Touching the Untouchable: India Targets Christian Converts [Breakpoint]

Breakpoint.org ^ | May 3, 2004 | Chuck Colson

[Paul_B]

For nearly her entire life, Muniyamal Krishnan has worked around human waste. In her job as a "human scavenger," she has cleaned latrines and carried buckets of waste on her head. Obviously, she didn't choose this line of work; it was all she could get -- and for religious, not economic reasons. Krishnan is an "untouchable," the lowest caste in Hindu society.

For millennia, the "untouchables" have suffered unimaginable discrimination at the hands of their fellow Hindus. As a result, millions have converted to other faiths, including Christianity. But now, Hindu nationalists, with the Indian government's blessing, want to deny them that opportunity.

In Hinduism, the "untouchables," who call themselves "dalits," are said to be the descendants of the illegitimate children of the union of prehistoric lower- and upper-caste people. Their place in life is believed to be deserved. As Stephanie Giry, an editor at FOREIGN AFFAIRS magazine, recently wrote, the belief in the dalits' "tainted origin" forced them into "the most squalid jobs."

The resulting social structure is every bit as oppressive and dehumanizing as apartheid. Dalits are forced to worship in different temples and aren't allowed to eat or drink in their employers' homes.

For many dalits, the best way to escape the misery to which Hinduism consigns them is conversion to another faith, especially Christianity. I have preached in Indian prisons and seen "untouchables" flock to Christ. Conversion, however, doesn't mean an end to discrimination, since their Hindu neighbors still view them as "untouchables," and because they become Christians, they forfeit Indian government programs put into place to benefit them.

Still, as a non-Christian dalit leader told Giry, conversion to Christianity is worth it to his people. He said that his people "gain dignity and access to the Christian community's vast network of social services." He then added, "whatever the government can do for dalits, Christian missionaries can do better."

But if the Indian ruling party, the BJP, has its way, dalits will no longer have that option. The BJP, which espouses Hindu supremacy, has introduced the Orwellian -- named "Freedom of Religion Bill" in India's Gujarat state. It punishes anyone who converts another person through "allurement" with three years in prison and a $2,200 fine, an enormous sum by Indian standards. The law prohibits conversions performed by "religious priests," meaning Christianity and Islam, since Hindu and Buddhist conversion rites aren't officiated.

Giry points out, as well, that the law instructs local magistrates, mostly upper-caste Hindus, to look for any evidence of "allurement," which is conveniently, by the way, undefined. Thus, the people who have oppressed the dalits for generations have the authority to block their conversions. And this statute is considered a model for similar legislation across India.

This year, India will be a subject of debate in the presidential campaign because of the "outsourcing" of American jobs to Indian firms. We need to insist that the talk in the campaign go beyond "call centers" and computer programmers. If we're putting business in India, our policy- makers ought to be demanding that India respect the most basic of human freedoms, freedom of religion.

For printer-friendly version, visit http://www.breakpoint.org and simply click on Today's Commentary at the top of the homepage. The printer- friendly link is on the left-hand column.

FURTHER READING & INFORMATION Stephanie Giry, "Chennai Dispatch: SOL," NEW REPUBLIC, 26 April 2004. (Available to subscribers only.) https://ssl.tnr.com/p/docsub.mhtml?i=20040426&s=giry042604

Daniel Lak, "Dalits' political awakening," BBC NEWS, 28 September 1999. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/459591.stm

Nirmala Ganapathy, "In Venkaiah's town, Dalits can't share the well," INDIAN EXPRESS, 26 April 2004. http://www.expressindia.com/election/ fullestory.php?type=ei&content_id=30800

Girish Kuber, "Are the Dalits becoming just an election statistic?" ECONOMIC TIMES, 12 April 2004. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/611033.cms

Gary Haugen, THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT INJUSTICE (InterVarsity, 1999). http://www.pfm.org/BPtemplate.cfm?Section=PF_Store&template=/ Ecommerce/ProductDisplay.cfm&ProductID=132

[DTA]

india ping

[AnIndianFromIndia]

Where did you learn this piece of hog refuse from? Your friendly neighbourhood tv evangelist?

[Paul_B]

Thanks. Looks good, and it's the first I've heard of it.

[Paul_B]

Right. A belief in Karma is the justification for most of this.

[Paul_B]

I doubt the untouchables will be getting any of our outsourcing. I also doubt trickle-down is a significant dynamic here.

