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Dr. Paul Dhinakaran

Biography

About Dr. Paul Dhinakaran

Versatile Leader, Eminent Educationist, International Speaker, Compassionate Humanitarian

A Life Dedicated to Service

Dr. Paul Dhinakaran is the Chancellor of Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences (Deemed University), one of India's premier educational institutions located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Under his leadership, Karunya has grown to serve over 8,000 residential students from 29 states and union territories.

As Chairman of Jesus Calls Ministries, he leads a global prayer movement operating 100+ Prayer Towers across 12 countries, serving approximately 500,000 people who call for prayer each month. He also founded SEESHA in 2003, which has touched more than 3.5 million lives across 15 states in India.

Dr. Paul conducts Prayer Festivals across India that attract gatherings of 200,000 to 500,000 people at a single event, bringing messages of hope, healing, and compassion to people from all communities without discrimination.

Dr. Paul Dhinakaran portrait

Life Timeline

1962

Born 4 September

Dr. Paul Dhinakaran is born into a family dedicated to faith and service.

1970s

BSc Physics — Gold Medal

Graduates from Loyola College, Chennai with a Gold Medal in Physics.

1977

MBA, University of Madras

Completes Master of Business Administration from the University of Madras.

1979

PhD at Age 27

Becomes the youngest doctorate recipient in management at the University of Madras — the first student to achieve this distinction.

1986

Co-founds Karunya Institute

Establishes Karunya Institute of Technology on a 720-acre campus near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, driven by a divine mandate to raise bright young leaders.

1989

Marries Evangeline

Begins a family life built on prayer. Together they raise three children: Samuel, Sharon, and Sweety.

2003

Founds SEESHA

Launches the humanitarian arm of his mission, dedicated to serving the poorest communities across India.

2008

Assumes Full Leadership

Following the passing of his father Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran, takes full leadership of Jesus Calls Ministries.

2014

Ruth Mizell Award

Receives the Dr. Ruth Mizell Award for Christian Statesmanship at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C.

Present

Ongoing Global Ministry

Continues to lead Karunya University (NAAC A++ accreditation), expand the global prayer network, and deepen SEESHA's humanitarian reach.

Academic Credentials

BSc Physics

Gold Medal

Loyola College, Chennai

MBA

1977

University of Madras

PhD in Management

1979 — Age 27

University of Madras

Doctor of Divinity

Honorary

Canada Christian College, Toronto

Government Appointments

National Monitoring Committee

Member of the National Monitoring Committee for Minority Education, appointed by the Government of India.

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

Governing Council Member of India's flagship programme for universalisation of elementary education.

Bharathiar University

Syndicate Member for two consecutive terms, Tamil Nadu.

Built Through Prayer

The Dhinakaran family

Dr. Paul Dhinakaran is blessed with a loving family. He married Evangeline in 1989, and together they have three children — Samuel, Sharon, and Sweety — each carrying forward the family's legacy of faith and service.

“Truly, Christ is the head of our home and our family has been built through prayer and prayer alone.”

— Dr. Paul Dhinakaran

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