Protestants, Catholics dedicate Sunday for Dalit 'liberation'

Protestant and Catholic churches across the country will observe 'Dalit Liberation Sunday' on December 11 to renew its commitment towards people of Dalit origin who suffer social, economical and educational backwardness.

The Dalit Liberation Sunday is observed annually on the nearest Sunday to the International Human Rights day which stands on December 10.

A joint initiative of the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBCI) and the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), the event highlights the struggles of Dalits in general and Dalit Christians in particular.

Posters and special order of worship is being distributed to churches that will organise processions, rallies and seminars to conscientise parish communities and the public on Dalit concerns.

Urging churches to join the Day, the Methodist Church on Thursday hosted worship materials on its website to help ministers plan the services.

Says Rev A Neethinathan, chairperson of the CBCI Office for SC/BC, the Indian society is still under the grip of caste culture that perpetuates ethos, attitudes, structures of inequality and dehumanizing untouchable practices.

"God of compassion clothes Dalits in garments of salvation and wraps them in a cloak of saving justice. Vested interests may deceive Dalits, and the Union Government may delay justice to the Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims. But God of justice is wrestling on their behalf," Rev Neethinathan stated in a letter.

There are over 200 million Dalits in India. Among the Christian population, at least 65% are of Dalit origin.

"Indian society is still casteist in its set up, which dehumanise the Dalits who are the indigenous people in India. Unfortunately the Dalits have been facing discrimination even within the church, which has actually the responsibility to spread the Gospel of Jesus that proposes dignity, equality and fullness of human beings," says Rev Sunil Raj Philip, secretary of the NCCI Commission on Dalits.

He adds: "On the other hand the state oppresses the Dalit Christians and Muslims by negating the equal rights of reservation. Their cries of for Scheduled Caste status are unheard."

"The Christian community as a whole has the responsibility to address the Dalit issues. No more they can be lethargic to the helpless groans of those people who are in struggle."