Arvind Nirmal obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Milind Mahavidyalaya in Aurangabad, after which he was selected to study at the United Theological College Bangalore, where he earned his Bachelor of Divinity (Bachelor's Degree) Degree from Serampore University. He further earned a Diploma in Christian Studies from Montreal, Canada as well as an M.Th degree from the Serampore University again. In 1973 he moved to Oxford to study at Keble College, where he obtained a Bachelor
He questioned the Christian conversion of the upper castes, especially the Brahmin. A major proponent of Dalit theology, Nirmal argued that Jesus himself was a Dalit and that Christian theology should therefore reflect Dalit concerns. Nirmal drew on the concept of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53 to identify Jesus himself as a Dalit – "a waiter, a dhobi, and bhangi." Arvind Paulus Nirmal was born on 9 May 1936 in Jalna, Maharashtra.
He spent his early years in Jalna, attending school and went to college at Milind Mahavidyalaya in Aurangabad.
Before moving to Dahipuri, he would travel the distance on his bicycle. He was again selected to do his M.Th (Masters in Theology) at UTC Bangalore, where he then joined as a faculty, teaching Systematic Theology.
Nirmal criticised Brahminic dominance of Christian theology in India, and believed that the application of liberation theology to India should reflect the struggle of Dalits, Nirmal also criticised the Marxist element within South American liberation theology.
