Biography
About Dr. Paul Dhinakaran
Versatile Leader, Eminent Educationist, International Speaker, Compassionate Humanitarian
Biography
Versatile Leader, Eminent Educationist, International Speaker, Compassionate Humanitarian
Professional Summary
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, India. 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.
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Milestones
Dr. Paul Dhinakaran is born into a family dedicated to faith and service.
Graduates from Loyola College, Chennai, India.
Completes Master of Business Administration from the University of Madras.
Establishes Karunya Institute of Technology near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India — born of a divine mandate to raise a generation of young leaders equipped to find solutions to humanity's pressing problems. The campus has since grown to 720 acres.
On 27 February 1989, becomes the youngest doctorate recipient in management at the University of Madras.
Begins a family life built on prayer. Together they raise three children: Samuel, Sharon, and Stella.
Launches the humanitarian arm of his mission, dedicated to serving the poorest communities across India.
Becomes Chancellor of Karunya University, India, advancing its mission of finding solutions to pressing human problems through education, research, and service.
Receives the Dr. Ruth Mizell Award for Christian Statesmanship at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
Continues to lead Karunya University (NAAC A++ accreditation), driving its four research verticals — water, food, healthcare, and sustainable energy — while expanding the global prayer network and deepening SEESHA's humanitarian reach.
Qualifications
BSc Physics
1982
Loyola College, Chennai, India
MBA
1984
University of Madras
PhD in Management
1989 — Age 26
University of Madras
Doctor of Divinity
Honorary
Canada Christian College, Toronto
Government Service
Member of the National Monitoring Committee for Minority Education, appointed by the Government of India.
Governing Council Member of India's flagship programme for universalisation of elementary education.
Syndicate Member for two consecutive terms, Tamil Nadu, India.
Family
Dr. Paul Dhinakaran is blessed with a loving family. He married Evangeline in 1989, and together they have three children — Samuel, Sharon, and Stella — 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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