K. Rajaratnam, economics teacher and a leader of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India, passed away here on Wednesday. He was 89 and is survived by a son and three daughters.

Born and raised in Tirupati, Professor Rajaratnam obtained his doctorate in economics from the London School of Economics after completing his college education at the Madras Christian College, Chennai. He taught at various colleges, including the Andhra Christian College, Guntur, the Madras Christian College, Chennai, and at the University of Madras.

The National Council of Churches in India paid rich tributes to K. Rajaratnam, its former president, who passed way Wednesday in Chennai. He was 89 and is survived by a son and three daughters.

The NCCI, a forum of the Protestant and Orthodox Churches, paid “rich tributes to the Charisma” of the layperson, an economics professor, who “led the Ecumenical movement in India.”

“Many of the unique firsts and fruits of the ecumenical movement in India can be attributed to the late leader, the NCCI said in a statement.

“The ability to sight and train young leadership in fields of Church and Ecumenism, and the courage to trust mission and movement in untested potential of persons anew bear witness to the faith that he had in people as co-workers with God,” it said.

He was president of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and chairman of the Commission of Dalits and Adivasis' Concern of the NCCI. He introduced new departments such as the Division of Social Action, New Gurukul Theological College and Research Institute, and the National Lutheran Health Medical Board, which led to the establishment of the Martin Luther Christian University, Shillong, of which his son K.M. Shyamprasad is now the Chancellor.

Professor Rajaratnam established the Centre for Research on New International Economic Order (CReNIO) recognized by the UGC, Madras University and Bharatidasan University for Ph.D. and M.Phil. studies, and he was active during his stint at the University of Madras in various capacities.

He was involved with various NGOs especially working on Dalits and rural issues in Orissa and Tamil Nadu. Mr. Shyamprasad said he was active in education and social causes and had stepped down as the Master of Serampore College last month.

He was director of CReNIO at the time of his death.