This post is a special one. It is prepared by Prakash Louis and John Dayal. These two people give leadership to the sentiments of all of us in Praxis and many others. I have published this in our Blog to give further publicity. We give full merit to Praksh Louis and John Dayal, the ardent supporter of the sentiments, aspiration of all of us who struggle to create India with justice, equity away from all sloganeering.
Lessons of 2020 and
Responses of the Indian Christian
Community in 2021
Year 2020 began, as
every New year does with the promise of hope and possibilities. It soon turned
into a nightmare for entire humanity. Covid 19 ravaged our world. Even the
mightiest nations on earth have felt the chill of 350,000 dead in nations such as the US. But with far fewer
dead, India still suffered possibly its
worst social impact. It ruined the lives and livelihood of over 1,000 million, or 80% of marginalised and vulnerable Indians.
These toiling and exploited Indian
fellow citizens have a historic resilience and a spirit strengthened and not
broken in struggle. We hope they will spring back to a better life.
Our hope is rooted in
our belief that the rest of the country, its government at the centre and in
the states, and its institutions have learnt a lesson in thi4r experience with the universality of the pandemic. When
governance failed and institutions let down the people, including the migrant labour
trudging back home from closed factories, were helped by common people
roused by the misery and pain they saw
in the images on their television sets and social media. Religious groups, healthcare workers and our youth risked their
own lives to provide the much needed relief.
But more than the
pandemic, 2020 is also seared in our memories for the corporate driven, ,
undemocratic, authoritarian, and anti-poor government unleashing one policy and
program after the other to grievously injure the Constitution and ethical
governance. In cold blood, this encouraged
targeted hate which often resulted in violence against minorities and the poor,
often leaving many dead in its wake. The 2019 protests against Citizenship
Amendment Act, and National Register of Citizens (NRC) were crushed in the Covid
curfew. Central ministers and politicians were among those spewing murderous have.
Police impunity reached heights not known even in the darkest of previous
years. The climax is the series of ordinances by several states in the strange dog-whistle
name of Love jihad which target Muslim men, robs Hindu women of all agency, and
in passing, puts fear in the heart of the Christians, Tribals and Dalits.
In between terrorising
students of Jamia Milia, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Aligarh Muslim
University, among others, governments jailed brilliant scholars and ageing
activists, many critically ill, on
charges of treason, using courts to keep them in jail without bail. But in the year, 2020, the government enacted
ordinances and framed policies without any debate inside and outside the
parliament and when the citizens were grappling with the deadly pandemic.
Long term damage to
the citizens, the economy and the environment was done in the passing, without
any worthwhile debate, of the National Education Policy, FCRA Amendment Act, Environmental Impact
Assessment, three Labour Ordinances and three Farm Ordinances and . The tillers
of the soil are forced into an unequal equation national and international corporate sector.
Farmers from across the country have laid siege of the national capital,
demanding that the government repeal the
rapacious laws. Democratic and secular forces stand in unity with the farmer in what they
see is a common struggle to wrest back democracy which was envisioned by the
founding fathers. Though the government
and crony media has all but blacked it out, alternate people’s media, its force
multiplied on social media, is carrying the message of this struggle to every
citizens in the remotest village of the country.
The farmers' agitation also reminds the people of what the government
failed to do by way of reforms in Education,
Electoral processes, Ecology, Labour laws,
Judicial, Police and Prison systems.
The closing days of this forgettable year offer an opportunity to us, the
Indian Christian
Community, to recognise our
constitutional and religious responsibility the emerging India. We are called
upon to respond in actions based as much on Gospel as on constitutional values.
To be able to do
that, we would necessarily have to understand the multiple, and multi-layered
crises we face as a community t and as a people. The issues are both external,
and within the community.
Some of the External Crisis: denial of the
constitutional rights of the women, Children, Dalits, Tribals, most backward
castes and minorities, aggressive monoculture, long pauses of uncertainty,
market-led wants, corporate-driven economy, donor-driven developmental
programs, fundamentalism and fascism, breakdown of family, cultural and moral
values, and poverty amidst plenty A vast majority of people are on the move and
have become migrants and refugees and not citizens, the increasing technology
results in insecurity which is aggravated by diminishing opportunities for educability
and employability for a major segment of youth from rural, marginalized and
excluded communities. This augur an a disordered and disintegrating nation and
an undemocratic, authoritarian and autocratic regime.
Some of the Internal Crisis within the Church: heightened
clericalism and patriarchy, abuse of children and women, aggressive pursuit of
consumerism, careerism and individualism, often uninspiring and weak leadership
which encourages cronyism and mediocrity, caste, ethnic and regional, denial of
proportionate representation and participation of the Dalit Christians, and
insensitivity to the struggles of the Tribals. A singular lack of meaningful
planning and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, deficiencies in
competence, commitment, passion, and creativity in mission remain the order of
the day. Even religious cum spiritual practices are sacrificed for modern
gadgets. It is a long list, and every member of the clergy, religious or lay
person will recognise her and his experience in one or more of these.
