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NCCI Webinar on Dalit Christians: 70 years of discrimination based on religion

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NCCI Dalit and Tribal/ Adivasi Concerns

Tuesday, 4 August 2020 at 02.30pm – 04.00pm (IST)

Dalit Christians had launched agitations since 1950s towards the Union Government demanding the amendment of the Constitutional (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950, which excludes the Dalit Christians from enjoying the benefits of the Scheduled Castes. The main reason for including only castes professing Hindu religion in the Scheduled Caste list was directly linked to the practice of untouchability. The criteria suggested by the then Census Commissioner were used to identify the castes to be listed under the Schedules created by the Government of India Act 1935. The Government of India Scheduled Caste Order 1936 was issued under this Act. Paragraph 3 of this Order provides that “No Indian Christian shall be deemed to be a member of Scheduled Caste”. In the year 1950, the President of India issued the “ Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950” specifying the castes to be recognised as the Scheduled Castes by exercising the authority conferred on him under article 341 (1) of the Constitution of India. The third paragraph of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950, popularly known as the Presidential Order, stipulates that “no person who professes a religion different from Hinduism shall be deemed to be a member of Scheduled Caste”. This Order violates the spirit of many articles of our Constitution such as article 15 that mentions equal treatment of all citizens and article 25 that affirm the freedom of religion.

Approximately 70% of the Christian population in India are from Scheduled caste backgrounds. Dalit Christians have a unique history of faith experiences because of the caste identity. Dalits embraced Christianity as a faith affirmation against caste slavery and these experiences vary according to regional contexts. Dalits continue to be excluded, discriminated, and dehumanized even after India became an independent democratic nation. Dalits are the victims of multiple social and religious discriminations and are kept as untouchables, polluted, and forced to do the traditional, menial, and unclean occupations. The struggle for being constitutionally recognized as Christians of Scheduled Caste Origin has not been materialized. NCCI made several representations since 1950 to the Government and these have included Presentation of Memorandum to the President, Prime Minister, and advocating for the Dalit Christians with Members of Parliament. In 2004 a writ petition (180/2004) was filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation Challenging the Presidential (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950. This case is still pending in the Supreme Court due to the delay of the Union Government of India to give a reply to the Court inspite of the assurance given in 2008 to the Court that they would give a reply within eight weeks! In 2013, NCCI has filed an impleading application in the Supreme Court of India as the Civil Writ petition (180/2004) is pending before the Hon’ble Court. The case has been posted for hearing from October 2019 onwards. The 70 years of struggle for justice has to be supported by the people who believe in equality and democracy.

A panel of distinguished speakers, listed below, will draw our attention to the struggle of a seventy years and it’s current stage, how successive governments have failed us, the socio-political fallout of this discrimination, and the challenging way ahead..

Ms. Tehmina Arora  – Director, ADF India
Rev. Dr. Cosmon Arokiaraj – Director, St. Peter’s Arts and Science College, Andimadam, Tamil Nadu,
Rev. Sunil Raj Philip – Director, CSI Synod Dept. of Communication and Department of Dalit and Adivasi Concerns

 The Webinar will be facilitated by Mr. Pradip Bansrior and Mr. Shibi Peter.

Please do join us in virtual meeting on Zoom platform and encourage others to join. The Zoom link, ID and Password are mentioned below.

Click here for Zoom Link 

 Meeting ID: 967 4542 3418

 Password: 905018

 For any queries please contact:  dataconcerns@ncci1914.com

Sincerely,

Pradip Bansrior
Executive Secretary
Dalit and Tribal/ Adivasi Concerns, NCCI

Tribal and Adivasi Sunday | 9 August 2020

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Respected Ecumenical Leaders,

Greetings from NCCI- Dalit and Tribal/ Adivasi Concerns!

Over the years Tribal and Adivasi Sunday has been celebrated in many parts of our country in sensitizing the local congregation on Tribal and Adivasi Concerns. Thanks to the enormous support we have received from across the churches, dioceses, parishes and institutions in celebrating this special Sunday. This year also we are inviting you to celebrate the Tribal and Adivasi Sunday on 9th August 2020 in your churches/local parishes/institutions adhering to the Covid-19 protocols of restrictions on physical gathering.

