Thomas Kunnunkal

Thomas V. Kunnunkal (3 July 1926 – 28 January 2026) was an Indian Jesuit priest, educationist and writer. He was a onetime chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), a onetime director of the Indian Social Institute, New Delhi (2008–2009), and the President of the Islamic Studies Association, a non-governmental organization promoting religious harmony. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri in 1974.

Biography Thomas Kunnunkal was born on 3 July 1926 in Alappuzha, a coastal town in Travancore, and completed his school education at a local boarding school. majoring in English, Philosophy, Theology, Educational Administration and Educational Measurement, after which he joined the Society of Jesus on 20 June 1945. He headed the Central Board of Secondary Education of the Government of India from 1980 to 1987 a position he served in until 1992.

He served two central government commissions, the National Commission for Teachers (1983) and the National Commission for Review of National Education Policy (1987) as a member. He was also associated with the Islamic Studies Association as its president and with Dharma Bharati Mission as an associate. He published a book, The Role of Teachers in National Regeneration, which was released in 2005.