How is this vicious act related to Christian missionaries getting kicked out of India? They’re both consequences of the same system: Hindu ideology. The Hindu caste system divides India’s people into four social categories. Dalits, also known as “untouchables,” fall below the lowest tier, making them vulnerable to all sorts of social evil.

Hindu ideology is also the driving force behind Hindu nationalism. John Pudaite of Bibles For The World says India’s government does more than ignore Hindu nationalism.

BJP Flag
(Image courtesy of WikimediaCommons)

“The BJP, that’s the ruling party in the national government, has been trying to throw everything they can at Christianity and Islam to make India a completely Hindu nation,” Pudaite says.

As described here, the BJP’s bent towards Hindutva is nothing new:

Between 1998 and 2004, the BJP was the dominant partner in the coalition that controlled the central government. It also ruled over various states. … its power ensured that when vicious assassinations or mass genocides did happen—in Orissa against Christians, in Gujarat, against Muslims—central law-keeping forces did not intervene to stop the actions, and the sheltering of the guilty was managed very effectively.

In a recent interview, one government official said Christian missionaries should be forced to leave the country. “This member of the BJP, a member of the Parliament, has claimed that Christian missionaries are taking advantage of religious freedom rights guaranteed by the Constitution,” Pudaite says.

The accusation is a cover-up meant to disguise motive. “This just struck me as yet another attack on Christians from a different angle,” Pudaite says.

“We have to see through these different veils and see them for what they are. These are just [a] continuation of the anti-conversion laws being passed across the country.”

Authorities frequently use anti-conversion laws as a convenient cover to persecute Christians and other religious minorities. More about that here.

“The anti-conversion laws allow these forces to attack Christians in different ways. As Christians are starting to gather again in worship, they can attack these gatherings under the pretense of illegal conversion [activity],” Pudaite says.

Ask the Lord to protect His followers throughout India. Pray believers can have God’s courage, wisdom, and boldness.

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Parij Borgohain/Pixabay.

“Uttar Pradesh is turning out to be their laboratory of how [the] Hindu state [will function],” explains David*, a Christian worker in India.

“In this context, we find the Dalits are completely helpless.”

Referred to as “Untouchable,” Dalits make up the bottom of India’s social hierarchy. David says attacks on Dalits and other minority communities are part of a broader push toward Hindu Rashtra. More about that here.

“There’s been a lot of protests going on all across India; one [reason was how] it was dealt with. After she died, the police buried her in the middle of the night without the family, which was very disturbing for everyone because it doesn’t happen in our country,” David says of the 19-year old victim.

“Burial and funeral, especially in rural India, is a big affair. They have rituals as well as a community meal.”

Three paths to Hindu Rashtra

(Photo by Shaouraav Shreshtha on Unsplash)

According to David, Indian officials are working toward Hindu Rashtra on three levels.

“[First], they’re constantly tweaking the policies and constitution. Second, they’re slowly dismantling all their independent agencies like the judiciary and other things. Third, [they have] empowered their RSS mobs to ‘set things right’ at the grassroots level,” he describes.

In 2014, Hindu leader Rajeshwar Singh reportedly predicted, “Muslims and Christians will be wiped out of India by December 31, 2021.” Authorities quietly removed Singh from the public spotlight the following year, but the Hindu nationalist push continues today.

In August, self-proclaimed secular humanist Khalid Umar wrote:

“India will remain a progressive country only until it remains a secular country. And it will remain a secular country only if Hindu domination persists in its demographics.”

Minorities beware

Upper-caste Hindus use violence to assert their authority over social and religious minorities. The movement reached every corner of government and society and gained traction with Prime Minister Modi’s rise to power in 2014.

“[By] 2024 they want to make sure that [inaudible] Hindu Rashtra,” David says.

“The first five years, they were mostly targeting the Muslims. This second term, they are on a ‘fast track’ in terms of working towards the Hindu Rashtra.”

Ask the Lord to strengthen His followers in India. “Persecution has been rampant the last two weeks in Jharkhand,” David says.

