Father Kunnunkal, a Jesuit priest, a Padma Shri awardee and one of the most influential figures in India’s post-Independence education system, died in Delhi on Wednesday evening. Best known for reshaping the Central Board of Secondary Education into a national benchmark, Father Kunnunkal served as the CBSE chairman from 1980 to 1987. “Because of the trust people had in him,” Gupta said, “principals and governing bodies were convinced.”Yet Father Kunnunkal rarely spoke about his achievements. He added that while serving as the DU Vice-Chancellor, he worked with Father Kunnunkal again when the latter chaired Jesus and Mary College, where he “made major improvements”. “Not just feeding the poor,” Edwin said, “but educating them.”Beyond education, Father Kunnunkal was a lifelong advocate of interfaith dialogue.