Indian churches challenged to address caste discrimination

(May 07, 2011) Churches in India were called upon to tackle "institutional casteism" at a conference organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in collaboration with Indian churches and groups. Attended by over 70 delegates, the early May conference on "Caste, Religion and Culture" was organized by the WCC Commission for World Mission and Evangelism in collaboration with the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI). The Student Christian Movement of India and the Centre for Social Studies and Culture based in Kerala state also participated. "Institutional casteism has not been properly discussed in India ... and the colloquium has drawn attention to the need for addressing the issue at all levels," said a statement released at the end of the conference. Under the rigid social hierarchy of the caste system in India, dalits -- literally meaning "trampled upon" in Sanskrit -- lie at the bottom of society. Formerly referred to as "untouchables," dalits often survive by scavenging and doing other menial jobs while living apart from such upper castes as Brahmins. Though dalits account for nearly two thirds of the 28 million Christians in India, they face discrimination even in the churches and Christian institutions as upper castes hold most positions of power. Gopal Guru, a dalit and professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, said in his keynote address that "Dalit studies are done not out of fascination for caste but because of the moral significance for social transformation". University professor Rajkumar Hans said the deadwood of "oppressive caste hegemony" in India has gone deep into egalitarian religions like Buddhism, Sikhism and Christianity. Bold steps were needed to annihilate. Geevarghese mar Coorilos, moderator of the WCC Commission World for Mission and Evangelism, noted that "caste dynamics has changed over the decades." "The new dynamism must be translated into the life of the churches," said mar Coorilos, presiding bishop of the Thiruvalla of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian church.