Christian theory and practice in India have been implicated in the violation of
human rights, particularly in relation to the rights of Dalits, Adivasis and women.
But Christian theory and practice have also been woven into the fabric of Dalit,
Adivasi and the Indian woman’s faith, courage, and healing in the face of the
violation of their rights. The question is whether the Christian faith and theology
can become a more certain foundation and steadfast resource for justice and
human rights. I believe that it can with some reconstructive work.
It was the Dalits’ and other marginalized communities’ exceptional need for
acceptance that created openness to the Christian message. The liberation they
sought was not only from the physical slavery and serfdom but also from social
stigma and almost total degradation which the Christians emphasized was
possible through salvation in Jesus Christ and participation in the life of the
Christian Church. The Dalits were therefore offered two things, which were
closely inter-related. One was a new self-image as a person whom God in fact
loves and has already forgiven. The other was hope, primarily for eternal life, but
also a life free from cringing fear and terrorized subservience here and now.
Since, both of these were denied Dalits by all parties in their existing
circumstances, the Evangelical message came as good news, and many Dalits
responded accordingly and accepted the Church and the Bible as their Book of
Faith and Scripture.
As the Dalit movement gained momentum, and became political, striving towards
social change and political participation, it soon realized that there was no
Christian theological commitment to political change at either the national or the
local level. This was primarily due to the fact that the Indian church was divided
along caste lines and each of the caste groups had different political interests,
but more importantly, these caste groups within the church were placed in a
hierarchic order. Upper caste groups within the church had more access to
education and opportunities for interpreting the Bible. Hence, early theological
articulations were done by upper caste Christians who did not take into account
the experiences and needs and questions of the Dalits.1
It is not that the upper
caste Christians interpreted the Bible in such a way so as to divulge from it
authority and legitimation for the enslavement of Dalits. Rather, they were silent.
They did not address the issue of caste and gave the impression that the caste
system was in no way contrary to the will of God. Today a majority of Dalits still
live lives of servitude and poverty with little access to land, education or
employment.