Sampath Kumar
Influences	Feminism
Academic work
Era	21st century
Discipline	Biblical Studies
Sub-discipline	New Testament
School or tradition	Theology
Institutions	Bangalore SDB-Kristu Jyoti College, Krishnarajapuram[4] St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary, Malleswaram[1] National Biblical, Catechetical & Liturgical Centre, Banaswadi[5] Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bannerghatta Road[6] Indian Institute of Spirituality, Rajajinagara[7] Mysore Dhyanavana - International Institute of Spirituality, R. S. Naidu Nagar[8]
Main interests	Women's participation in the Church
Notable ideas	Women in Christianity
Influenced	Biblical hermeneutics

Virginia Rajakumari Sandiyagu (born 8 October 1965[4]) is a Biblical scholar belonging to Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne, Bangalore (SAB). She teaches Sacred Scriptures at Kristu Jyoti College, Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore. Rajakumari is known for Biblical hermeneutics,[12] especially her research on re-reading[13] scriptures that hitherto relegated women to the background. Her re-interpretation has shed new light on importance[14] of women in Old Testament and New Testament.

Early life and education

Sandiyagu, V. R. professed as a Nun on 21 May 1985[4] with Sisters of St. Anne of Bangalore (SAB). She studied in Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore, graduating in 1995[1] with a B.Th. degree. She continued her studies in St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary, enrolling in a postgraduate course leading to M.Th.. The faculty included Lucien Legrand, MEP and P. A. Sampath Kumar. Sandiyagu graduated in 1997.[1]

In the 2000s, Sandiyagu enrolled with KU Leuven in Leuven, Belgium, where she was guided by Reimund Bieringer. In 2004,[2] she graduated with a M.A.[2] degree and continued her studies at KU Leuven, enrolling in a doctoral programme. She studied in Maria-Theresia College.[3] During her time at KU Leuven, Sandiyagu also took part in an International research project Mary Magdalene and the Touching of Jesus. An Intra- and Interdisciplinary Investigation of the Interpretation of John 20,17 in Exegesis, Iconography and Pastoral Care.[15] In 2008, Sandiyagu graduated with a Ph.D. degree. Her dissertation was listed in fr:Revue théologique de Louvain.[16]

Career

Sandiyagu teaches Sacred Scriptures at Salesians of Don Bosco-run Kristu Jyoti College, Krishnarajapuram as a permanent faculty. She also teaches as a guest faculty at St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary, Malleswaram,[1] National Biblical, Catechetical & Liturgical Centre, Banaswadi[6] and Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bannerghatta Road[6]

As a scholar in Biblical Studies, Sandiyagu is engaged in scripture engagement as Secretary of Bible Commission, Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops' Council[9] In November 2024, she got elected as President of Society for Biblical Studies in India for biennium 2024-2026, succeeding Old Testament Scholar, K. Jesurathnam, STBC.

She is on the Council of Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne, Bangalore as General Councilor.[10] Sandiyagu is also Governing Councilor of St. Anne’s Educational Society, Bangalore that manages St. Anne's First Grade College for Women in Bangalore.[11]

