Dalit Christians continue to suffer for their faith

If a Dalit becomes a Christian, he loses just about everything in India, that is, everything in the way of hope for a better life on Earth.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, now the Dalit Christians have their anticipations postponed all the more. The Supreme Court hearing has delayed any further action until February.

Dalit Christians protest. They say that waiting 50 years is too long a time frame to expect a smidgen of justice for their faith. Yet the Supreme Court continues to lag, no matter the mass rallies on behalf of these Christian believers.

Discrimination. Social stigmas. Persecution. These are daily burdens carried by the Dalit Christ followers in India. When a Dalit converts to another religion than Christianity, he's still welcomed in India's society. But Christianity is the most horrible disease he can lift to his soul.

Christ told His own that since He was hated by the world, they would be hated by the world as well. "He came unto His own but His own received Him not."

Being a Christian in this spiritually damaged sphere means in many societies being an outcast by the non–Christians. However, Christ warned His own that that would happen. History has proven that to be reality.

The Supreme Court has informed the press that it is going to "examine the constitutional validity of current legislation which deprives Dalits who convert to Christianity of the rights afforded to Dalits of Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh background."

Thousands of Christians have gathered to prod the government to act. One of the spokesmen stated to the press: "'The time for waiting is over – 50 years is long enough. We as Christians need to stand up and act. And this rally is the beginning of our public agitation and movement.'"

At last all political parties in the country, except the Hindu nationalist BJP, has informed government that they endorse legal and parliamentary action to give equal rights to Dalit Christian believers.

One of the Christian leaders stated: "'The continuing delay of giving Dalit Christians equal rights with other Dalits is an affront to India's secular democracy. The number of people who attended the rally in support of Dalit Christians shows the strength of feeling on the issue. The Government cannot afford to ignore the justice of this cause any longer."

Dalits are some of the most oppressed persons in the Indian caste system. They must work in some of the most deplorable circumstances, serving the upper castes as slaves. Formerly the Dalits were known as the country's "untouchables." They were the social lowest of the low. Sixty percent of India's estimated 25 million Christians are Dalits.

Dalits don't have much to live for in this life. But as Christians they have the hope of being with Christ for an eternity as well as His abiding Holy Spirit to see through this world's trials. Therefore, they are a tenacious group of cross carriers.

While going daily to perform some of the country's most hazardous projects, some consider themselves fortunate if not sold off into prostitution.

Also, "Dalits often live downstream of the higher castes, as they are considered a polluting influence. This segregation even extended to the relief camps set up in south–east India following the 2004 tsunami."

There is little wonder that they have not had much of a voice in government. Their advocates have been few, many times no one but themselves. Considering that they really have no social status, their pleas have been neglected by and large by a culture that simply does not care. They are often considered sub–human.