Felix Raj

John Felix Raj, S.J. (born 1954) is the Vice Chancellor and a Professor of Economics at St. Xavier's University, Kolkata. His specialisation includes development economics, liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation, public sector, disinvestment, spirituality, leadership skills and training. He received Ph.D. degree in Economics from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. He is the director of The Goethals Indian Library and Research Society.

Born in 1954 in Poolangudi, Ramnad District, Tamil Nadu, to Mr. S. A. Susai and Mrs Kitheriammal Susai, both teachers, Raj had his early education as virtue and vocation. He had his schooling at St. Michael's School, Sengudi and completed high school at St. Mary's Tuticorin (Thuthugudi), South India. He was School Pupils Leader (SPL) at St. Mary's. After his Pre University Studies in St. Joseph's College Trichy, he joined the Calcutta Province of the Society of Jesus, an International Religious Order in 1973. He went through his early Jesuit formation of Novitiate and Juniorate at Xavier Teacher Training Institute, Patna for three years.

Raj graduated with Economics from Loyola College, Chennai in 1980. During his studies at Chennai, he involved himself in the activities of All India Catholic University Federation, a University Student Movement. He represented the AICUF in the Conference of Asian Catholic Students Federation held in Penang in 1979. He has been active in this University Student Movement for more than 35 years. In 1989 he took over as the West Bengal State Adviser to the AICUF.

Raj completed his Masters in Economics at St. Joseph's College, Trichy in 1982. He secured the first rank and was awarded a gold medal. He completed his Philosophy studies from Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth (JDV), Pune in 1984 and joined the Department of Economics, St. Xavier's College, Kolktata as faculty. After two years, Raj studied a three-year Theology course from Vidya Jothi College, Delhi in 1989 and was ordained as a priest in Trichy on 23 April 1989. He rejoined the economics faculty of St. Xavier's College, Kolkata in 1989 where he served for 33 years as professor, Vice-Principal, Rector and Principal. He belongs to the Calcutta Province of the Society of Jesus and resides now at the Jesuit Community of the St. Xavier's University, New Town, Kolkata.

Fr. Felix Raj was appointed member of the West Bengal Education Commission by the Governor of West Bengal to prepare a Road Map / Vision Document for 2020 and 2030 for the state's education sector since 1 October 2013.

In the year 2015, Father Raj had initiated two educational projects:, a campus of St. Xavier's College at St. Lawrence Higher Secondary School premises inaugurated 4 July 2015 and a new St. Xavier's College in Asansol inaugurated on 25 July 2015.

Dr. Raj's dream of setting up of a Jesuit University became a reality when the SXUK Act 2016 was unanimously passed in the West Bengal Assembly in January 2017. He was appointed the first Vice-Chancellor of the University in February 2017.

Under Fr. Felix Raj’s committed leadership and democratic governance, St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata secured the highest score of 3.77 CGPA out of 4 in the NAAC accreditation declared on 24 January 2017.

Father Felix Raj S.J., the (then) principal of St. Xavier's College, Kolkata took over as the first Vice-Chancellor of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata with effect from 16 February 2017. He, however, continued holding the post as the Principal of the College as well as the V.C. of the University till 31 October 2017. The Act for setting up the St. Xavier's university, which is operational from 8 February, the date of notification by the Government of West Bengal, was unanimously passed by the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on 15 December. Governor K.N. Tripathi gave his consent to the bill on 16 January.