Dalits
and Christianity: caste and church
Caste
is the historical problem in Indian church.
Glimpses
of caste in Indian church
Saint
Thomas tradition: They are also known as Syrian Christian. They claimed that
they are the descendant of the Brahmins who were converted by St.Thomas.
St.Thomas maintained their identity either as higher caste. Syrian Christian
lives as directed caste social group.
After
St. Thomas, Portuguese Christian came to India. Theie main focus is the lower
caste fisherman. They religion of Christian begun to be known as lower caste
religion. Madura Mission of Jesuit missionary , Robert De Nobili 16-17th
century. We can see the caste dimension. He followed a method of accommodation.
As a part of method, Robert De Nobili sanction caste distinction. Robert De
Nobile and his colleague advice the upper class society to dissociates with the
lower caste. The Jesuit missionaries clash with the Portuguese missionaries and
they dissociates with them.
Tranquebar
Mission 18th century. Danish mission started working in Tranquebar, 1703.
Tranquebar mission also adopted method of accommodation. This people also
permitted their members to maintain their caste system. They prepare a separate
sitting arrangement for lower and upper caste. Then during the communion the
preferred was giving in upper caste.
In
19th century (the missionary movement gained its
momentum)
Church
elements in caste.
Our
India mission by Andrew Gordon. One missionary remarks publicly that it was bad
policy to received people to accept lower caste people in the beginning of the
work. The caste elements in missionary movement is visualized.
J.C.R.
Ewery wrote to the mission society,
The
conversation of lower caste and raking in rubbish into the church.
Andrew
Gordon in his concluding remarks, he said, i between with
my eyes upon the large town, cities but having later led from to country villages.
I begun with educated class but ended up with among the poor.
C.F.
Andrew, in his book 'North India' quotes statement of
Daniel Wilson, Bishop Daniel an Anglican Culcutta, caste must be abandoned
within the church- decidedly, immediately and finally. In Culcutta, shoe maker
converts were called as Mochi Christian. But, upper caste were called as Hindu
Christians.
20th
Century
B.R.Ambedkar
argues that Christian are disjointed community. One of the main factor is Caste
except one element that is Jesus Christ. Ambedkar took one such incidents.
Dalits submit a memorandum to Simon committee in 1928. This memorandum talks
about their life realities. Five highlights
1.
Majority Christian follow the Orthodox severity and unreason of caste.
2.
We are condemn as Panchamas (5th Caste) or Pariahs.
3.
Our fellow Christian treated us as untouchables and exclude us from social
relation.
4.
There are separate accommodation for dalit Christian in major Christian
villages.
5.
Segregation is practice even on the reception of sacrament.
How
the caste impacted the church
1.
Today we are not Christian Syrian, dalit, tribal, nada, Reddy, Brahmin
Christian and lots of division. The present social existence of Christianity is
common.
2.
Churches and denomination are formed on the basis of caste.
Caste
dynamism is very strong even today in the church.
3.
Marriage alliance are also on the basis of caste.
4.
The caste exhibits more in multi racial church.
In
many places, Christianity is branded on lower caste.
K.E.
Rajpramukh, in the eyes of non dalit Christian, the status of
dalit Christian has not changed. The identity of dalit is frame or define by
caste not by faith. Father S.Lourdswamy says, dalit Christian are still address
with their names. Pauline Chakkalakal, argues that ‘caste mentality is deeply
rooted in the psyche of Indian Christian.’
In
2012 Christian of schedule caste origin in India under the leadership of James
Massey and T.K. John, this study argues that caste is a reality in Indian
church. Dalit Christian trail in all aspect of Indian society. Dalit face
discrimination from three main agency:
1.
By government
2.
By dalit Hindu
3.
By non-dalit
Discrimination
within the church
1.
Exclusion from leadership
2.
Social relations
3.
Priesthood- dalit were discriminated on the candidacy of the priest in most of
all the church.
4.
Churches- dalit are not assign in non dalit majority members of the church.
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