The final part of Phil and Jan's journey to India.......
It's just four hours now before we leave New Delhi, and our three and a half
week period in India comes to an end. Will I miss it? Yes, but I don't know
why.
Bishop Azariah, the former Church of South India Bishop of Chennai, said of
Indian society that it was a combination of deification and defecation! It
appears that if it moves it is divine, at least in Hindu terms. As far as "defecation" is
concerned, then when you have got over what a writer described as "The Twenty-One
Bum Salute" of people openly defecating in the streets, you begin to appreciate
that India is a country that is human in the rawest sense. Rubbish litters
its streets (except outside Government Offices), and in a fatalist fashion
a great swathe of people allow themselves to be dealt with in the same way.
Hinduism seems to encourage fatalism, and a large proportion of outcastes (referred
to as "Scheduled Caste") and "Tribals" (indigenous, isolated peoples from remote
rural areas) simply accept inequality as their lot.
Sikhism, Islam, Buddhism and Christianity have made a great deal of difference
to the lives of "rubbish people" in India during the last few years. The BJP
(Hindu-fundamentalist Party), which is in power at present, and seems set to
stay there for quite some time, is encouraging an intolerance towards those
who give hope to the hopeless.
Last October, the State Government of Tamil Nadu brought in a law - The Prohibition
of Forcible Conversions Ordinance. The law is set to bar "forced"
conversions, and hands out to "offenders" a hefty fine, possible imprisonment,
or both. It states "no person shall convert, or attempt to convert either directly
or otherwise, any person from one religion to another by use of force or other
allurements or by fraudulent means." Nor shall any person
"abet any such conversion".
Furthermore, under this legislation, "whoever takes part in conversions as
a religious priest shall within such period specified send an intimation to
the Local Collector" (an office which seems to combine a local magistrate with
a local governor).
We were reliably informed of the financial disincentives in place for those
who are Tribals and from among the Scheduled Castes who convert to Christianity,
that their new faith gives them a "step up the social ladder", thereby making
them ineligible for government aid, political advantage, or educational scholarships.
We witnessed some very impressive Christian work in Tamil Nadu.
One such project was the leprosy village at Karigiri, Shantigrammam, where
elderly people who had been ravaged by this cruel disease could live the rest
of their lives in dignity. Sam, the artist with no hands, and the blind street-woman
who was singing "alleluias" at the top of her voice, will remain with us all
for a long, long time. All of this work paid for out of contributions from
Karigiri's medical staff, who earn precious little themselves.
Then there were two young doctors, one called Sam at the "Low Cost Elementary
Care Unit" for those who were unable to afford to pay for their health care,
and the other, Joe, at the riot-torn town of Vandavasi's maternity hospital,
both working for the love of the people whom they served, accepting only 7,000
rupees a month (eighty pounds) whereas they could be earning 17,000 elsewhere.
The De Valois Boys' Hostel, the Katpadi Industrial Institute, RHUSA, CHAD and
other institutions giving to the young people we met hope and worthwhile opportunity.
Without these Christian bodies such young people would otherwise have become
the refuse of Indian society, which is still the lot of so many.
All of this is frightening the present Hindu fundamentalist regimes in Tamil
Nadu state and in six other Indian states; it is also intimidating potential
converts to Christianity. The official figures issued concerning religious
affiliation in India states that Christianity is the faith of only 2.3% of
the population. Unofficially, there are many, many more who feel that they
have to be "closet" Christians, afraid of the consequences of declaring their
faith.
Medical staff in the Christian Medical College and Hospital, in the Leprosy
Hospital at Karigiri, and at other Christian medical centres we visited in
Tamil Nadu, are fearful for what is happening to Christians and other religious
minorities in India. An already- corrupt regime in Tamil Nadu, which is now
also discriminating against Christians and others working to raise standards
in the life and health of the most deprived, is an evil which needs voices
raised in effective places. More than ever before, Christians in India need
the prayers and support of Christians globally.
On our return to England I will write more of what we discovered, when there
has been time to digest it and reflect on it. Please pray for India
- India needs your prayers and your voice before a crumbling society destroys
itself completely.
