Discrimination Against Christians In India

“Indian society is a caste based society.”

Indian society is a caste based society. Although caste system does not enjoy recognition at an official level but it is deep rooted in our psyche.
The so called lower castes have always been looked down upon and any attempt by them to assert their identity has been criticized.

Quite a few of the lower castes tried to get out of this system by adopting Christianity. Out of the total Christians in India, about 24 million, approximately 65% are erstwhile dalits. This is not acceptable to the prevalent religious and political power. They assert that these people have changed their religion because they have been given various kinds of incentives. They consider this an onslaught on Hinduism and term it as a conspiracy to destabilize India.

No doubt, in some cases this may be true but it is a question worth asking that why should so many persons change their religion? Religion is something one is proud of. It indicates that there is something seriously wrong in the system even after so many years of independence.

This dichotomy of views between the two groups has led to much bloodshed throughout the country. Dalits have been attacked, looted, raped and murdered, mainly on the pretext they are converts and have insulted Hinduism by such an act. Even churches and hospitals have not been spared and made a target of hate violence.

The converts are not liable to reservation as per the current constitutional provision. Committees have been set up to look into the matter and recommendation have been aired that they should also be given the benefits of reservation, as everybody is free to adopt and profess any religion one chooses as per one’s own discretion.

Dalits argue they have been discriminated against for ages. They were the real inhabitants of this land and were allotted an inferior position in society after the invasion of Aryans. They contend that all the hard work is done by them and others are amassing wealth at their cost. They should be given their right due. The British considered Indians as inferior, which they absolutely are not. Similarly it is foolishness and childishness to consider and brand someone as inferior.

On the other hand the other group takes the help of religion and says that it was God himself who created various varnas and it would be blasphemy not to abide by this system.

Whatever the truth, one thing is certain that in modern India people are learning to keep such issues at the backburner because they harm and hinder the progress of the nation as a whole. Outside dangers and threats are already too much for us. There is no need to let such issues simmering but it is suggestive that such issues will die their own death gradually, if no body bothers about them.

Author - DeeKay

Tags - India

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