Thrissur: After completing a nine-day series of classes and lectures in Qatar, Fr Harshajan returned and opened his e-mail. Invitations to conduct sessions have already arrived from Saudi Arabia and Dubai. A reminder has also come from Michigan University in the United States.

Fr Harshajan Pazhayattil, who joined the Franciscan Capuchin Order as a priest at the age of 18, is now 91. His energy in both words and deeds remains youthful. He is the founder, founding director and manager of Prajyoti Niketan College, Puthukkad, Thrissur.

His world expanded when, in 1973, he travelled to the United States with a full scholarship as part of his studies. He conducted research in holistic clinical psychology under Dr Rollo May, regarded as a pioneer of 20th-century holistic clinical psychology.

His doctoral dissertation was submitted to Michigan University in 1985. He has visited 22 countries, including Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Brunei and the Philippines. He is also preparing to travel to Saudi Arabia and Dubai. He holds two research degrees and two postgraduate degrees. He has written five books.

Fr Harshajan’s holistic method of teaching gave equal importance to medicine, education and social wellbeing.

His first book, Holistic Health Care, was written after completing a one-year programme in counselling and psychotherapy at Ollur CMC in 1969.

There is high demand for Fr Harshajan’s classes on the holistic approach in many foreign countries. As a result, he receives more than ₹1.5 lakh per hour. All the income is spent on Prajyoti Niketan College. The institution is an aided college run without charging management fees. Fr Harshajan and the college have together received 23 awards.

Fr Harshajan is the son of Paulose and Rosamma. When he joined the priesthood, he changed his given name—Ouseph—to Harshajan in 1965, inspired by its Sanskrit meaning. His elder brother, Fr Gabriel Pazhayattil, a former superior general of the Franciscan Order and founder of five orphanages, is also a priest.