Free the Dalits
(This is a long one)
So as some may know, I’m in love with India. Never been there. Actually haven’t ever been outside of North America, but that sure ain’t gonna stop me.
Oh India, Mother India.
It is such a place of potential, both economically and spiritually. And I don’t think that many North Americans are aware of it’s potential and hurt as a nation, so I have decided to devote this blog to beloved India.
And of course one must listen to Caedmon’s Call, “Share the Well” while writing this. This super cultural cd, recorded all over India and Ecuador with local musicians, is what ignited my India love.
A couple weeks before I even listened to this cd I watched a TV documentary on India. Little do we know, many parts of India are booming with success. Many American technology/ computer industries are building huge company bases in India, especially in New Delhi, creating enormous job opportunity for the citizens. These companies even provide courses on how to speak American so that the Indians can lose their accent, making them able to answer phone calls from American customers without the Americans knowing that they are talking to someone in India.
Technology is advancing, business is booming, and tradition is fading. Many people have traded in their traditional turbans and clothing for more American-esque styling. Also, traditionally Indians only ever used one type of wood for building homes, but North America is introducing softwood lumber as a new option, and the industry is flying. Also, the film, movie, and music industry (aka. “Bollywood”) is huge over there too. Like America, this form of entertainment and the possibility of becoming famous by acting and singing in Bollywood enthralls the people.
With a population of 1 081 200 000 (count the zeros – that’s over one billion) people in 2004, India is the second largest country in the world next to China, and the estimated population increase is 29 people every minute. Over the last forty years, life expectancy has increased almost twenty years, the average person living 45 years in 1960 to 64 years in 2003.
But in the midst of all this success, growth, and glamour in India hides a group of 300 million outcasts. Beneath the guise of success lies deeply rooted religious, political, and natural injustices that have been destroying the lives of 25% of their population for more than 3000 years. Out of all the countries in the world, India has the largest number of people living in poverty. These people call themselves the Dalit, literally translating, “The broken people”. They are outcasts. The Untouchables.
In India, there is a very rigid caste system that was developed over 3000 years ago by the Brahmin priests in order that they may maintain their superiority over all the people. A caste is simply defined as a social class to which a person belongs to at birth. And depending on your parent’s caste, you are ranked against other castes on a continuum of perceived purity and pollution.
But beneath the four main castes is a fifth group. These are the Dalits, and they literally have no caste. No status. They are nothings and do not even count in society. Not only do they not count, they are pollutants to society. Unclean. Less than garbage. Disgusting. For as long as they can remember, they have been crushed, oppressed, stripped, beaten, butchered, killed, and denied access to the temple, proper drinking water, sufficient food, clothing, and shelter. They are lepers with a different name.
Even if the shadow of a Dalit comes across a higher caste person, they too are deemed unclean and must follow a series of rituals to purify themselves again. A Roman Catholic teacher explains in an article that all Dalits are restricted to the East side of the city “because the wind blows from west to east, and non-Dalits don't want to be contaminated by wind that has touched Dalits.” In northern India, where Christians are not heard of and the caste system is thriving, upper caste children all wear school uniforms while the Dalit children go to school in rags and dirty clothes, forced to sit at the feet of the upper caste students sitting in proper desks. All Dalits are believed to be so dirty that they must drink strictly out of clay cups, and once they are finished drinking, the cup must be smashed and destroyed so that no higher caste could ever accidentally drink from their cup and be contaminated by a Dalit’s uncleanness.
Although some minor laws have been passed to stop this injustice, and the Indian constitution itself bans discrimination and calls for equality and dignity among all people, politicians cannot change the cultural and religious mindsets of the Indian people. If a child has been taught since birth to despise these Untouchables, no law can convict a heart.
Even more recently during the Tsunami crisis, there were reports that the Dalits were penned together and denied access to the Red Cross relief. I also read an article on how two Dalit school boys were forced to drink urine out of the shoes of upper caste landlords. Acts like these are intolerable; something needs to change.
By no means do I believe that India should be “American-ized” or that America is the definition of success and freedom. And I don’t think that poorer nations need any more “successful Americans” coming to them and teaching them the “right” way to live. We’ve already done enough of that in the past and ended up only causing more hurt and division. But I do believe that we as Christians are called to love.
Eighty-two percent of the population of India is Hindu, 12% is Islamic, and only 2% of the population are Christians. But out of that 2%, 50% of Christians are Dalit people. Now consider this: If we as ambassadors of Love were to come to this enormous group of Dalit people, to touch these lepers, and tell them that their religion has lied to them, that they are not worthless, and that there is a God who calls them beloved, wow, that would be life changing. That would be nation changing. Why do think that Mother Teresa’s ministry was so radical?