Emerging India and the
crisis within the Church demand a positive and proactive response from the
Christian community. We were silent spectators, barring. few examples and
instances, in resisting the Emergency in 1975, implementation of new economic policy in 1991, demolition
of the Babri Masjid in 1992, enactment
of draconic laws like TADA, POTA, UAPA, etc., and imposition of CAA, NRC, NPA,
National Education Policy, FCRA Amendment Act
2020, etc.
Now it is do or die.
The Indian Church
cannot remain a mute spectator, nor pretend to be safe. If we fail the nation,
our fellow citizens may not stand by
Indian Christians when we and our identity face an existential threat from fascist,
authoritarian, and autocratic governments.
Some Possible Internal Programs of Actions are:
Ø Let us be observant, gather information, study-analyze the emerging situation
and the issues that arise out of it
Ø Let us organise webinars, seminars, meetings on issues that affect the common
masses of this country. Also, on constitutional rights, human rights, legal
literacy, policies and programs of the government that are detrimental to the
poor and vulnerable
Ø Let us not limit ourselves to issues involving Christians only. Let us
get involved in all Human Rights issues, especially in the defence of Dalits,
Tribals, women, children and other minority and vulnerable groups
Ø Let us use the social media to highlight national issues like Farmers’
Movement, Anti-CAA Campaign, etc.
Ø Let us join, support other initiatives taken by civil society and human
rights groups like PUCL, PUDR, Sabrang India, NAPM, Fishworkers’ Forum,
Minority Rights Groups, JPCD , HRLN, Adivasi
Adhikar Manch, Dalit Adhikar Manch, साझा संस्कृति मंच , All India Secular Forum, Indian Christians for Democracy, etc to name a
few.
Ø Let us participate in the activities, public programs, initiatives, campaigns,
dharnas, rallies, sign online petitions [after reading the content
carefully] of other like-minded individuals, NGOs, CSOs, etc.
Ø Let us publicize secular efforts, initiatives in our churches,
institutions and invite credible persons from civil and secular organisations
and other religions
Ø Let us start or join Youth Clubs, Peace Clubs, Eco Clubs, Women’s Forums,
Dalit Forums, Tribal Forums, etc.
Ø Let us pay just wages; have service conditions, appointment letters
(cfr. Labour laws), etc. Let us practice internal democracy
Ø Let us be linked with the local, diocesan, institutional and
congregational, inter-church commissions and forums that are outward looking
and have credibility
Ø Let us identify a spokesperson on secular and social issues in our houses,
institutions, dioceses, congregations and collectives of Christian Community to
join civil and secular society to express our solidarity
Ø Let us pray without ceasing. Let us pray within the Christian community
and where possible with people of other faith for God’s intervention to protect
and promote the life, livelihood and rights of all the citizens
Let us feel with our
heart, think with our head and work with your hands with all the citizens to
uphold the Constitutional Values.
Some Possible External Programs of Actions are:
Ø
First and foremost, the Indian Church should realise this fundamental
fact, “NO FARMERS – No FOOD”. Further “NO FARMERS – NO PRODUCTION – NO
EUCHARIST”. It is the hard labour of the farmers in sun and rain, day and night
which provides food to all which includes the Indian Christians. If the farmers are denied of their rights which the present government
wants to do, then the Indian Christians will die of starvation and cannot have
the Holy Eucharist.
Ø Indian Church should learn from the others to get out of its comfort zone
and join others in support of the various movements that are going on in India.
Media reported that Delhi Police on 1st December, 2020, stopped
Bilkis Bano, the ‘Dadi’ who became a symbol of the anti-CAA protests at Shaheen
Bagh, from entering the site at the Singhu Delhi-Haryana border. This shameful
fact also was published that around 20 police personnel escorted Bilkis away
from the site. But she became a witness to her faith as a believing Muslim.
Ø Conscious medical personnel supported the protesting farmers by providing
free medical camp. Church has done well providing health care during disasters.
But that is only relief and not restoration. Indian Christians need to be
present in all situations and not just in relief and charity.
Ø Conscious and
committed Indian Christians hang their head in shame when they realise that
some of the waring churches have invited Narendra Modi to resolve the conflict
between them. Instead of aligning with the
ruling establishment at all times to save its minority status, and its business
interests, the Indian Church should undertake actions that resist the sinister
plans of this fascist and exploitative government.
Ø Indian Church which
organises prayers and fasts when its interests are affected should have broad
based itself and should call for fast and prayer to save the Constitution and
ultimately save democracy, secularism of the
country and save itself.
Ø Even if it feels scared and frightened
of the consequences of organising any protest, it should at its level should
join the various actions like fasting in solidarity; social media engagements;
create posters and spread across; use the pulpit to bring awareness among its
faithful; join demonstrations, protests, bharat bandh, etc., for various issues
of the masses of India.
Ø Church has the
responsibility to engage with its various constituencies, especially the
students and youth. It is time to prepare this future generation to be part of
the wider civil and secular organisations. Consciously and committedly planned
and executed orientation and motivation programs for the students and youth
will build at least the future generation to be more socially conscious and
committed citizens and Christians.
We the undersigned
share this statement with you seeking your endorsement, and to invite you to be
part of this enterprise.
Prakash Louis
John Dayal
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