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Welcome to Santhigiri institute of management
St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, the revered founder of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), stands as the guiding light of Santhigiri Institute of Management. The institute is administered by the CMI Fathers of the Carmel Province, Muvattupuzha, Kerala—an institution rooted in the vision and legacy of this extraordinary spiritual leader, educational pioneer, and social reformer of nineteenth-century India.
Born in 1805 at Kainakary in Kerala, St. Chavara received his early education in his native village and later pursued priestly formation. He was ordained in 1829 and soon became a key figure in advancing the intellectual and social upliftment of society. Coming from a respected Syrian Christian family, he dedicated his life to improving access to education, particularly for those on the margins.
In 1846, he established St. Joseph’s Press at Mannanam, the third printing press in Kerala and the first initiated by a native without foreign assistance. This pioneering venture gave rise to Nasrani Deepika, the first Malayalam newspaper, which evolved into the daily Deepika, still in circulation today. In the same year, he founded a school in Mannanam, initiating what would become a widespread movement for accessible education.
St. Chavara also introduced the concept of midday meals for school children, a compassionate practice later adopted by the Travancore government and eventually expanded across India. In 1864, while serving as the Vicar General of the Syrian Catholic community, he directed that every church establish a school, significantly accelerating literacy and ensuring free education for all. This initiative led to schools becoming popularly known as pallikudams in Kerala.
Alongside Fr. Palackal Thoma Malpan and Fr. Porukara Thoma, he co-founded the religious congregation known today as the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI)—the first indigenous Catholic congregation for men in India. He was equally committed to the empowerment of women and founded the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC), the first religious order for women in the country, emphasizing education as a pathway to societal progress.
St. Chavara entered eternal rest on 3 January 1871 at Koonammavu, near Kochi. He was beatified in 1986 at Kottayam and canonized by Pope Francis on 23 November 2014 at St. Peter’s Square in Rome. His remarkable contributions to education, social reform, and spiritual leadership continue to inspire institutions across the nation.
In recognition of his invaluable service, the Government of India issued a commemorative postal stamp in his honour in 1986. Today, the CMI congregation, with over 2,300 members, remains committed to advancing education, social welfare, healthcare, and pastoral activities. As part of this legacy, Santhigiri Institute of Management upholds the CMI commitment to providing inclusive, value-based, and excellence-driven education, fostering the holistic development and well-being of every learner who enters its community.