Madras: Archbishop Chinnappa of Madras, a former chairman of the SC/ST Commission of the Catholic. Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), said here on March 1 that “casteism created by the Brahminical people is the worst form of terrorism facing the country. But India’s top leadership is silent on this
The head of the Catholic church in Madras, a powerful position presiding over a vast empire, and also a rare Dalit Bishop in the upper caste-dominated Catholic church, was addressing the Madras Dalit Voice silver jubilee meeting held at the Santhome (Madras) headquarters of his church.
Worse than dogs: “Casteism has created so much of enemity not only in the country but even within the church. It has created all our problems. According to the Brahmins, we (Dalits) are considered worse than dogs. Casteism, therefore, is the worst kind of terrorism facing the country” he said amid cheers
“Terrorism is a one-minute killing but casteism is a life-long terrorism under which all of us are suffering”. We have never heard a Bishop speaking like this.
Look at the difference between an upper caste Bishop speaking and that of a Dalit Bishop. A Roman
Catholic DV member said Archbishop Chinappa was a fearless person and the words poured out of his heart. That is how he has become the darling of the church
Expanding further, the Archbishop said “casteism has crippled the country and had devastating effect on our thinking and action” Giving an example, he said: “Indians have not even invented the simple table and chair”. The British introduced it. But we were clever enough to invent the caste system. We Christians are not above the caste We cannot say that the church is free from caste”, he said and revealed that “for such an open admission of facts of life I am hated in the church. If I am a disciple of church, I have to say all this”.
Unequal even in death: Death comes to every one but when we (Dalits) are dead and buried in the graveyard, even here we don’t get equality, he said.
Earlier, the Archbishop said “singers move our hearts but writers (like V.T. Rajshekar) move our mind. Their role is very important. The movement you started must be carried to its completion”, he said congratulating the Editor, a Backward Caste man, for moving into the Dalit liberation. He assured full support from his church to spread the message of DV
