We had a successful Karnataka Dalit Christian Conference at Bellary on Jan. 25/26. About 120 people, mainly from the CSI and other churches attended the meeting to discuss the most burning problems faced by the Dalit Christians who formed about three-fourths of the total 1 million Christian population in Karnataka.
Increasing violence on Dalit Christians were reported particularly in North Karnataka where ironically the great Basava and other sharanas centuries ago had preached one of the most egalitarian religions and where the Veera Shaivites are most numerous today.
Denial of reservations to Dalit Christians is yet another serious aspect of oppression. This action is highly discriminatory and communal on the part of the govt. While in the neighbouring States Dalit Christians enjoy quite substantial State benefits, in Karnataka the govt. has shown utter disregard towards them.
“Dalit” word hated: The second source of discrimination comes from ironically within the church itself. The church leadership is both apathetic and discriminatory. There are too many contradictions in the churches, many of which surfaced at the conference. ‘Why did they convert us and left us in a lurch?’ asked an old woman. ‘We are orphans,” repeated an elderly Dalit Christian from Kamavaram village which witnessed a serious criminal atrocity on Dalit Christians recently (DV Feb. 1 p.10: “AP Dalit Christians face Hindu violence”).
Urban-based upper caste Christians did not like the term ‘Dalit’. Having left Hinduism and become Christians, the converts had only one identity, the Christian identity. A special attention on Dalits would mean only disunity and disintegration of the Church. The peace of the church would be disturbed if the Dalit issue was taken up seriously, they said.
The conference decided to start a Karnataka unit of the All-India Christian People’s Forum (AICPF) to voice the sufferings of the Dalit Christians. The Executive Secretary of AICPF, Rev. Karam Massih from Delhi, said their demands included a Scheduled Caste status for Dalit Christians.
A. Patrick, Bangalore, adds: The meeting fully exposed the hypocrisy of the upper caste Christians who held dominant positions in the Church. These Lingyats and Reddy Christians took strong objection to the very name of Dr. Ambedkar. They were so allergic to Babasaheb’s name that we two – Mrs. Lakshmi from the Samata Sainik Dal and myself who were invited to speak on “Dalit’s struggle for justice” – were frequently disturbed.
Dr. Ambedkar philosophy: Hindu Christians have not stopped exploiting the Dalit Christians and hence the exploiters cannot fight the battle of the exploited. Our battle can be won only if the Christian Dalits joined hands with Dalits and accepted the philosophy of Ambedkarism, we said.
Church-run institutions like schools, colleges, hospitals and training institutions should give 25% reservations to Dalits and another 25% to Dalit Christians.
This suggestion of mine was not liked by the Hindu Christians who alleged that I was spreading poison inside the church. They did not like my criticising the Hindu Christians for continuing to keep their jati surname and relationship with jati people.
The CISRS must organise more such meetings and invite the Hindu Christians to hear our cries of agony.
Dr. Godwin Shiri of the CISRS organised the meeting very well.