“They’ve been going village to village rounding up all the Christians and asking them to get back to Hinduism or pay the price. The police and the district administration didn’t give any help to these folks.”

*–Name and ministry withheld for security purposes.

Header image is a representative stock photo depicting a Shiva statue in India. Shiva is one of the most important gods in Hinduism. (Photo by spandan pattanayak on Unsplash)

For centuries, a group of people in India went by the name “untouchables”. Today, these same people are referred to as Dalits and despite their new title, they continue to face discrimination and worse in Indian society. And, it’s all in the name of religion.

Protests Over Supreme Court Ruling

In recent nation-wide protests led by the Dalits, at least eight people were killed. Streets, buildings, public transportation, and educational institutes were temporarily shut down.

The angry response came after a Supreme Court ruling which Dalits believe leaves them more vulnerable to the abuses of society. A law meant to protect this group was partially revoked. According to BBC News, the Federal government has asked the Courts to review the decision.

David Curry of Open Doors USA says, “It’s really brought to light, yet again, the challenge that we have in India for human rights, in particular recognizing that each and every individual is of value, and of equal value.

“We’ve seen it before here at Open Doors when we look at the rising persecution of Christians in India. It’s a significant portion of the population—about 65 million people are Christians in India. And yet they’ve seen this incredible rise of persecution.”

(Photo courtesy of Elton Lin via Flickr)

And the continued oppression based on the caste system is a symptom of the same problem. Living as a Dalit in India means that you have fewer opportunities in life both for jobs and for education. And, having aspirations can get you in trouble—even get you killed.

Recently in Gujarat state, a young Dalit boy was murdered. The BBC says members from other caste systems were angered by the fact that this young boy owned a horse. In the same state late last year, another Dalit man was killed for attending a traditional Hindu dance.

“People are born, live, and die in the same caste system. And India’s fighting to protect that, and it’s a shame upon their society,” Curry says.

What the Ruling Changed

The law in question here is known as the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act, or SC/ST. It’s been around since 1989 with revisions as recent as 2015. The goal of the law was to protect lower castes from the cruelties of the rest of society. Up until this ruling, it meant that people who discriminated against Dalits and other lower castes and tribes would be held accountable with immediate and strict repercussions.

However, the Supreme Court complained that the law was being misused, claiming that approximately 15-16 percent of accusations made in one year were false.

Again, the BBC notes that in 2016, there were over 40,000 crimes against lower castes reported. Even if that percentage is accurate, it means that crimes against lower castes still numbered at least 33,600 that year.

Curry says, “What the protests are really about is the Dalits have some laws that have been passed to protect their rights… And now those are being repealed. The government has said repeatedly, they want this to be a completely Hindu society in India and that you’re not a true Indian unless you’re Hindu and all the things that that means and how it applies to the caste system.”

More specifically, the changes mean that accusations of crimes against lower castes will no longer have an immediate response. According to the BBC, arrests will not be automatic and all accusations will be investigated by a senior police official after a preliminary investigation.

Many believe this leaves room for officials to recommence the pattern of overlooking crimes against the lower castes.

Human Rights Cannot Exist in a Hindu-Only Society

Curry says both the heightened actions against Christians and the abuses of the Dalits point to India’s goal of becoming a pure Hindu state. But, he says, they’re failing to acknowledge that India currently, as large as it is, has immense variety and diversity.

“And yet they’re trying to force everybody into one religion. In a lot of ways, it just doesn’t make sense. And one of the strengths of India, as it’s grown, is that it has a degree of pluralism. So, this is a furthering of a radical Hindu agenda since the BJP party and Prime Minister Modi took over four years ago.”

(Photo courtesy of Open Doors USA)

India moved up to no. 11 on the Open Doors USA World Watch List this year which ranks countries by their abuse of Christians.

As a Christian organization, Curry says Open Doors USA recognizes that human rights violations across the board should always be something the Church takes issue with.

“Jesus came to try to set people free in the spiritual sense. And really, when He was [recognizing] the rights of women, the value of women in society and any other way, [He] sort of broke down barriers that the religious caste system of that day had set up, He was essentially democratizing faith, saying everybody is on an equal ground and it’s all about a relationship with Me.”

