Good News for the Poor and Freedom for the Captives
I have been thinking about the Dalit issue. It doesn’t seem to go out of my mind. When I see people around me having no hope in their lives. There are countless people who don’t eat properly, don’t have dress to cover their bodies and no shelter to sleep peacefully, after hard work.
The question keep coming back to me. Does God care for Dalit people? Can He offer any hope? Can He free them from the clutches of extreme poverty and illitracy? Can God help those who don’t get timely food, warm clothes to cover during winter, and a small house to lay head in peace with their wives and children.
When the Lord saw His people being exploited in Egyptian Society, He came to help them. He heard their cry. He came down to see them. He also provided a leader (Moses) to lead them, to speak for them and to guide them.
But it all happned, when people realized that they were being victimized. And that they were not getting their wages according to their hard labor. They realized that in the hard times they can approach Someone. They understood it that the One who created them, can bring justice and freedom to them.
So these people in troubles and hardships shouted in unison to God the Father. They put their trust in Him who loves justice and freedom. They believed that He can bring changes in their lives. So they agreed together and called upon His Name.
Finally, we read in the Bible that God heard their groaning, cry and saw their pains. And we read further that God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them (Ex 2:23-25).
And under the leadership all the Israelites were freed. Their yoke was broken. They found their Messiah and Liberator. They understood what it means to be under the leadersip of the True God.
Will our Dalit brothers and sisters will cry out for help to this true God and Messiah? Will they see Him as the one who bring changes and transformation? Will they understand that true God never enslaves?
May you find and seek the one who promises, Come to me and I’ll give you rest (Matt 11:28). May you know that there is Someone (Lord Jesus Christ) who really cares for you. May you learn about God’s care.
Not only so called high caste men and women but their children also are jealous of the Dalit children’s education. It is true that family is the first school for the children. They learn and devolep ideas which they hear in the family. They act upon the stories told by their fathers and forefathers. In our custom, the older people share stories with their children, in the bed or when they are in a good mood at home. This way we carry on to our good and bad traditions.
An example of such bad tradition is here: “This is to teach your parents not to send you to school said, few youths from Madurai, a place in Tamilnadu, South India. They beaten one dozen Dalit children, whose age varies from 8-13 years, mostly girls.
The Hindu youths were angry because Dalit children were going to school. Thanks to the parents who send them regularly at school. For there are millions of children from the same community, who do not go to or rather say not sent to schools. Why these youths must be angry? Well’ put it simply, because they did not like the children of “lower castes” to get education and bring some changes in their life styles. They want to see them still in the 15th century. And want to use them, for their benifits. After all in India, it is very easy to fool the illitrates.
The Dalits are facing the consequnces of being far away from education. We can see it all in our day today life.
The physical force was used to teach a lesson to the Dalit children. It was that now onward parents will not send their children to school.
While government of India is emphasizing “Education for All” (Sarvashiksha abhiyan), there are people with bad philosophy, who would do all kinds of attempts to make this kind of project unsuccessful.
In conclusin, people who believe and practice caste-system will not allow all the people of India taking part in building of modern and modest India. These people will continue to stop “sab padhe-sab badhe) All get education-all get devolepment.
How happy these people would be when they hear of the Good News of our LOrd Jesus Christ, who came to love us and gave us freedom to come to the True God.
Saraswati puja discrimination: Probe ordered
KENDRAPARA, Feb 3: Dalit children were allegedly prevented from offering puja to Goddess Saraswati in a government-run primary school under Rajnagar police station area recently.
The incident occurred on 31 January Saraswati puja function at Sidhamarichani Primary School, under Koilipur gram panchayat.
Meanwhile, Kendrapara district administration has ordered an inquiry into alleged show of discrimination towards Dalit children.
“The administration was told of the purported incident. The block development officer of Rajnagar has been asked to inquire into the veracity of allegations and submit a report. In the event the school authorities are found guilty, they would be taken to task,” said Kendrapara collector, Mr Sisirkanta Panda.
It was alleged that head of the said school had stopped the Dalit children of the institution from offering puja to the deity. The agitated guardians had later drawn the attention of local BDO. But the local authorities turned a deaf ear to their complaint. Finally the district magistrate and collector was petitioned on the arbitrary behaviour on part of head master of the school.
Despite grounds-well of opinions and legal sanction for abolition of the practice, caste-related discrimination is still prevalent mainly in remote rural pockets of this coastal district. n sns
Here is another sad incident which took place on June 6, 2008. The Dalit people suffer from many kind of oppressions. In many regions they are not allowed to fetch water from the same well or handpumps.
The story from msn.com :
Harda (MP): An elderly Dalit woman was burnt alive allegedly by three members of an upper caste community over a dispute on fetching water from a village hand pump.
Prembai, 55, suffered 80 per cent burns as she was set ablaze on Tuesday, Abhishek Ranjan, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, said today.
The incident took place at Harda’s Kantada village where Prembai was stopped from using the village hand pump by three upper caste persons, Ranjan said.
A quarrel erupted as she refused to budge, following which Hiralal, Dinesh and Rajendra allegedly set her on fire, he said adding Prembai succumbed on Wednesday.
The incident came to light yesterday when Kantada villagers, along with the her body, held demonstrations in front of the Harda Collectorate demanding action against the accused.
A complaint in this connection has been registered by Hukumchand, the deceased’s husband, Ranjan said adding only after verifying the charges, a case of murder will be registered against the accused.
© Copyright 2008 PTI. All rights reserved.
Remember, Jesus talking to an untouchable woman two thousand years ago and asking water from her. He gave her life and the water of life. He went into her community, stayed with them, talked to them, drank their water and taught them that God loves them too. So many women and their people are waiting for same Jesus message of hope for them.
