Valson Thampu

Revd. Valson Thampu is an Indian educator, Christian theologian, who was the Principal of St Stephen's College, University of Delhi, Delhi, from 2008 to February 2016. Prior to this he was a lecturer at the college and its officiating principal since May 2007. He is a translator from Malayalam to English and his translation of ''The Scent of the Other Side'' won the Crossword award. His second translated work, ''Gift in Green'' was published by HarperCollins in 2011.

Prior to that he served as a Member of the Delhi Minorities Commission for two terms (2000 -2004) and Member, the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (2004-2007). He was nominated twice to the National Integration Council under the category, 'Distinguished Citizens of India'.

He was a controversial figure during his tenure as Principal of St. Stephen's, with numerous calls for his removal (particularly from alumni, as well as from professors at the institution). Under his leadership, St. Stephen's rose in national estimation and came to be ranked first among all colleges in India, for all courses taught in St. Stephen's.

He is an ordained minister of Church of North India and a member of the National Minorities Commission and Delhi Minorities Commission.

Thampu pursued Ph.D. in theology from Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences.

In view of the irreversible spiritual degeneration that churches in India have suffered, he renounced his priesthood in 2016. Provided by Wikipedia