Indian Dalits find no refuge from caste in Christianity

[rsingh]

BBC News - Indian Dalits find no refuge from caste in Christianity

Many in India have embraced Christianity to escape the age-old caste oppression of the Hindu social order, but Christianity itself in some places is finding it difficult to shrug off the worst of caste discrimination.

In the town of Trichy, situated in the heart of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, a wall built across the Catholic cemetery clearly illustrates how caste-based prejudice persists.

Those who converted to Christianity from the formerly "untouchable" Hindu caste groups known as Dalits are allocated space for burial on one side of the wall, while upper-caste converts are buried on the other side.

This is Christianity for u

 

[Trident]

BBC News - Indian Dalits find no refuge from caste in Christianity

Many in India have embraced Christianity to escape the age-old caste oppression of the Hindu social order, but Christianity itself in some places is finding it difficult to shrug off the worst of caste discrimination.

This is Christianity for u

but its the other way around.... on the ground most of the dalits and sc/st's convert to Christianity mainly becoz of money and gifts offered by the missionaries (although many other caste do so out of poverty and no offence to those who genuinely convert ). but most of the dalits and sc/st's take the caste certificate mentioning that they are Hindus in order to claim benefits from the govt such as reservations and quotas. so they are still considered as Hindus.

 

[Devianz]

but its the other way around.... on the ground most of the dalits and sc/st's convert to Christianity mainly becoz of money and gifts offered by the missionaries (although many other caste do so out of poverty and no offence to those who genuinely convert ). but most of the dalits and sc/st's take the caste certificate mentioning that they are Hindus in order to claim benefits from the govt such as reservations and quotas. so they are still considered as Hindus.

I'm not so sure about the bolded part. Usually each time you need to apply for a job or quotas you have to get a fresh certificate from the village administration. There you have to provide proof regarding your current religion and caste. The validity of such certificates are only for a period of 6 months.

 

[aristocrat]

christianity has less to do with this,rather it's the mindset of the people.you cannot generalize such happenings to criticize christianity.the important point here is no matter what religion they convert to,ther's no respite for them till
cast ism is fully abolished .this will take time i suppose.today's generation is much better off in this regard.

 

[Trident]

I'm not so sure about the bolded part. Usually each time you need to apply for a job or quotas you have to get a fresh certificate from the village administration. There you have to provide proof regarding your current religion and caste. The validity of such certificates are only for a period of 6 months.

ya thats true and most of the people do so claiming to be hindus when they need a certificate. i have seen people doing so. they are not ready to ditch their caste for Christianity and at the same time dont wanna miss the gifts offered by the missionaries(i dont say every one does this but most of them do so).

 

[rsingh]

but its the other way around.... on the ground most of the dalits and sc/st's convert to Christianity mainly becoz of money and gifts offered by the missionaries (although many other caste do so out of poverty and no offence to those who genuinely convert ). but most of the dalits and sc/st's take the caste certificate mentioning that they are Hindus in order to claim benefits from the govt such as reservations and quotas. so they are still considered as Hindus.

By over looking these things we show how liberal the Indian state is.
But Dalits deserve this. For thousands years they have been exploited and we should do our best so that come to level of rest.

 

[DesiGuy]

Caste is fading away. Just give some more time.

 

[aristocrat]

^^agreed but the process can always be hastened if given priority.due to this we loose valuable points with regards to global perception.

 

[trident2010]

Caste is fading away. Just give some more time.

Yup. It is indeed. In 2-3 decades no one even think about it.

 

[anurag_singh]

Yup. It is indeed. In 2-3 decades no one even think about it.

Caste will not end till the end of the century but caste discrimination may end and that should be our main goal.