Our Founder

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Our Founder

Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara (1805-1871) founded the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). His vision of “Education for All” is manifest in our institution. He was a great educationist and held a deep respect for learning.

He was a champion of social reform and founded the first Catholic Sanskrit School in 1846.

He also established seminaries for education and formation of the clergy, a publishing house, a home for the dying and the destitute as well as schools for general education.He has left his indelible marks in the spheres of education, social reform, media, culture and religious formation. India’s first indigenous religious congregation for men, CMI (Carmelites of Mary Immaculate) was his brainchild. As a champion of social reform and a man who stood for integration, he has bequeathed us a legacy which we at Christ proudly uphold.