The theme for this year’s Tribal and Adivasi Sunday is “COVID 19 and Reclaiming Our Indigenous Heritage” and we have prepared a special Order of Worship for the day. You may please take the freedom to use the entire worship order and translate it in your vernacular language or adapt parts of it. We sincerely hope that the observance of this special NCCI Tribal and Adivasi Sunday will be an enriching one in our faith affirmation and commitment and for widening the horizon of our ecumenical journey.

Let us join to celebrate Tribal and Adivasi Sunday on 9th August 2020.

Thanking you in anticipation.

With regards,

In Christ,

Pradip Bansrior
Executive Secretary
Dalit and Tribal/Adivasi Concerns
National Council of Churches in India

Download Order of Worship

For further information please write to us at dataconcerns@ncci1914.com

NCCI WCC Webinar on Sustainable Environment: Churches in Action. June 4, 2020

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World Environment Day Webinar on
Sustainable Environment: Churches in action
(NCCI’s Rebooting as ekklesia series)
Thursday June 4, 2020 Thursday, 2:30PM- 4:30 PM (IST)/ 11.30– 13.00 (CET)

 “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; –Psalm 24:1

The theme for World Environment Day, 5 June 2020 is biodiversity — a call to action to combat the accelerating species loss and degradation of the natural world. One million plant and animal species risk extinction, largely due to human activities. According to the WWF, Humanity has wiped out 60% of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles since 1970. Some recent analyses have revealed that humankind has destroyed 83% of all mammals and half of plants since the dawn of civilisation.The global economy is intricately tied to biodiversity. Services provided by biodiversity are worth an estimated US$ 125-140 trillion per year, more than one and a half times the size of global GDP. The food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink come from nature.

In a country like India, with world’s second highest population and an increased demand for economic growth coupled with rapid urbanization trend, the process of biodiversity loss is on a fast track, resulting in increased frequency of extreme weather events, successive droughts, lack of drinking water, crop failures, etc.  This has severe impact on the poor and the agrarian communities, whose life and livelihood depends on nature and biodiversity.

So what can be done?

The WED this year has focused on “time for nature”.  The world has come to a standstill due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At this time of lockdown measures, the world witnessed a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions around the world and the nature found its “breathing space”. In a way the nature reclaimed its space!  But for how long? How does a post COVID-19 world or the nature look like? All is not lost and its not too late. We can reverse the trends of biodiversity loss by reimagining our relationship with nature and acting now to increase ambition and accountability for its protection. But all stakeholders have to respond collectively.

 Who are the stakeholders?  what changes needs to be done? As a faith community, what role churches can play? Let us hear some success stories and explore together with the panel of speakers:

Dinesh Suna, EWN, WCC
Manoj Kurian, EAA, WCC
Athena Peralta, EEJ, WCC
Renemsongla Ozukum, CBCNEI /NCCI
Angelious Michael, JELC/ NCCI
Mathew Koshy, CSI/ NCCI

The webinar will be facilitated by Asir Ebenezer, General Secretary NCCI and Pradip Bansrior. Executive Secretary NCCI Dalit and Adivasi/Tribal Concerns

Register here for joining the webinar on Zoom platform. The zoom link and password to join the webinar will be sent to you subsequently

Dalit Liberation Sunday | November 10, 2019

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Respected Moderator /Metropolitan /Bishop /General Secretary /Executive Secretary/ Director /Principal /Executive Committee Member /General Body Member of NCCI and Dear Ecumenical Friends

Greetings from NCCI- Dalit and Tribal/ Adivasi Concerns!

We are happy to inform you that this year Dalit Liberation Sunday will be observed on 10 November  2019 all over India by the Member Churches/ Institutions/ Parishes of the National Council of Churches in India and Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India. The theme for this year’s DLS is Resist Caste: “If one suffers all suffer together” (1 Corinthians 12: 26). Let us as local congregation observe this DLS-2019 in all sincerity and truthfulness to our calling as Christians and sensitize people to overcome all forms of discriminatory practices of caste across India and initiate uncompromising actions to eradicate such practices within the Christian community.

We are sending you some prayers and affirmations to be included into your worship service. Attached herewith please find pdf. files of the worship order and poster of DLS-2019 which you may circulate among your pastors, lay leaders and department heads.

Looking forward to receiving your cooperation in observing Dalit Liberation Sunday on November 10, 2019.

