Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Aug 24: Rev Dr N J Thomas Ramban (96), who had served as vicar general of SMS Cathedral Brahmavar in the district, and also as the convener of different educational institutions being run under its banner, breathed his last on Saturday August 23.

Born in Mavelikara in Kerala in 1918, Dr Thomas happened to be the founder member of Mt Tabor Dayara. He had functioned as the principal of prestigious St Stephen College in Kerala, and as the manager of Catholicate Palace at Devalokam, Kottayam, which happens to be the headquarters of Orthodox Syrian Church here.

After securing doctorate from Germany, he emerged as a champion of discipline, fine oratory, writer, educationist, administrator, and priest. After his appointment as the vicar general of SMS Cathedral in Brahmavar in 1986, Dr Thomas took upon himself the task of executing a number of development works there. He began to perform religious procedures in Syriac language in place of Latin. SMS College Brahmavar, which was in the infant stage when he took over, grew in leaps and bounds during his tenure. He also worked tirelessly to realize the dream of setting up SMS English Medium School (CBSE) at Brahmavar, and worked as its founder president.

Dr Thomas stuck to simple lifestyle, and remained active even during his old age. He penned over ten works, and a number of Konkani priests functioning now had undergone seminary education and ordained as priests under his guidance. His death has been mourned by priests, parishioners, CBSE society and others from the cathedral and 11 chapels attached to it.