Kanajar, July 20: Fr. Jacob Aranha has been awarded Ph.D.by Veer Bahadur Singh, Purvanchal University, Jaunpur,U.P. for his thesis entitled " Economic Empowerment Of Dalit Women In Eastern Uttar Pradesh : A Study of Mediated Change Through Voluntary Agencies." Fr. Jacob Aranha is son of Mr.(late) Abraham Aranha and Mrs. Pauline Aranha of Our Lady Of Lourdes Church,Kanajar. He is a Diocesan Priest of Varanasi,U.P.

Fr.Jacob Aranha did his Primary Education at Lourdes Higher Primary School, Kanajar and High School from Govt.High School, Bailur. Then he responded to God's call to serve Him as a missionary, went to St.Charles Seminary,Nagpur,Maharastra. There he completed his Philosophy and Theology, along with P.U.C. and B.A. from St.Francis DeSales College, Nagpur. He was Ordained a Priest for Varanasi Diocese by Most Rev. Dr.Patrick Paul D'Souza on April 2,1984. He completed his Post Graduate in Economics from Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth,Varanasi in good first division and B.Ed from St. Xavier
College, Mumbai.

He served seven years as lecturer of Economics in Hartmann Inter College,Dt.Ghazipur, U.P.( Govt. aided College). He was Principal of St.Thomas Inter College,Shahganj,Jaunpur.U.P. (Govt. aided college) for fifteen years. Due to his ill health he has taken voluntary retirement from school. At present he is the parish priest of Fatima Church, Dt.Mau.U.P.

By: Anil Menezes