[AnIndianFromIndia]

Christianity came to India two thousand years ago.But still, it didn't manage to get a sizable population to convert. What is it in Hinduism that kept so many sticking to this faith? Coercion? That's a bullsh!t of an answer oft spread by cynical evangelists.You must remember that what you call the caste system in Hinduism, it is not part of the religion.In fact, there are umpteen deities in Hinduism who are regarded "untouchable" or "low" caste in origin.What you see as the caste system is the result of the several dozen ethnic and racial groups trying to segregate themselves to prevent intermingling.Much like the apartheid that existed not very long ago in the United States, S.Africa, Europe etc.(Mind you, racial tensions still exist in your country).Now by the same logic, can I call apartheid a feature of Christianity? If you intend to say that your religion, by way of its scriptures abhors apartheidand racism, I can equally declare you won't be able to find a single phrase promoting the same in the scriptures of Hinduism.Also, Hinduism is not a real religion, much less an organised one.No one 'converts' to Hinduism, nor does anyone 'leave' it.No hindu can prove he/she is a hindu.

[AnIndianFromIndia]

PING

[AnIndianFromIndia]

PING

[Antoninus]

ping.

[aruanan]

This is another example of a different "religion of peace" going all Nazi. It's also another example of people saying, "All religions are ways to God--except for Christianity."

[antiRepublicrat]

The continual process of life in misery then death and then possibly life again in misery offers nothing.

I believe the point is to do good in this life so the next life is in better conditions.

[Antoninus]

I think you can expect BJP attacks on Christian missions in general in the near future.

Anyone know off the top of their head how many people constitute the "untouchable" caste in India? If it's 20% of the population, we're talking about ca. 200,000,000 people. If even half that number converted, that's a huge number of new Christians.

I know Catholicism is growing in India. How about the various protestant groups?

[AnIndianFromIndia]

For certain is death for the born And certain is birth for the dead; Therefore over the inevitable Thou shouldst not grieve. -Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2

[AnIndianFromIndia]

Still your mind in me, still yourself in me, and without a doubt you shall be united with me, Lord of Love, dwelling in your heart.


I look upon all creatures equally; none are less dear to me and none more dear. But those who worship me with love live in me, and I come to life in them.

God is seated in the hearts of all.

He who sees me in all things, and all things in me, is never far from me, and I am never far from him.
-Lord Krishna from Chapter 6, Bhishma(P. Lal); also part of Bhagavad Gita

[Antoninus]

Is there any teaching in Hinduism that rejects or abhors the caste system? There is such teaching the the Christian scriptures that erases national, cultural, and economic divisions between people ("In Christ, there is no Jew or Greek...") and I assume such teaching appeals to those whose people have been oppressed for generations.

That some "Christians" throughout history have ignored this particular teaching has nothing to do with the fact that it does indeed exist.

[olde north church]

I stand corrected. The Dravidians were the original inhabitants of the Sub-continent. I didn't recall an "Aryan" (historical sense) although it would make sense. I am quite sure there was a Greek influence dating to the time of Alexander.
Thanks for the heads up!

[tang-soo]

My church helps to sponsor these people HBI (Hindustan Bible Institute) and we send a short term mission team a couple of times a year. They work with orphanages, provided medical/dental services and spread The Gospel. HBI's vision is to build 100,000 small churches. You do the math and that's not a lot - 1 billion people that's a church for every 10,000 people. Bobbi Gupta is their leader (I think his father started the ministry in th 1950s) and is a wonderfull speaker and a great Brother in Christ.

[AnIndianFromIndia]

"n the 16th century, during Sri Vaadiraja 's rule, Kanakadasa, an ardent believer of God, came to Udupi to worship Lord Krishna. He was not allowed inside the temple since he was from a lower caste. Sri Krishna, pleased by the worship of Kanakadasa created a small hole in the back wall of the temple and (his idol) turned to face the hole so that Kanakadasa could see him. This hole came to be known as KanakanaKindi. "

http://www.mangalore.com/documents/udupi.html

[Paul_B]

Excellent. Every bit helps. Thanks.

[AnIndianFromIndia]

Krishna's life is strickingly similar to that of Moses, even the part where his biological parents are persecuted by the then rulers of the land, and the king's decree of killing every first born of the slaves.So, infant Krishna was placed in a casket so that he may be rescued.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Little Krishna and Mother Yashoda Note that the skin colour of the woman holding the infant Krishna is much lighter than that of the infant itself.