Notable works

• Sandiyagu, V.R. (2004). Galilean Women in the Company of Jesus: A Text-Critical and Syntactical Analysis of Luke 8:1-3 (M.A. thesis). KU Leuven. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
• ——— (2005). "Review: Filiop Noël, The Travel Narrative in the Gospel of Luke, Interpretation of Lk 9,51-19,28 (Collectanea Biblica et Religiosa Antiqua, 5)". Bijdragen: Tijdschrift voor Filosofie en Theologie. 66 (3): 343–352. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
• ——— (January 2006). "ἕτερος and ἄλλος in Luke". Novum Testamentum. 48 (2): 105–130. doi:10.1163/156853606777065350. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
• ——— (2007). "Misreading Mary Magdalene: a critical review of Bruce Chilton's recent book on Mary Magdalene". Bijdragen, International Journal in Philosophy and Theology. 68 (1): 87–104. doi:10.2143/BIJ.68.1.2019445. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
• ——— (2008). Women as Eyewitnesses to the Christian Kerygma: The Galilean Women in the Redaction of Luke: An Exegetical Study of Luke 8:1-3 (Ph.D. thesis). K.U.Leuven. Faculteit Godgeleerdheid. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
• ——— (2008). "Joanna in Biblical Scholarship: Fact or Fiction?". Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Reflection. 72: 340–355.
• ——— (March 2009). "Women's Prayer in the Bible: A Contextual Understanding in Reference to the Psalms". Kristu Jyoti. 25 (1): 25–42.
• ——— (September 2009). "The crucial role of Women in fostering inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue in the Asian context". Ethics and Society. 1 (1): 152–165. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
• ——— (2019). "Discipleship in Luke: Struggles in Interpretation and Living". Malabar Theological Review. 14 (1/2): 110–132. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
• ——— (December 2020). "Daughters of Zelophehad: Story of Inheritance and Influence". Asian Horizons. 14 (4): 988–1004. Retrieved 17 November 2024.

Professional and academic associations
Preceded by K. Jesurathnam, STBC	President, Society for Biblical Studies in India 2024-2026	Succeeded by Incumbent

References

1. Machado, Felix; de Lima, Gilbert; Fernandes, Stephen (September 2009). "About the Authors" (PDF). Ethics and Society. 1 (1): 1–6. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
2. Ibita, MA Marilou S.; Kurek-Chomycz, Dominika; Lemmelijn, Benedicte (2023). Kindness, Courage, and Integrity in Biblical Texts and in the Politics of Biblical Interpretation: Festschrift Reimund Bieringer. Peeters. doi:10.2307/jj.3919375. ISBN 978-90-429-5048-1.
3. Doctoral Committee - Doctoraatscommissie Nr. 2, 2007/02/09 - 02.00 p.m. – 09/02/2007 – 14.00 uur Maria Theresia College 00.12 Sint-Michielsstraat 6, 3000 Leuven (PDF) (Report). KU Leuven. 14 February 2007. p. 2. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
4. "Kristu Jyoti College, Bangalore". KJC, Bangalore. Kristu Jyoti College. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
5. "National Biblical, Catechetical & Liturgical Centre". NBCLC. 17 November 2024.
6. "Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram". DVK. 17 November 2024.
7. "Indian Institute of Spirituality - Faculty". Indian Institute of Spirituality. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
8. "Dhyanavana - The Teaching Faculty". Dhyanavana. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
9. "Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops' Council, Commission for Bible". KRCBC. 17 November 2024.
10. "Sisters of St. Anne, Bangalore". SAB. 17 November 2024.
11. "St. Anne's Educational Society". SAES. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
12. Nico., Riemersma (2016). Aan de dode een wonder gedaan : Een exegetisch-hermeneutische studie naar de dodenopwekking in Lucas 7,11-17 in relatie tot 1 Koningen 17,17-24 en Vita Apollonii IV,45 (PDF) (Ph.D. thesis). Uitgeverij 2VM : Bergambacht. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
13. Kattampally, Tomy Thomas (March 2021). ""Review: Sandiyagu, Virginia Rajakumari, Women as Eyewitnesses to the Christian Kerygma. The Galilean Women in the Redaction of Luke: An Exegetical Study of Luke 8:1-3, Bengaluru: Kristu Jyoti Publications, 2017"". Asian Horizons. 15 (1): 194–196. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
14. Areeparampil, Merline (2009). A relevant Theology of women empowerment in the contemporary Catholic Church and society in India with special reference to mulieris dignitatem (PDF) (Ph.D. thesis). KU Leuven. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
15. KU Leuven (2008). CONF: Noli me tangere: Text, Image, Context (Rome, 2-3 Apr 08). In: ArtHist.net, Mar 14, 2008 (PDF) (Report). KU Leuven. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
16. "Index international des dissertations doctorales en théologie et en droit canonique présentées en 2008". Revue Théologique de Louvain. 40 (4): 613–664. 2009. doi:10.2143/RTL.40.4.2042732. Retrieved 17 November 2024.