While caste discrimination against Dalit Hindus continues to cause outrage in Tamil Nadu, the deep penetration of caste in Christianity has also become a point of concern. In recent years, the State has been witnessing a battle within Christianity for recognising Dalits as equals in the diocese. The issue gained political traction with the recent release of writer Nivedita Louis’s book Christhuvathil Jathi(Caste in Christianity) by Lok Sabha MP Thol Thirumavalavan, who heads the Dalit party, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi. Mr. Thirumavalavan underlined the “strange phenomenon” in India where Christianity had established itself without any fundamental change to society. “The roots of caste have nourished Christianity (in India)” and it does not possess the “roots of Christian values,” he said. This article is originally published on https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-fight-against-caste-christians/article67719302.ece

The bodies of 60 people who lost their lives amid ethnic violence in India’s state of Manipur have now been returned to their families. Seven months after violence first erupted between the Meitei and the Kuki communities on 3 May 2023, the bodies of the victims were airlifted from mortuaries in the Meitei-majority Imphal district to Kuki ancestral lands in Kanggui and Lamka districts. Four Meitei bodies that were in Lamka district were also airlifted to Imphal. The bodies were returned to their families on December 14. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) sources report that all of those who were moved were killed in the month of May, and that the delay in returning their bodies to their relatives has been attributed to security concerns over moving the bodies of one community through an area where another community is in the majority. The state government also took the decision to airlift the bodies to avoid any further conflict. On 28 November, the Supreme Court ordered that the bodies be given a dignified burial, however the majority remain unclaimed amid reports of relatives facing pressure from civil society organisations not to accept them. CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: “CSW remains deeply saddened by the loss of lives

While Christianity has made a lasting impact on society, politics and administration in countries across the world, it has become flexible in its approach towards the caste system in India. The existing society here has deeply influenced the religion, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader and Lok Sabha member Thol. Thirumavalavan has said. “In India, it has established itself without making any fundamental change to the existing society. It is a strange phenomenon. Here, the roots of caste has nourished Christianity,” he said, releasing Christhuvathil Jaathi (Caste in Christianity), authored by writer Nivedita Louis, in Chennai on Thursday. He said the “roots of Christianity in India are the roots of caste” and it does not possess the “roots of its Christian values”. “The approach seems to be that other factors do not matter so long as they remain Christians. Visit the church and sit separately. Be a Christian and it does not matter if you have separate burial grounds. This flexibility, I say, is not the weakness of Christianity. But it only proves the power of the caste system, which has swallowed Christianity,” he said. The VCK leader said that in Indian society, even the basic structure of a family is constructed on the

As we go forth into the New Year, the news that on average every day two Christians have faced attacks is a reality India is confronted with. India’s Christian community, a significant part of the nation’s diverse religious fabric, has been faced with a torrent of hate speech and discrimination by members of radical extremist Hindutva groups. Amidst the rich tapestry of cultural coexistence and historical contribution, instances of discrimination, attacks and violence against Christians rings a bell of alarm for the community and the nation at large. In this year-ender, we delve into the intricacies of these challenges, examining the slurs while centring the voices within the community itself. CJP spoke to Nancy, name changed, who is from Tamil Nadu. She works for a national faith based development organisation and is based in Northern India. Reflecting on the past decade, she stated that, “In the last eight years things have changed drastically in the country. Hate is regularly spread against minorities which is bad for democracy. I haven’t experienced any prejudices or instances personally directly but there is growing suspicion among colleagues and friends who were once close. They now support the current regime which is both sad and very

Members of the Catholic community recently launched a signature campaign titled “Not in Our Name! Christmas Celebrations with PM is Not in Our Name” against the growing hate crimes in the country. It was launched by Jesuit priests – Father Cedric Prakash and Father Prakash Luis – who said over 3,000 signatures were collected within a week. Expressing uneasiness and anguish over the bishops’ failure to address the growing hate crimes against Christians and ethnic violence in Manipur during the recent Christmas celebrations at the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi, a statement released by the campaign organisers said, “Christian community has been disturbed by the Christmas gathering called by the PM. The participation of ‘so-called leaders’ and their praise for Modi, especially their silence on the incidents of violence against Christians across India, is condemnable.” The statement further reads, “The anti-conversion laws which have been put into place in BJP-ruled states are used as weapons against the fundamental right to preach, practise and propagate one’s religion. Celebrations in schools have been stopped and Christians have been arrested without any warrant and put behind bars for no offence of their.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Christmas with the Christian community on December