Curry believes every Christian whose faith is deepening comes to understand that everybody has value in God’s eyes.

Open Doors USA stands with the persecuted Church, wherever it is. But that means fighting for the human rights of people everywhere. As Curry puts it, when religious freedom is under attack, it usually means other basic human rights are, as well. This goes both ways.

“I think it’s incredibly important for Christians to speak out on these kinds of issues—the caste system in India, where we see a clear violation of human rights— and stand up for what, I believe, are biblical values.”

This, he says, gives Christians moral credibility when we are standing up for persecuted believers. Too often, he says, Christians have missed the opportunity to speak up throughout history. He points out how during the Civil Rights movement, the general response from Christians was too slow.

What Can YOU do About it?

The United States and India have a lot of dealings with each other, both in commerce and politically. Curry says many US businesses have commercial relations with India.

“We need to pressure those groups to use their economic influence to make a difference in the lives of the Indian population. Secondarily, we need to look to our government—our senators, our congressmen. We have writing campaigns at OpenDoorsUSA.org to let people—people of faith, Christian people and otherwise, let their voice be heard [by] their senators.”

If you’d like to learn more about advocating for the downtrodden in India, click here.

And finally, will you pray?

“I would just further ask people of faith to be praying for the Indian churches. So many attacks now happening on churches and individuals. If we could lift them up in prayer, that would be significant.”

(Header photo courtesy of JOhn H. via Flickr)

Ackerman says it’s based on the lowest level of the ancient caste system, rooted in the Hindu religion. This social order system is designed to categorize people according to rank by birth, based on the idea  that people are different, and different people will fit well into different aspects and roles of society.

The end result is a segregated country and countless castes, explains Ackerman. “People are identified by their occupation and by their people group. When they’re born, they’re born into a caste, and in India they believe that you remain in that caste until you die.” She adds, “If there’s discrimination against certain castes, you’re expected to just submit to that.”

So where do outcasts come into play? Ackerman says, “In India what that means is you are so low in the caste system that you’re really outside the caste system.” Since this system dominates everything India, these outcasts (also called Dalits) are invisible and given the lowest, dirtiest, least-wanted responsibilities possible. “You’re just really doing the unclean work because you’re too low to be considered clean in the first place,” Ackerman remarks. Plus, they’re considered so low that any contact with higher caste members would render them unclean, hence the term Untouchables. “There was a time when people who were Untouchables were required to sweep away their footprints behind them because it would have been unclean for a higher caste person to step in their footprints or even cast a shadow upon a higher caste person.”

Although these traditions are technically outlawed by the Indian government, the attitudes behind them persist, especially in the more rural areas that aren’t as connected to modern society. In fact, “They’re not aware the government has outlawed these kind of things,” explains Ackerman.

So how does the Gospel change their thinking? Mission India’s impact has come through reaching lower caste members with ministries like church planting, literacy classes for adults, and Bible clubs for kids. A little care and a lot of love make all the difference in the world, Ackerman adds. “Part of that good news for India’s low-caste people is the discovery for the first time in their lives that they are created by God in His image, that they’re cherished, that He knows them personally.”

It’s a message that counters the Hindu tradition. Dalits believe they earned their low-caste position because of sins committed in a previous life. As a result, they are often blown away be the idea of a God who cares deeply for them with an unconditional love.

(Photo Courtesy Mission India)

“It truly is life-changing for these Dalits when they’re able to understand that their Creator God loves them, cherishes the, and has wonderful plans for them,” says Ackerman.

But how does the upper caste react to the news that they are equal to the people they once considered free labor? Ackerman admits it’s not an easy thing for upper caste members to accept. “It’s a very challenging message to think that, if they come to hear the gospel, that they’re equal to somebody who they’ve thought for their entire lives is unclean or unworthy.” Yet Mission India is working hard to make a difference in the lives of both the upper and lower caste members.

“We know that transformation can’t just come from below: it has to come from above,” Ackerman explains, adding, “Everybody in the culture needs to open their eyes to the devastating effects of the caste system and be willing to honor and respect one another as equals. And the Gospel is bringing that message of hope.”

