With great appreciation for the inspiring article, 'Discrimination against Dalit Christians: How long before Constitutional rights are affirmed?' by Madhu Chandra, Social activist and Regional Secretary of AICC, (Dec 1-15, Praise the Almighty), Yesunatha Das, writer portrays the tragic plight of the Dalit Christians in India.

Indian Christians who trace their origins to the Scheduled Castes of India continue to be denied the benefits of governmental affirmative action (reservation in educational institutions and in jobs) even as Hindus and Sikhs from similar castes have enjoyed these privileges for the past several decades. The architects of the reservation system restricted reservations to non-Christian Dalits to prevent religious conversions of Dalits en masse to Christianity.

The founders of the Constitution have guaranteed reservation facility on the merit of the race and not on religion. When Dalit Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs are enjoying reservation benefits Dalit Christians alone are denied it. It is iniquitous, unjustifiable and unfair on the part of a secular, democratic government. If denial of benefits to a 10,000 ethnic population is unjustifiable, consider the amount of injustice to the 20 million Dalit Christians who lost their opportunities for centuries? Can any intelligent mind concede this gross discrimination? Will any other elite community yield to this kind of ill-treatment? Many people including a few Christians believe that Dalits turn to Christianity for favour and fortunes. However, the fact is that the moment a Dalit accepts Christian faith he looses every other social and Constitutional advantages.

Dalit Christians in India are like the man who was at the pool of Bethsaida (John 5: 2-9); they are the “no man's people.” There is no other community in independent India that suffered worse form of social prejudice and religious isolation. No other section in the society suffers such intimidation and humiliation like Dalit Christians for their religious identity.

Generally people think that Hindu Dalits suffer most in India. But they enjoy Constitutional protection. Dalit Christians, on the other hand, are the least privileged people. Though the nation and the Church have betrayed them on several occasions, they remain loyal to their Christian identity. Is there any other community in India that was denied privileges due to their faith and belief? Christians from tribal background enjoy affirmative action from the government. Dalit Christians are totally ignored. They silently forgo what should have been their's rightfully, trusting in a God who is just. Yet a civilized society should not remain mute spectator to such discrimination.

On one hand, Hindus tell these newly converted Dalits: “You have become Christians. There is no caste system in Christianity. So, you don't deserve any reservations in government jobs.” On the other hand, Dalit Christians are treated as secondary citizens in the Church. Even a new convert from high caste Hindu background treats a long-standing Dalit Christian as a 'lower' Christian. Irrespective of denominations, consider the list of the top Christian leaders in the country and one can easily understand that Dalit Christians are not given due share of opportunities even if they are qualified and eligible.

During the days of foreign missionaries, who tried their best to help Dalits, Dalit Christians has several bad experiences at the hands of fellow Indians. On one occasion, in Kottayam, Kerala, some Dalit Christians entered a Church to worship. The 'high caste' Christians jumped out of windows because they were not willing to sit with Dalit Christians.

There are several reports about Dalit Christians facing discrimination in the matter of allotment of cemeteries or tombs. Some denominations reserve seats for Dalit Christians in their Executive Councils. In many denominations, people claim that they are one in Christ; they drink from the same cup during the Lord's Table but do not share positions of authority with the Dalit majority. When it comes to Church authority and placement, Dalit Christians are untouchables while their offerings and tithes are acceptable. In prayer and fasting all are equal in the Church but in marriage alliance Dalits are inferior members.

In a reconciliatory meeting in Kerala few years ago, while all leaders were singing “we all will sit in the same heaven together”, surprisingly, one senior Dalit priest gestured his fingers 'two.' When the people asked him why, he confessed that only in singing we will be together but practically they discriminate us in Heaven also. There are many Christian groups who claim that there is no caste bias in their Church and that all are one in Christ as the New Testament teaches (Gal 3:28). Unfortunately, Indian Christianity, which claims a blunt lie of Brahminic origin, pursues a pagan spirit of separation in the Church. This writer had tough time to convince the “oneness of Christianity” to Mr. V. T. Rajasekhar, Editor of Dalit Voice. He argued that Indian Christianity is neither Jesus' nor Paul's; it is Brahmanic.

Dalit Christians are no-man's people when it comes to the benefits of Church-related institutions. Though the Church possesses scores of institutions, how many Dalit Christians are placed in key positions or in good employment? They are given lower grade jobs despite their qualifications. Despite all hardships, Dalit Christians educate their children but Christian institution is generous to place them adequately. Many Christian institutions have reserved seats for Anglo-Indian students -- a minority population in the Church. The large population of the Dalit Christian students do not enjoy any such consideration.

With much regard to Rev. Dr. Valson Thampu, the Principal of the premier Christian educational institute in Delhi - St. Stephen's College - the writer recalls his sincere effort for a Dalit Christian admission quota. Being a brilliant mind and honest Christian, Rev. Thampu reserved 5% of seats in St. Stephens for Dalit Christians. When he resigned, the College Managing Council reversed the decision because they did not wish to see Dalit Christians getting a quality education. This is not an isolated incident. Dalit Christian students are denied privileges in the so called Christian 'minority institutions.'

Although Christians make use of the minority facility from the Government, they do not share it with their own Dalit Christian brethren. Shockingly, Indian Christians are maintaining caste-based discrimination in overseas Churches too. Dalit Christian pastors are deliberately ignored or evaded by expatriate Indians.

Dalit Christians are no-man's people when it comes to their rights in the society. As Mr. Madhu Chandra has rightly indicated, for the last six decades several Commissions, reports, political resolutions and recommendations were submitted to Union Government of India, political rulers had no morality or will power to respect their own Commissions and recommendations. For the sake of vote bank politics and appeasement to the religious majority, no positive steps have been initiated. Dalit Christians have been fatefully deceived though they voted for a secular government at the Centre. The Union Government must substantiate valid reasons to the Supreme Court for delaying justice to the Dalit Christians. Another administrative problem is that the Dalit Christian identity is not equally considered in different states. As they have converted from different ethnic groups, in one state their identity is valid where as other states do not accept. Therefore, migrated Dalit Christians do not get any share of benefits from state governments.

Dalit Christians continue as 'no-man's people;' they haven't succeeded in achieving their goal of social or economic liberty. Through the decades, several agitations were made at various levels for their Constitutional rights. On a few occasions, certain Christian groups extended their support to Dalit Christian struggle for justice. Some Christians think that Dalit Christian demands are unreasonable and discourage any agitation. The truth is that the social status of Dalit Christians has not improved considerably. They are denied privileges in the government as well as in the Church.

Regrettably, some elite Dalit Christians hide their identity in their society. Can they deny their origins by camouflaging their identity?

Dalit Christians must be cautious against such hypocritical spiritual pretension that all are treated equally in the Church. The Church-at-large must express solidarity with Dalit Christian agitation and make sure that the government as well as Christian institutions share their blessings with them. Unless some 'good Samaritan' approach is extended to Dalit Christian brethren, their fate will remain like the 'bleeding man' on Jericho road.

(The writer may be contacted at dasblessu@gmail.com