Cliff Young from Caedmon's Call said this in an interview, “Now the gospel has come to northern India, and the Dalits who have been taught all their lives that they are absolutely worthless are suddenly hearing that God loves them. Most of the Hindu gods carry weapons and are about destruction and fear. There is no god of love, so this is a revolutionary concept for the Dalits—to learn that they don't have to live that way. India is on the verge of genuine revival because of it.”
Even with their hope in Christ, it is never easy for those who convert to Christianity. The governing party in India has recently passed anti-conversion laws in a number of states making it illegal for Dalits to convert from Hinduism to Christianity. This conspiracy against the Constitution of India and the UN Charter once again denies the Dalits the very basic humans rights of Freedom of Faith, and Freedom from Bondage. The Brahmans, the government, and the people in the highest caste know that truth and light will cast out all the darkness and the corruption that keeps them on top. Fines and imprisonment are the legal punishments for conversion, but in real life many Christians are facing death and martyrdom. They are being burnt alive for their faith, and there are actually Hindus faking conversion and then killing everyone in line with them to be baptized.
On Caedmons Call’s title track, “Share the Well”, they sing “Share the well, share with your brother. Share the well, my friend. It takes a deeper well to love one another, share the well, my friend. You know I’ve heard good people say, ‘There’s nothing I can do, it’s half a world away.’ But maybe you’ve got money. Maybe you’ve got time. Maybe you’ve got a Living Well that ain’t ever running dry.”
They explain the story behind this song on their website:
“Wells are a big deal in rural India. That's often the only place to get halfway decent water. Dalits must often wait by the well for a higher caste person to share from their jar because by strict religious custom they are "unclean" and are forbidden to draw from the well themselves. Many Dalits wait all day and still no one gives them water. It's a big problem, and also a powerful metaphor. Christ has given me access to the Living Water of a life based on faith in Him. And there are many in this world, even right next door, who are like the Samaritan woman at the well - thirsty for the living water that will never run dry. I also have the opportunity and the responsibility to share the well.”
Now it’s your turn to help share the well, my friend. It is your responsibility to share the Living Water.
Share the Well - Video
Caedmon's Call - Interview
Dalit Freedom Network
The Gospel Truth Ministry
Operation Mobilization
So as some may know, I’m in love with India. Never been there. Actually haven’t ever been outside of North America, but that sure ain’t gonna stop me.
Oh India, Mother India.
It is such a place of potential, both economically and spiritually. And I don’t think that many North Americans are aware of it’s potential and hurt as a nation, so I have decided to devote this blog to beloved India.
And of course one must listen to Caedmon’s Call, “Share the Well” while writing this. This super cultural cd, recorded all over India and Ecuador with local musicians, is what ignited my India love.
A couple weeks before I even listened to this cd I watched a TV documentary on India. Little do we know, many parts of India are booming with success. Many American technology/ computer industries are building huge company bases in India, especially in New Delhi, creating enormous job opportunity for the citizens. These companies even provide courses on how to speak American so that the Indians can lose their accent, making them able to answer phone calls from American customers without the Americans knowing that they are talking to someone in India.
Technology is advancing, business is booming, and tradition is fading. Many people have traded in their traditional turbans and clothing for more American-esque styling. Also, traditionally Indians only ever used one type of wood for building homes, but North America is introducing softwood lumber as a new option, and the industry is flying. Also, the film, movie, and music industry (aka. “Bollywood”) is huge over there too. Like America, this form of entertainment and the possibility of becoming famous by acting and singing in Bollywood enthralls the people.
With a population of 1 081 200 000 (count the zeros – that’s over one billion) people in 2004, India is the second largest country in the world next to China, and the estimated population increase is 29 people every minute. Over the last forty years, life expectancy has increased almost twenty years, the average person living 45 years in 1960 to 64 years in 2003.
But in the midst of all this success, growth, and glamour in India hides a group of 300 million outcasts. Beneath the guise of success lies deeply rooted religious, political, and natural injustices that have been destroying the lives of 25% of their population for more than 3000 years. Out of all the countries in the world, India has the largest number of people living in poverty. These people call themselves the Dalit, literally translating, “The broken people”. They are outcasts. The Untouchables.
In India, there is a very rigid caste system that was developed over 3000 years ago by the Brahmin priests in order that they may maintain their superiority over all the people. A caste is simply defined as a social class to which a person belongs to at birth. And depending on your parent’s caste, you are ranked against other castes on a continuum of perceived purity and pollution.