How can you help? Spread the word about what Mission India is doing, and share the stories of people who’ve seen transformation. “When you read about these topics and hear about them and then share them with your friends and neighbors, that’s really honoring to God,” comments Ackerman.

Mission India continues to use children’s Bible clubs, adult literacy classes, church-planting trips, and more to reach out to the people trapped in the traditional segregation of India’s many castes.

Check out their “Clay Cups” video sharing more about the “Untouchables” here.

(Photo credit Open Doors USA)

India (MNN) — Christian Dalits are the target discrimination again in India. It’s not bad enough that they’re called “untouchables;” the government says it shouldn’t and won’t help the country’s poorest citizens.

“They don’t want to offer assistance because they’re fearful that Hindus will convert, just so they can get government assistance,” explains Emily Fuentes with Open Doors USA.

It’s a battle that’s more than 50 years old, but rising Hindu nationalism is putting a new spotlight on the conflict. On their Web site, Open Doors reports “Hinduism is experiencing a revival in India,” resulting in even more pressure on Dalits who follow minority religions like Islam and Christianity.

In addition, while India’s constitution technically outlaws discrimination based on caste, this isn’t the modern reality.

Government assistance in the form of free education, government jobs, and legislative seats are protected by law for Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist Dalits. However, the same 1950 law forbids these forms of assistance to Muslim and Christian Dalits.

According to Gospel for Asia, Dalits and other low-caste groups number around 700 million of India’s 1.2 billion people, or approximately 58% of the total population. And yet, society’s worst jobs are reserved for the Dalits: removing human waste and dead animals, sweeping the streets, unclogging sewers, and cobbling shoes, to name a few.

“It’s a systematic economic problem, really,” says Fuentes. “Generations upon generations [have been] labeled as the ‘lowest of the low;’ they’re unable to get jobs [or] access to education.”

The basic rights of Christian Dalits
are violated on a daily basis.
(Photo credit Open Doors USA)

Because of the widespread oppression and because caste is determined at birth, Christian Dalits are unable to escape their dilemma. They need help from you, through groups like Open Doors, just to eke out an existence.

“People can give and get involved by meeting [the Dalits’] practical needs. We work with the local Church to find out what [those] needs are,” Fuentes explains.

You can also share this story on Facebook to make your friends aware of the Christian Dalits’ plight.

“This is an ongoing, systematic persecution and oppressing [of] a group of people based on their religion and their standing in society, and as Christians we should be aware so we can not only be praying, but be a voice for them,” states Fuentes.

More Dalit stories here.

A photo of Anmol taken a couple years ago. (Image, caption courtesy GFA)

Gospel for Asia’s Danny Punnose says Anmol’s family thought he went to a friend’s house after Sunday School, like he did in the past. But when the young boy didn’t come home, they began to worry.

“A couple of days later, they actually found his body,” Punnose states.

Harish, Anmol’s father, had filed a missing persons report with the local police Monday, November 18. That same evening, police received a call about a child’s body seen floating in a nearby pond. When Anmol’s parents heard the news, they rushed to the hospital, where the body was taken, and identified the dead child as their son.

“It was very clear he was brutally murdered,” reported field correspondent, Jayana. “[The murderer] had tortured the child in such an inhuman way. . .”

Evidence suggests Anmol’s neck was cut, toes were broken and hands were slashed and burned. His face was burned, as well, while hot fragments of coal or firewood were placed on Anmol’s stomach, burning his abdomen. His mouth was also found tied. Autopsy reports came back indicating Anmol’s final cause of death was drowning.

“We hear about persecution all the time; every week there [are] reports of some of our people in prison or beaten,” says Punnose. But, “you never hear about a little kid, who’s seven years old, being tortured and killed because their family’s Christian. This does not happen.”

Details identifying the murderer have not been released, pending further investigations. Anmol’s family has been a main target for persecution since 2003, when Harish made the decision to live for Jesus Christ after witnessing the miraculous healing of his older brother who had been sick for a long time.

