Tirunelveli, India (ENI). The president of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) on Wednesday warned of an increase in anti-Christian violence and accused India's federal government of advancing the agenda of Hindu fundamentalism. There had been a "drastic change in the political atmosphere" in India in the six years since the current government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power, said Metropolitan Geevarghese mar Coorilos, the NCCI president, in an address to the council's general assembly taking place in Tirunelveli, in southern India.- from Ecumenical News International
Last summer I traveled to southern India with a group from Eden Theological Seminary. We studied at three different seminaries, toured historic sites, and visited with residents of Dalit urban slums and rural villages.
Christians in India are fierce advocates for the rights of the Dalit people. Dalits are the “lowest of the lowest” in the caste system. The government harasses Christian workers because of their support for Dalits and their opposition to economic globalization. The fundamentalist Hindu government now in power is afraid of the liberating message inherit in Christianity. In fact, a version of liberation theology, known as Dalit theology, has grown out of the slums.
The above picture, called Exclusion, is from a book called The Colors of Liberation – a collection of Dalit artwork published by the Dalit Resource Centre at Tamilnadu Theological Seminary. Our group stayed at this seminary for a wonderful week. Copies of the book can be purchased.
Please keep the people of India - Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim - in your prayers. And keep track of the struggles faced by Christians by visiting the National Council web site.
