March 9, 2009

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21

A day at “Janter Manter”

The church where we worship, the Free Church on Parliament Street, comes from a Methodist tradition, but was united into the church of North India (CNI) 38 years ago, along with other major Protestant denominations. Sitting on a prominent piece of well-kept property in the center of the capital of India, the Free Church shakes hands with Indian politics every day.

Most rickshaw drivers don’t know the Free Church exists, but most know the way to “Janter Manter,” the ruins of an old observatory across the street from the back gate of the church on Janter Manter Road. That road is also the place where people of all backgrounds and beliefs practice their free speech in democratic India! The Rev. Patrick Motilal lives in a house behind the church, which backs right up to the place where protesters cry out through loud speakers their complaints to the Indian government every day. It’s where people march, sit, protest, pray, and wait for justice and mercy from their leaders.

Dalit Christians gather from other parts of India under a rally tent on Janter Manter Road to advocate for Dalit Christians to be given the same rights as Dalits of other religions, February 24, 2009.

Patrick was thrilled to share with me a picture of how the entire Free Church congregation marched and prayed in solidarity with “Janadesh” marchers after their Sunday worship on October 28, 2008. Dr. Shailendra Awale, a member of the Free Church who is also on the national staff of the Church of North India as director of their Synodical Board of Social Services, explained to the congregation that 25,000 landless farmers, mostly Dalits and tribal people, marched for 28 days from Gwalior to Delhi to ask the Indian government for a piece of land, since development projects have displaced them from their own lands. Patrick shared this good news:

Prayer is very powerful tool of advocacy….After hectic parleys of discussion, the Government of India agreed to the demands and decided to set up National Land Reform Council to be headed by none other than the Prime Minister and… representatives of agitators.
- from the church newsletter.

On February 24, 2009, Patrick again invited the congregation to support another “Dharna” (rally) on behalf of the National Council of Dalit Christians (NCDC) in collaboration with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and the National Council of Churches of India (NCCI).

A politician bends down and listens to the concerns of the Dalit Christians.

According to materials passed out at the Dharna rally, the Constitution Scheduled Caste Order in 1950 restricted scheduled caste privileges (such as admissions to schools or access to other services) only to Scheduled Caste members who profess Hinduism. Later, professing Sikhs and Buddhists were added, but Christians have been denied for the last 59 years. While I was attending the Dharna, a woman representing the Communist party in the upcoming elections gave a brief speech. As she left the gathering, she took time to squat down and speak with some of the women about their concerns.

I asked some of the people around me what she said (in Hindi), and if she would help support the Dalit Christians in the Parliament. My friend smiled and said, “She says she will support them, because it is an election season, but we will see…. In general, the Communist Party has done more for Dalits and tribals than other parties.”

The cause of Dalit Christians has a long and complicated history. Dr. James Habil Massey has been one of the chief advocates for the rights of Dalit Christians in India and has written extensively on the subject. Dalit Christians are descendents of converts to Christianity from the untouchable caste of Indian society. In India and Pakistan Dalits turned to Christianity in droves because of the dignity and opportunities which Christianity offered them. Some Hindus accuse Christian missionaries in the past of buying the loyalty of Dalits to Christianity by providing education and social services to them. This continues to be a sensitive issue in India and one reason the Indian government doesn’t welcome Christian missionaries to India.

Dr. James Massey invited me to the recent release of two new Bible commentaries written from the perspective of Dalit Christians—commentaries on the Gospels of Mark and John. The authors were present and honored at this gathering and the cause of Dalit Christians struggling to find their voice in Indian society was lifted up.

Some Indians feel that “Slumdog Millionaire” is a “glorification of Indian poverty” and are disappointed that the world has been so enamored by the film. For the few children and families in the slum that have been elevated overnight to fame, it is a dream come true. But, as in most parts of the world, miracles do not happen very often.

Many Indian Christians are hard at work to advocate for systemic change that will open doors for the most vulnerable people. It doesn’t happen on a game show, but through the slow, steady, and relentless work of advocacy for “others,” who Jesus calls our neighbors.

It can be both a blessing and a curse that the Free Church on Parliament Street has one ear to the Scriptures and one to the streets, where the poor cry out for help every day! The lame and needy are literally right outside the gate. Please join me in praying for the unity, witness, and service of our partners in the Church of North India!

Grateful for your support,

The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 106