Thanking you in anticipation,

With regards,

In Christ,

 

Pradip Bansrior
Executive Secretary
Dalit and Tribal/ adivasi Concerns
National Council of Churches in India

 

Download the Liturgy

Download the Poster

Tribal and Adivasi Sunday | 4 August 2019

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And the people of God said, “Amen” !!

Worship in every Christian tradition has been a corporate affirmation of God’s work amidst us, accomplished in and through all of God’s creation including the human persons.

This year too we affirm God at work in the context of the struggles and resilience of the indigenous peoples of our lands; their affirmation of life, living patterns, search for livelihood options, and more importantly land. Identity, the very essence of being human persons and that which is so intrinsically related to land is denied when land itself is usurped.

We are invited this year during the observance of the NCCI Tribal and Adivasi Sunday to lift our hearts and cry out to this apathy, and more importantly to affirm our participation in the struggle to restore land to the peoples who love, tend and keep it. Affirmed and committed thus, we are also invited to join issue with those persons, policies and processes that usurp land, challenging with all else and God the affirmation of life and dignity to these our kin – the land and her own.

I commend to you the work of my colleague Mr. Pradip Bansrior, the Executive Secretary of the Dalit and Tribal/ Adivasi Concerns of the National Council of Churches in India, and that of his team, who invite us to worship together and thus to this commitment to restore land to the Indigenous people from whom it is usurped thereby affirming rights that’s just.

Sing unto the Lord a new song . . .

Asir Ebenezer
General Secretary
National Council of Churches in India

download the liturgy 

Download the Poster

Observance of Nakba Day on 15th May 2019

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The Nakba commemoration of 71 years was jointly organized by National Council of Churches in India – Dalit and Tribal/Adivasi Concerns, Urban Rural Mission and India Peace Centre on 15th May 2019 at India Peace Center. People from various walks of life, from different faith communities participated to understand the complex reasons responsible towards the mass exile of the Palestinians from their land which now is under the captivity of Israel. Mr. Rajesh Jadhav working with NCCI -Urban Rural Mission explained in brief the historical background of NAKBA by giving details of the Israeli Zionist thought process in the Exodus and occupied areas of Gaza strip. Followed by the introductory speech a short documentary movie “The Walls of Shame” was screened which highlighted the burning issue of human rights and American right-wing approval for this endeavor. The movie depicted the reality which the people of Palestine have faced since decades in the hands of Israel and its inhuman strategies against a particular faith community.

Followed by the movie Mr. Pradip Bansrior, Executive Secretary of Dalit and Tribal/Adivasi Concerns – NCCI highlighted the issues existing in the Indian society and about the invisible wall which is present in the Indian society in the form of caste system and its practices. In between, the Muslim friends offered the sunset prayer Namaaz commemorating the Holy month of Ramadan after which they break their fast with Iftar.  Dr. Suresh Khairnar, National President of Rashtra Seva Dal, Nagpur shared and brought insights and his experiences which he had during his visit to the Gaza strip and Palestine. Dr. Khairnar in his address spoke extensively on the problems faced by the people living at the borders of Israel and Palestine and the key issues which are mutual recognition, borders, security, water rights, control of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, Palestinian freedom of movement, and the Palestinian right to return. Dr. Khairnar was eloquent in bringing out the how the world media is reluctant towards the problems faced by Palestinian. He appealed and encouraged the participants to read the book Good Muslim, Bad Muslim written by Mahmood Mamdani in order to understand the degree of suppression, distress and violence the people from the Muslim communities go through in their daily life.The program was concluded with the final remarks on standing together and striving for a justice oriented community and society by large was given by Rev. Kasta Dip, Director of India Peace Centre after which Mr. Rajesh Jadhav proposed a vote of thanks to all the delegates and the organizers of the program and proposed special thanks to Mr. Moses Gaur and Mr. Saurabh Khobragade. This was yet another opportunity wherein the National Council of Churches in India once again stood in strictly objecting the violation of human rights done by Israel in the case of Palestinian and affirming that it stands for peace, justice and love which Christ Jesus commands to share with every human being and the whole creation at large.

