'We will fight till Dalit Christians gain SC status'

The Indian government has meted out injustice to over 16 million Dalit Christians from the last 59 years. Although, the Constitutional Scheduled Castes Order 1950, had declared SC status to only those SC's who profess Hinduism, it later bent to include Sikhs and Buddhists. But the question remained, Why not Christians?

Is it because Christianity has no caste system? Or is the government being partisan? Explaining these and many questions, in an interview with Christian Today, was Father Arokiaraj Cosmon, the executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Dalits.

He explained that the fight is not just about reservation of Dalit Christians, it is rather a question of the constitutional rights, the fundamental rights that every Indian possess. "It is the matter of freedom of conscience, equality, secularism and social justice declared by Constitution of India, which is the largest democratic country in the world."

It is clearly a violation of human rights, he decried.

On Caste system among Indian Christians, Fr Cosmon said, "This is very much existing in today's church, especially in the Catholic community. There are cases of Christians being discriminated among the Tamil community. How about the various Christian sects in Kerala, some being the Syrian, Latin, New Christians, etc? Most of the discrimination occurs in their secular and social life."

He further pointed that "We can't justify rendering reservation status by checking one's religion. Does Sikhs or Buddhists face casteism? Then why were they given SC status but not Christians? Clearly, Christians have been denied of their rights despite various commissions and reports asserting that even after converting from Hinduism to another religion, he continues to be economically and socially backward."

"Hence, It is not by one's religion that reservation must be given, but rather by their socio-economic status."

When asked if victory was imminent and anticipated, he replied: "We will fight for justice till we succeed. We will not cease until our democracy declares unprejudiced equality. Our voices would not grow feeble, it will only rise day by day."

In a very positive manner, he stated that, "You wont find a single reason, why Dalit Christians must not be given the reservation status. The Hindutiva groups opposing this, clearly apprehends that, they are out of reason. I challenge the Hindutva leaders, and those opposing this, to come public with their views. Let us have a common debate on this."

70% of India's 25 million Christians are Dalits who form a majority in most of the Churches. Still thousands of them suffer the same socio educational and economic disabilities like the Dalits of the other faith. The change of Religion patently has not changed their social, economical and educational status.