Alappuzha: In an alarming revelation, a report compiled by a human rights group revealed that Christians in the country faced an average of two attacks per day last year. The United Christian Forum (UCF), a Delhi- based human rights group, revealed the atrocities based on incidents reported on their helpline number. According to the report, Uttar Pradesh had the highest number of cases of violence against Christians, followed by Jharkhand and Haryana. Notably, no such incident was reported in Kerala. Initially, the group released the report of various episodes of violence up to November 2023. Later, they prepared a separate list after collecting reports of violence during the Christmas period. UCF launched its toll-free number on January 19, 2015, to learn about the violence targetting Christians in the country. The forum also verifies the authenticity of the reports before recording them same. As per the data published by the UCF, there were 687 attacks on Christians till November 2023. Of these, 531 cases are concentrated in four states. The state-wise distribution of attacks is UP (287), Chhattisgarh (148), Jharkhand (49), Haryana (47), Madhya Pradesh (35), Karnataka (21), Punjab (18), Bihar (14), Gujrat (8), Tamil Nadu (8), Jammu and Kashmir (8), Rajasthan (7), Orissa (7), Delhi

The vice-chancellor of a British-era university, a Christian, has been arrested in an alleged "attempt to murder" case and remanded in judicial custody in a northern Indian state. Rajendra Bihari Lal, the vice-chancellor of Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested on Dec. 31 after a complaint by Diwakar Nath Tripathi, a local leader of the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “This case is a trap” to arrest Lal as he successfully got bail in several other cases registered against him, an associate of his, who did not want to be named, told UCA News on Jan. 3. Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state and is ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP, which enacted a stringent anti-conversion law in 2021 targeting mostly Christians. Many cases were registered against Lal under the anti-conversion law but he got bail from the courts. A police official at Naini police station in Prayagraj district where the latest complaint was registered said Tripathi stated in his complaint that two men who accompanied Lal in a vehicle opened fire at him while he was returning home from a morning walk. “I hope and pray that truth will triumph,” Lal's associate said, adding that he was being targeted "mostly because of his religion." He said the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition

Alappuzha: Kerala Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cheriyan strongly criticised Christian priests on Sunday for their alleged silence on the issue of Manipur violence during the Christmas programme organised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence in New Delhi. Speaking after inaugurating a local committee office of his party CPI(M) in this coastal district, Cheriyan mocked certain bishops who attended the Prime Minister's programme, saying they got 'goosebumps' when BJP leaders invited them. He alleged that they forgot the issue of Manipur violence targeting their own community members when they were served with cakes and grape wine. "Did they urge the Indian Prime Minister to intervene in the matter?" the CPI(M) leader questioned. Stating that Christian community members were butchered in Manipur, Cheriyan also criticised certain Christian priests for still joining the BJP in Kerala. Neither the BJP nor the bishops have reacted to Cheriyan's allegations. During an interaction with the members of the Christian community at his residence on Christmas, Modi had heaped praise on the minority community for its role in the freedom movement and in various fields like healthcare and education, and said the country proudly acknowledges its contribution. Modi had said the values of compassion, inclusivity and justice for all propagated by

In a recent development in Kerala, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused supporters of the Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist) of conducting cyber attacks against Christians who recently joined the party. This accusation follows the enrollment of around fifty Christian families, including Fr Shaiju Kurien, Secretary of the Orthodox Church Nilakkal Bhadrasanam in Pathanamthitta district in southern Kerala, who joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister V Muraleedharan on Saturday (30 December). As reported by Onmanorama, BJP state president K Surendran expressed concern over the cyber attacks and issued a stern warning of robust retaliation against those responsible, emphasising the party's commitment to protecting its new members. The party had recently resumed its 'Sneha Yatra,' an outreach program aimed at connecting with the Christian community in the state. However, the BJP's move to engage with minority communities has drawn criticism from the Congress, which has accused the party of pursuing divisive strategies. This development underscores the evolving political landscape in Kerala, where the BJP is intensifying efforts to broaden its appeal among diverse demographics, particularly by fostering ties with the Christian community. This article is originally published on  https://swarajyamag.com/news-brief/bjp-accuses-congress-and-cpim-of-cyber-attacks-on-christians-joining-party-in-kerala-vows-strong-retaliation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly claimed in public — including on the lawn of the White House in June — that India is not a hotbed of persecution or violence against religious minorities. “I’m actually really surprised that people say so. And so, people don’t say it. Indeed, India is a democracy,” Modi said while standing next to President Joe Biden during a visit to Washington this year. “We have always proved that democracy can deliver. And when I say deliver, this is regardless of caste, creed, religion, gender. There’s absolutely no space for discrimination.” In reality, Hindu nationalists organized mob attacks on Christian communities throughout the year, burning down churches and often destroying entire neighborhoods, leaving Christians displaced. The worst of the violence in 2023 occurred in Manipur, northern India, where members of the majority Hindu Meitei tribe went on a rampage against majority Christian Kuki-Zo communities throughout the spring and summer, often filming their atrocities. Modi’s government did not comment on the matter until a video went viral in the rest of the country showing a mob of presumably Meitei men raping Christian women in broad daylight and parading them naked through the streets. “The police were there with the mob which was attacking our village,” one