Contextualising Caste Identity: Double Marginalisation of Dalit Christians in India

Abstract

‘Dalit Christians’ represent a wide, multi-dimensional spectrum in India .They constitute for over 70% of the entire Christian population in India. Dalit Christians are more stipulated by being a Dalit than by being a Christian since the discrimination continues even on being converted to another religion. Also, the identity of Dalit Christians has far more to do with them being a Dalit than by them being a Christian. Dalit Christians are officially nonexistent entities in India as one cannot be a Christian and a Dalit at the same time. Being a Christian requires renunciation of caste-status behind and moving into a faith where everyone is considered equal. Unfortunately this is not the scenario in India. The caste system is so much intertwined with the Indian culture and the Indian church that it is virtually impossible to escape from it. So, Dalit Christians continue to be subjugated and oppressed not only in the society but also in the church.