Stanley Jedidiah Samartha

Stanley Jedidiah Samartha (; 7 October 1920 – 22 July 2001) was an Indian theologian and a participant in inter-religious dialogue. brings Samartha in the line of thinking of M. M. Thomas (an Indian thinker) and Raimundo Panikkar (a Catholic Priest) terming them as the "Great Three" of whom Samartha was very involved in the developments in the Church in India.

Early life and education Stanley Jedidiah was born on 7 October 1920 in Karkala, Karnataka into a pastoral family. His mother was a primary school Teacher while his father was a Pastor with the Basel Evangelical Mission. Stanley had his education at the Basel Evangelical Mission High School of his Professors, particularly Marcus Ward and P. D. Devanandan. In 1945, he was awarded the graduate degree of BD from the Seminary.

Pastor and lecturership From 1945 to 1947, Mangalore beginning from the academic year 1947 – 1948 to teach Theology and Religions. After availing study leave for the period 1949–1952 Samartha returned to the Seminary and resumed teaching responsibilities.

The Basel Evangelical Mission ordained S. J. Samartha on 30 March 1952. It was during Samartha's period at Mangalore that the Seminary became affiliated which eventually got published.

In 1950, in 1951. Samartha's doctoral thesis was entitled The Modern Hindu View of History according to Representative Thinkers.

After completion of doctoral studies at Hartford Theological Seminary in 1951, Samartha spent a year at Basel, Switzerland at the invitation of the Basel Mission Board.

Appraisal by other Scholars Israel Selvanayagam, Principal, United Theological College, Bengaluru.

Andreas Anangguru Yewangoe of Indonesia: