Members of the Church of North India were attacked with canes and water cannons by Delhi police on Dec. 11 for rallying for the rights of Dalit Christians and Muslims. Several members were arrested and later released.
The attack by police is the first of its kind since 1997. The Presbyterian Church of Canada is awaiting further details about the case.
Bishops, ministers and nuns were protesting a presidential order instated in 1950—a law intended to afford Indian Dalits equal employment rights with other castes in schools and government; however, both Christian and Muslim Dalits were excluded, since their religions do not follow a caste system.
The PCC is a longtime partner of the CNI, a church of 1.3 million members in 3,000 congregations. It was formed by six Protestant denominations, including Presbyterians, in 1970. The church has worked for over a century within the CNI’s bounds, serving tribal and Dalit peoples mainly through health care and education initiatives. One of the PCC’s most longstanding and well-known missionaries, Pauline Brown, has been a major part of these programs.
CNI’s General Secretary Alwan Masih was one of the men arrested during the protest. Masih is well known to some Presbyterians in Canada, including the church’s Moderator, Rev. Dr. David Sutherland, and Rev. Dr. Glynis Williams, associate secretary of International Ministries. The pair met with Masih last October during the Moderator’s official trip.
“The PCC expresses its support for Alwan Masih and the other members of the Church in North India who were protesting in support of Dalit Christians in India,” states a press release.
The term “Dalit” was coined in 1880 to describe the outcasts and “untouchables” in Indian society. While there has been much affirmative action to improve conditions, Dalit Christians are still denied important rights.
The PCC’s relief and development arm, Presbyterian World Service and Development is also active in India’s north, supporting community health, food security and nutrition programs in Madya Pradesh.
“Madya Pradesh is one of the least developed states in India and the tribals/Dalit of the church and its missions are those who we partner with in the community health programs. The beneficiaries of our programs are in fact primarily tribals and Dalit, many who are underserved by the government,” PWS&D director, Ken Kim told the Record.
Masih wrote the PCC on Dec. 2, 2013 saying: “We pray for God’s bountiful blessings on friends who have generously joined hands with us while journeying towards the mission of the Lord together.”