Reported by:

 Mr. Saurabh Khobragade

Mr. Yatharth Jadav

A Sermon on “The Riddle of Genuine Religion: Remembering Ambedkar” to mark the 128th birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on Sunday, 14th April 2019

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Scripture Reading:   

Old Testament   :           Amos 8:4 – 6

 New Testament    :           James 1:19 – 27

              Gospel               :           Mathew 25:31 – 40

The 128th Birth anniversary of Dr. B. R Ambedkar falls on Sunday, 14 April, 2019. On this particular Sunday it is important for us to have a bird’s eye view of how Ambedkar looked at religion. Interestingly, his understanding of religion has resemblances with the passages given here. Let us examine how Ambedkar viewed religion:

According to Ambedkar the life and practices of the society lay the foundation of religion. Therefore, religion is part of one’s “social inheritance”. He affirmed the role of religion in the society and life of people, but he never endorsed hypocritic expressions in the name of religion. Religion, to him, is the driving force for human activity. He elsewhere remarked that “Man cannot live by bread alone. He has a mind which needs food for thought. Religion instils hope in Man and drives him to activity.”  He linked religion with the social being of the people. He remarked, “The religion which discriminates between two followers is partial and the religion which treats crores of its adherents worse than dogs and criminals and inflicts upon them insufferable disabilities is no religion at all. He wanted a religion which was all inclusive and open to all. Ambedkar also was of the opinion that religion should be rites and ritual free. He emphasized the social value of religion.  The social values talked about by Ambedkar are dignity, equality, liberty and fraternity which are the core values of a society.  Ambedkar believed that for betterment of socio-economic, religious and political way of life, “the prescription of equality, liberty and fraternity was needed.” Ambedkar in his response to religion sees religion in the interest of establishing a society of equals. For him, the questions of the origin, nature and practice of religion were not essential; instead he studied and assessed various religions from a social perspective of justice. Thus, we can say that for Ambedkar the search for a new religion was less of a spiritual quest and more of a longing for a religion free from unnecessary rites and rituals and built on the principles of justice and equality.

Similar to Ambedkar’s views, the prophet Amos criticised religion which discriminates people based on their economic back ground. His criticism is meant to evolve a genuine religion. Let us now look at how the prophetic voice of Amos described the characteristics of genuine religion: Read more

NCCI joins NCDC to include Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims in Scheduled Caste list

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The outcry of the Dalits has always been suppressed in different ways by the dominant hierarchical groups in India. The sheer interference in letting them accept a religion which breaks the bondage of caste and treats them equally comes in the limelight when it tries to uplift them from their suppression. But the tyranny of caste still remains with them as these chains does not leave them free. The reservation policies made to uplift the subaltern groups not only provides them a social status but also uplifts them from their social identity. In this times of trials and tribulations the Dalit Christians and Muslims have faced the termination of enjoying the equal rights which their brothers and sisters of similar identity holds in other faiths especially in Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh religions.

Read more

Consultation on Ecumenical Formation and Capacity Building for Young Dalit, Tribal/Adivasi Theologians

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National Council of Churches in India- Dalit and Tribal/ Adivasi Concerns
in partnership with
Henry Martyn Institute, Christian Service Agency and EMW Germany
 Consultation on Ecumenical Formation and Capacity Building for
 Young Dalit, Tribal/Adivasi Theologians
11-13 February 2019, Henry Martyn Institute, Hyderabad

The tyrannical social system of caste is creating a major disturbance in the society and community. Human dignity is being trampled ruthlessly every day. The Tribal communities as well who are the heart and soul of our civilizational heritage are being dDalitsisplaced in the guise of development to serve the vested interests of the dominants. In such a time as this the National Council of Churches in India – Dalit and Tribal/Adivasi Concerns reaffirms the divine praxis of liberation of human beings from the clutches of all dehumanizing forces at work so as to achieve authentic humanization ensuring each individual self-respect and dignity in the midst of systemic evils and structures which threaten the very existence of all lives on this planet. The intrinsic value of the entire cosmos needs to be reclaimed. These concerns were the subsistence of the consultation organized by the Dalit and Tribal/Adivasi Concerns of National Council of Churches in India on “Ecumenical Formation and Capacity Building for Young Dalit, Tribal/Adivasi Theologians” from 11-13 February 2019 at the Henry Martyn Institute, Hyderabad. The consultation bore witness to 39 delegates and 17 resource persons. 15 Theological Colleges affiliated to Senate of Serampore delegated their students for the consultation. Read more