But beneath the four main castes is a fifth group. These are the Dalits, and they literally have no caste. No status. They are nothings and do not even count in society. Not only do they not count, they are pollutants to society. Unclean. Less than garbage. Disgusting. For as long as they can remember, they have been crushed, oppressed, stripped, beaten, butchered, killed, and denied access to the temple, proper drinking water, sufficient food, clothing, and shelter. They are lepers with a different name.
Even if the shadow of a Dalit comes across a higher caste person, they too are deemed unclean and must follow a series of rituals to purify themselves again. A Roman Catholic teacher explains in an article that all Dalits are restricted to the East side of the city “because the wind blows from west to east, and non-Dalits don't want to be contaminated by wind that has touched Dalits.” In northern India, where Christians are not heard of and the caste system is thriving, upper caste children all wear school uniforms while the Dalit children go to school in rags and dirty clothes, forced to sit at the feet of the upper caste students sitting in proper desks. All Dalits are believed to be so dirty that they must drink strictly out of clay cups, and once they are finished drinking, the cup must be smashed and destroyed so that no higher caste could ever accidentally drink from their cup and be contaminated by a Dalit’s uncleanness.
Although some minor laws have been passed to stop this injustice, and the Indian constitution itself bans discrimination and calls for equality and dignity among all people, politicians cannot change the cultural and religious mindsets of the Indian people. If a child has been taught since birth to despise these Untouchables, no law can convict a heart.
Even more recently during the Tsunami crisis, there were reports that the Dalits were penned together and denied access to the Red Cross relief. I also read an article on how two Dalit school boys were forced to drink urine out of the shoes of upper caste landlords. Acts like these are intolerable; something needs to change.
By no means do I believe that India should be “American-ized” or that America is the definition of success and freedom. And I don’t think that poorer nations need any more “successful Americans” coming to them and teaching them the “right” way to live. We’ve already done enough of that in the past and ended up only causing more hurt and division. But I do believe that we as Christians are called to love.
Eighty-two percent of the population of India is Hindu, 12% is Islamic, and only 2% of the population are Christians. But out of that 2%, 50% of Christians are Dalit people. Now consider this: If we as ambassadors of Love were to come to this enormous group of Dalit people, to touch these lepers, and tell them that their religion has lied to them, that they are not worthless, and that there is a God who calls them beloved, wow, that would be life changing. That would be nation changing. Why do think that Mother Teresa’s ministry was so radical?
Cliff Young from Caedmon's Call said this in an interview, “Now the gospel has come to northern India, and the Dalits who have been taught all their lives that they are absolutely worthless are suddenly hearing that God loves them. Most of the Hindu gods carry weapons and are about destruction and fear. There is no god of love, so this is a revolutionary concept for the Dalits—to learn that they don't have to live that way. India is on the verge of genuine revival because of it.”
Even with their hope in Christ, it is never easy for those who convert to Christianity. The governing party in India has recently passed anti-conversion laws in a number of states making it illegal for Dalits to convert from Hinduism to Christianity. This conspiracy against the Constitution of India and the UN Charter once again denies the Dalits the very basic humans rights of Freedom of Faith, and Freedom from Bondage. The Brahmans, the government, and the people in the highest caste know that truth and light will cast out all the darkness and the corruption that keeps them on top. Fines and imprisonment are the legal punishments for conversion, but in real life many Christians are facing death and martyrdom. They are being burnt alive for their faith, and there are actually Hindus faking conversion and then killing everyone in line with them to be baptized.
On Caedmons Call’s title track, “Share the Well”, they sing “Share the well, share with your brother. Share the well, my friend. It takes a deeper well to love one another, share the well, my friend. You know I’ve heard good people say, ‘There’s nothing I can do, it’s half a world away.’ But maybe you’ve got money. Maybe you’ve got time. Maybe you’ve got a Living Well that ain’t ever running dry.”
They explain the story behind this song on their website:
“Wells are a big deal in rural India. That's often the only place to get halfway decent water. Dalits must often wait by the well for a higher caste person to share from their jar because by strict religious custom they are "unclean" and are forbidden to draw from the well themselves. Many Dalits wait all day and still no one gives them water. It's a big problem, and also a powerful metaphor. Christ has given me access to the Living Water of a life based on faith in Him. And there are many in this world, even right next door, who are like the Samaritan woman at the well - thirsty for the living water that will never run dry. I also have the opportunity and the responsibility to share the well.”
Now it’s your turn to help share the well, my friend. It is your responsibility to share the Living Water.
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