President’s Message about the Revised & Enlarged edition of the ACPI Encyclopedia of Philosophy #

As President of the Association of Christian Philosophers of India (ACPI), I am privileged to present this Revised and Enlarged Edition of the ACPI Encyclopedia of Philosophy, offered as a Golden Jubilee Souvenir marking fifty years of our Association (1976–2026). What began as a pioneering effort in 2010 has now matured into a more comprehensive three-volume work, reflecting the growth of philosophical inquiry among Christian thinkers in India and their sustained engagement with the wider intellectual world.

In today’s India and across the globe, the need for rigorous, dialogical philosophy has never been more urgent. Our society continues to wrestle with rapid technological change, polarised identities, ecological crises, and the persistent temptation to prioritise power and possession over human dignity. Philosophy, especially in the Indian tradition of open debate and mutual respect, offers a vital corrective. It trains us to examine motivations, cultivate compassion, and seek justice through reasoned conversation rather than force. As the Dalai Lama reminded us in his foreword to the first edition, dialogue remains the most practical path to resolving conflicts in an interdependent world. This Encyclopedia stands as a concrete contribution to that vision: a resource that gathers diverse voices, clarifies concepts, and invites readers into the ongoing practice of critical yet charitable thinking.

I express deep gratitude to all who have made this project possible. First and foremost, to our Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Johnson J. Puthenpurackal, OFM Cap, whose scholarly leadership and tireless coordination have guided the work from its original conception to this substantially expanded form. I thank the Associate Editors, Dr. John Peter Vallabadoss, OFM Cap, and Dr. George Panthanmackel, MSFS, together with the entire Editorial Board of sectional editors whose specialised expertise ensured breadth and depth across the entries. The Project Editors, Editorial Consultants, Technical Support, Administrative Team, Manuscript Coordinator, and those responsible for text arrangement, formatting, indexing, and proofreading deserve special recognition for their meticulous labour.

I am equally grateful to the many ACPI member-writers and external contributors whose articles form the living substance of these volumes, and to ATC Publishers for their professional partnership in bringing the work to print.

With a heart full of gratitude, I acknowledge the financial contributions of many individuals, institutions, Archdioceses/Dioceses, and the Provinces of many religious congregations.

May this Encyclopedia not merely occupy library shelves but serve as a working companion for students, teachers, researchers, and all who seek wisdom. May it strengthen the culture of dialogue that India has long modelled and that the world so urgently needs. On behalf of the Association of Christian Philosophers of India, I offer this Golden Jubilee volume with hope and thanksgiving.

Prof. Dr. Nishant A. Irudayadason

President, ACPI