Harish with his wife, daughter, remaining son and two of his brothers. Pastor Ruben continues to minister to the family during this time. (Image, caption courtesy GFA)

Along with Harish, 45 other people came to know the saving grace of Jesus and were added to the church because of this healing. Later, Harish’s distant relatives also believed in the power of Christ through Harish’s witness.

“Because of so many people turning to Christ, this is the retaliation against this family,” Punnose explains.

The persecution of Christians in South Asia has increased nearly 400-percent in recent years, according to GFA. Punnose says this goes largely unnoticed because victims are from a Dalit background.

“Persecution against Dalits is on a huge up-rise,” he states. “Women, you know, often they are raped, simply because they are from the Dalit background. Men are killed…kids are kept in bonded labor.”

Around 200 believers gathered for Anmol’s funeral. (Image, caption courtesy GFA)

Anmol’s funeral was held Tuesday, November 19. Around 200 believers gathered for the ceremony, including the local GFA pastor, Ruben.

“The wail of the people and the parents was truly heartbreaking to see,” Jayana said. “It was truly a painful and intolerable incident.”

GFA is calling believers worldwide to pray for the consolation of Anmol’s parents, brother and sister, grieving extended family members; that the persecutors would come to know the love of Christ; and, the protection of all believers.

You can find more ways to pray by reading this story on GFA’s website.

First, there's the apartheid factor. Although India's caste system was officially abolished in 1949, it still plays an active role in today's Indian society. Dalits are India's social lepers; they're sometimes called the "Untouchables."

The absolute worst jobs–picking up trash, transporting dead people, cleaning the sewers–are reserved for Dalits. At 280 million people, they make up a fourth of India's total population. Despite constitutional protection, Dalits remain severely oppressed.

Second, there's the uphill battle of gender discrimination. Being a Dalit brings them contempt, while being a girl makes them worthless.

In India, women are generally held to be "second-class." The disregard for India's women was brought to international light following a severe gang rape in December.

Among the Dalits, 95% of women are illiterate. Nearly half are child brides, meaning they get married under the age of 18.

And yet, says Gospel for Asia, two Dalit sisters beat the odds.

Helped by GFA's Bridge of Hope program, they managed to buy their family a new home. Prema and Neha spent four years picking up extra jobs and saving their earnings to purchase a three-room, mud-baked house with an indoor bathroom.

"We achieved this because of the care and motivation from our Bridge of Hope staff," the girls told GFA. "Otherwise, we would not have made it."

This purchase might not seem like a big deal, until the girls' circumstances come into focus.

Prema and Neha were two of seven kids born into a Dalit family. Their mom and dad were garbage collectors and epitomize most Dalit parents: dad was a drunkard, while mom couldn't read.

To buy food, the family of nine rummaged daily through trash to find anything they could sell. They shared a 6×8 foot hut and used a nearby railroad track as a bathroom.

GFA workers found Prema and Neha in this squalor and invited them to attend the local Bridge of Hope center. Here, the sisters learned about Christ and experienced His love. They were told by staff that all people are equal and were encouraged to chase their dreams.

By working extra hours after school and taking jobs as field laborers during school holidays, Prema and Neha were able to save enough money to purchase a home. Because of the GFA staff's positive influence on their lives, the girls want to become teachers in the future.

Pray that more Dalits would find power through Christ's love.

You can have a similar influence on a Dalit child's life through a Bridge of Hope sponsorship. Click here to learn more.

"There is actually lots of rioting and protesting going on right now, because this woman and the man she was with were beaten, and she died after these men raped her," said Danny Punnose from Gospel for Asia.

On December 16, the woman and her male friend were traveling on a bus in New Delhi when they were attacked by six men. The men beat the couple, gang-raped the woman, and inserted an iron rod into her body, resulting in severe organ damage.

After 10 days at a hospital in New Delhi, the woman was brought Thursday to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, which specializes in multi-organ transplants.

"This lady was flown over to Singapore to try to save her life, and that kind of caught the attention of the international press," Punnose stated. "I think it's going to actually cause the government to have to take some decisions, to crack down on this kind of violence. This happens all the time; people are living in fear."

