Eranakulam (Kerala): Despite the presence of passionate and organised groups of Dalit Christians in Kerala advocating for their rights, the community continues to face systematic discrimination on the account of their caste both within the Church and the society at large, said speakers at the state-level meeting of the National Dalit Christian Watch (NDCW) held in Ernakulam on February 1.
The day-long session, attended by eminent speakers, concluded in an NDCW resolution that vowed to facilitate an in-depth discussion on the multifaceted issues of discrimination faced by Dalit Christians in Kerala, to foster dialogue and raise awareness about their struggles and aspirations. A total of 20 NDCW delegates from across the country who took part in the session contributed to the wide-ranging deliberations.
Dr. Jestin T Varghese, Assistant Professor at the Department of Social Work, De Paul Institute of Science and Technology, Angamaly, spoke at length about how caste operates among the Christian community in Kerala. His talk, ‘Silencing Caste: Forms of Discrimination in Kerala Churches,’ touched upon the numerous discriminatory practices toward Dalits that continue unabated among the Christian community.
Varghese noted that institutionalised churches in Kerala maintain silence on caste discrimination not only to maintain caste privileges but also because of the fear of being confronted by liberation and Dalit theology, and strong theological interpretations of democracy within the Church.
“Violent forms of caste oppression involve the ‘sanction of force’ predominantly exerted on the Dalits, who often have little to no power for resistance. However, another method of dominance involves the silencing of caste, a practice employed to suppress Dalits who do possess some capacity for resistance. This silencing also serves to conceal caste interests from an educated, enlightened, and critical audience. Consequently, this strategic manipulation of caste power complicates the overall discourse and makes it challenging to understand fully,” Varghese observed.
Varghese also went on to explain the nature of silent discrimination in Kerala, detailing how the dominant castes within the church employ “logical, strategic, and pragmatic methods” to discriminate against Dalit Christians. His analysis was interspersed with many contemporary examples and case studies relevant to the context of Kerala.
Dr. Tiji P.V, Assistant Professor, School of Gandhian Thought, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam delivered an insightful presentation under the theme ‘Dalit Christian Women in Kerala: An Intersectional Perspective’. Her presentation captured the intersectional conditions and oppressive experiences faced by Dalit Christians in Kerala.
Earlier, Fr. Selvaraj of NDCW spoke at length on the caste system and its intersection with Christianity in India, emphasising that caste and Christianity cannot coexist. Examining the history of caste, he called on the Christian community in India to look inward and put an end to the caste system, sanctioned by the Brahmanical order.
In her welcome and valedictory speeches, Sr. Manjula Devarapalli CM, National General Secretary of NDCW, underlined that Kerala, with the largest population of Dalit Christians, would remain an important part of NDCW’s work. “In a socially and politically aware society such as Kerala, organisations such as NDCW is trying to understand caste-based discrimination, the role of missionary intervention, and the complex dynamics surrounding the conversion of lower-caste communities to Christianity. These, in turn, would guide NDCW and other like-minded organisations to work out strategies to end institutionalised discrimination faced by Dalit Christians,” she noted.
She called on the Christian community and organisations committed to the cause of social justice in Kerala to come forward to join hands with NDCW to put an end to the institutionalised injustice meted out to Dalit Christians.
