John Felix Raj

John Felix Raj is the Founder Vice-Chancellor and a professor of economics at St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK), India. He is a Jesuit priest of the Calcutta province of the Society of Jesus. He was the Rector from 1996 to 2002 and Principal from 2009 to 2017 of St. Xavier's College, Kolkata.

Raj was born on 26 August 1954 in Poolangudi, Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu. He completed his school education at St. Michael's School, Sengudi and at St. Mary's High School, Thoothukudi.

He joined the Jesuit Order in 1974 at the age of 20. He graduated from Loyola College, Chennai in 1980 in Economics and acquired a master's degree from St Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli. He underwent his Jesuit training of philosophy in Pune at JDV and theology at Delhi Vidyajothi Institute respectively. He was ordained priest on 23 April 1989. He completed his Ph.D. in economics in Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata.

Since 1996, Raj is the Director and Secretary of the Goethals Indian Library and Research Society in Kolkata.

Raj opened a rural campus at Raghabpur for St. Xavier's College, Kolkata in 2014. Raj took over as the first Vice-Chancellor of St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (SXUK) from 16 February 2017.

Raj was named Banga Bibhushan and Siksha Ratna in 2014 and 2016 respectively by the West Bengal government.

Almost 25, 000 individuals have signed a petition for initiating disciplinary action against Mr. Felix Raj that was started by an alumnus of St. Xavier's College to protest against an allegedly forced resignation of a female faculty member from St. Xavier's University.

As per the said female faculty member, the allegedly forced resignation effected under the administration of Mr. Felix Raj at St. Xavier's University was a result of a shocking breach of her digital privacy and leakage of fairly usual and mundane photographs wherein she was wearing beachwear. She had posted these pictures as "Instagram Stories" [temporarily visible for only 24 Hours on her private profile] much before she started her employment with St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, therefore there was no proper and usual way for such pictures to be viewed by any stakeholder of the University while she was actually employed there. These private images of her dressed in beachwear could not have been circulated and/or viewed by any person at the time she was still tendering her services to the University unless her right toprivacy was flagrantly violated.

In sum and substance, she has alleged that she was personally victimised, professionally maligned and economically prejudiced for alleged lapses that cannot be logically attributed to her and, in any case, have no reasonable nexus with her capabilities as a competent teaching professional.

As per media reports the said female faculty member has been threatened with retaliatory legal action for defamation seeking damages of Rs. 99 Crore for her alleged statements protesting against her mistreatment by the University. The wiki editor has tried his utmost best to present a neutral account of the dispute involving apowerful, male figure and a young , female academic that has grave ramifications for constitutional rights in the digital age. Links in support of almost every statement have been shared.

• Raj Felix (2020). Waves – Story Bank, St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Alumni Association, Kolkata. ISBN 978-93-89734-49-2.
• Raj John Felix, Roy Samrat, Hati Koushik (2016). Indian Economy: A Visionary Perspective, New Delhi, Regal Publications, ISBN 978-81-8484-524-2.
• Raj, J. Felix (2013). Disinvestment in India : Trends, Problems and Prospects. Regal Publications. ISBN 978-81-8484-205-0.
• Sen, Raj Kumar; Raj, J. Felix (2008). Indian economy : economic ideas, development, and financial reforms. New Delhi: Deep & Deep Publications. ISBN 978-81-8450-055-4.
• Sen, Raj Kumar; Raj, John Felix (2009). WTO and Asian Union. Deep & Deep Publications. ISBN 978-81-8450-205-3.