Dr. Kevin Loh, the chief executive of the hospital said the woman had been in extremely critical condition since Thursday, and by late Friday, her condition had taken a turn for the worse.

"This happens quite often, but this is the first time it's got national news," Punnose said. "When women go through this kind of trauma (rape and abuse) in India, it's a shame to talk about it; so they don't say anything. They actually just go back home, and they live with the shame for the rest of their lives and never tell anyone."

According to Punnose, 21,000 rapes were reported in 2008. He explained, "Most these rapes that take place are against the Dalit community,. The Dalit's are kind of the unforgotten people and not cared for, so no one actually cares what happens to them."

Gospel for Asia specializes in ministering to women through its
"Women Reaching Women" outreach. 
Women missionaries are working in rural areas where unlawful abuse
occurs regularly, without retribution. GFA is also working in urban prostitution centers. 

Six men have been arrested in connection with the attack in New Delhi. "If this were a woman from a Dalit background, no one would care right now; this would not be in the press right now. But because she was from an affluent family–a 'better' family, urban family, people have paid attention, and it's taken very seriously. So on one side, I hope the government will take action to really give more protection for women."

Punnose added, "We just have to watch in the next couple of months: will there actually be some laws that they enact, or is it just going to be a token covering over?"

Prayer is essential. "This is a horrendous thing that is happening," Punnose lamented. "Pray with compassion and empathy that the Lord would comfort this family, and at the same time that God would give us the grace and the opportunities to be able to reach out to more women."

Click here to learn more about the social conditions of the Dalits and women in India.

Serve India Ministries is reaching out to this so-called "untouchable' segment of society. President of Serve India Ministries, Ebenezer Samuel, says their Stepping Stone Ministries is an outreach to poor Dalit children. "Over 100 million Indian children have no education. So Stepping Stone is an after-school program that helps children with their education. They also learn about the Lord Jesus."

According to Samuel, the tutoring program helps the children thrive in the public school setting, which is a battle in itself. "The administration discriminates against the children from the so-called Dalit or untouchable communities. When they do well in their studies, they are not encouraged. When they are not able to do well, they are encouraged to drop out."

Reaching out to Hindu Dalits is an example of Christ, says Samuel. "The Dalit Christians are considered developed, or liberated. They're not bracketed with the Hindu Dalits. So when the Christians reach out to the Dalit Hindus or the Dalit Muslims, it does them a huge help."

The tutoring help is paving the way for outreach. "The children as well as adults gravitate toward Christians now that they know they are compassionate and very helpful. Of late, we're seeing lots of these families coming to our pastors for counseling." Some have even started to attend church.

Currently, Serve India Ministries is helping more than 2,000 children in 55 centers throughout India.

Because the program is basic, they're able to influence many families with the Gospel for $3 per child. Samuel says because they don't provide books, clothes or other enticements, "They know we're not enticing them with gifts. It's basically a ministry of relationship. Helping children with their education is all that they receive, and they appreciate that."

For $21 a month, you can help seven children hear the Gospel and help provide them with a quality education.

If you can help the Stepping Stone Ministry of Serve India Ministries, click here.

They contacted India Partners who connected them with a pastor who directs the ministry in building rural churches. The pastor recommended a congregation in a Dalit village who had no meeting place of their own.

Eastside began taking offerings which were generous and were able to complete the church building in January 2002. It was shocking for us to see how far a dollar goes in India, and what a good investment it is to invest in the people there. It’s not charity; it’s an investment. We don’t do it out of pity. In the Kingdom economy, it’s good business.”

Since then, Eastside has sent dental teams to the village. They have also sent lay people to make reading glasses, and others who trained pastors using life journals. They are currently building the parsonage and this summer’s offerings will cover the secure compound wall and a bridge over a canal nearby.

Their work has helped expand the reach of the Gospel by helping a church plant get on its feet. Their goal is to see the church grow and to reproduce itself in other villages.

India Partners has plenty of ideas for how you and your congregation can get involved. Visiting a church, raising money through an alternative gift fair, adopting your own sister church, and sponsoring a village pastor are just a few. For more information on any of these contact India Partners.