The real story can be read here:
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1436276
The value of a human being in Hinduism- A little girl thrown into fire
03 Jun
Posted by: Raj in: Uncategorized
The story was heart touching. The girl was only of 6 years old. She did not know what will cost her for being walking in a street where, a hight caste man had his house. The man shouted at her in anger, “why did you come here? What you doing here? How come even the children of lower caste people enter our streets?”
Before this girl could understand anything, the man in rage threw her into a heap of burning fire with the intention that she would die there and other will learn the lesson not to walk in the street.
The man, Sunny could have talked about the issue in a village meeting or with the guardians of the little baby but he did not. He had no mercy or kindness, for this was a ‘lower human being’ and that too, ‘a girl’. So he went on to punish her, for being a Dalit and daring to cross the border.
Well, this man is just an example of millions people like him.
What will change these people? What are the hopes ? Let’s know from you… Let’s share…
I do pray that God will take care of His precious people.
More later…..
*the picture belongs to www.bbc.com/hindi
The original story can be read here http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080048355
Please watch related vedio http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/videopod/default.aspx?id=28011
1. To identify with the Dalits, women and oppressed people and to play a role in transforming their lives in terms of restoring their dignity and respect as human beings.
2. This blog will benefit the Dalits to make them know their real identity as human beings from the perspective of the Concepts of “image of God’, “Fatherhood of God’ and “Concept of God”.
3. Since many missions are focusing on the Dalits, so this blog will be done to explore some effective strategy of Christian missions for the Dalits.
4. To explore the biblical foundation of Christian mission to meet the need of Dalit context.
5. This blog will make clear- the meaning of Messiah, and will help Oppressed people to know the True Messiah.
I invite friends of the same mind, passion, love, philosophy and perspectives to help me in writing, sharing, commenting, telling others, and praying. Please feel free to write me back, if you would like to help in the ministry to oppressed people, in any way. God bless.
I was going through the Book of Isaiah a few days ago and I noticed some important lessons from these two chapters 58 and 61. These truths are simple, plain, important and fundamental to the Christian ministry. These truths include Spiritual and Physical aspects.
Thank God when Christ came to this earth in the flesh, He took initiative to do the both and asked His followers to do the same in the coming ages, while telling about Him to the needy people. Jesus showed by His life that He has come to do the Father’s will on this earth. And He did it and fiinally said, I have brought glory by doing the work you entrusted to me.
We shall continue the great work which God Himself began and asked His believers to carrry on. I am glad Lord Himself is with us in the mission. After all it is His Mission and not man’s.
Here are some of the important aspects to encourage you to do the same as you believe and serve Him. Please join with me in the coming days to keep on this work. Our work will include all these points.
1. To loose the chains of injustice
2. Untie the cord of Yoke
3. To set the oppressed free and break the yoke
4. Satisfy the needs of oppressed
5. Sharing food with the hungry
6. provide a shelter to the homeless.
7. providing clothes to the naked
8. Good News to the poor
9. Binding up the broken hearted.
10. To proclaim freedom for the captives
11. Bringing people out from darkness
12. To proclaim the Year of Freedom.
13. To comfort all those who mourn.
14. To provide them happiness instead of mourning
“Knowing God-Serving people”. This is what I believe. Knowing God should make a difference in our lives.
Goal: To glorify God in all. The chief end of man is to bring glory to living God.
Objectives: Spiritual, social, economic freedom of our people
Means: God, Prayer, redeemed ones and all God-given resources
God of Bible is God of Creation. After creating all things, He declared all of them, “good” (Genesis1:31). Being the Creator, He loves and cares for His entire creation; we can find His loving and caring heart throughout the scriptures. God is with His people and favoring them. God made from one root all mankind and blessed them, in their forefathers to be fruitful and multiply. He provided them the good things in the Eden garden. He continued to show his care for His people by sending rain and sunlight, without favoring anyone. Indeed, in Him, we find the pictures of loving, caring, and approachable God, the Father.
The Bible reveals that God is concerned about his people. He specially pays attention to the suffering and oppressed people. This we see when He sent His servant, Moses to free the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and oppression. The Egyptian had made the Israelites life as hell. We find that God frees them, so that they might worship Him. God showed His concern by performing many miracles for His people and by bringing them to a land of honey and milk. The picture of promise land for the Israelites, show that they enjoyed freedom and dignity under God’s rule.
Dalits too, are God’s people and a wonderful part of His supreme work, created in His own image (Genesis 2:27) God knows Dalits poor condition too. Being as a caring Father, He can not see them in physical and spiritual oppression. So He wants them to see free like the Israelites, so that they too, worship and bring glory to Him. He wants Dalits yoke of slavery and captivity to be broken. He has Good News for them. And the good news is that, He is their Creator. He has come to the earth in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ to show that love and care. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for his (sheep) followers. He does not want any one to wander and to perish. The Lord does not delight in the destruction of men. Jesus is the Messiah who does not punish but gives life. Jesus has come to “preach the Good News and to set the captives free” (Isaiah 61:1-2, Luke 4:18-19). The God of universe is concerned about poor, widows, marginalized, and the oppressed. Dalits as the suffering people of God have been waiting for message of Hope and Liberation. God has finished the work of saving and liberating people in His Son, when He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
The Good News of Jesus’ message is the only hope for the Dalits in Indian subcontinent. The Researcher believes, it is the Message of Christ that will set the Dalits free and will give them the dignity as human being. The message of Messiah has to be shared and be shown in practical ways to the oppressed by the Christian Missions.
When we see God’s righteous and just heart for his creation, it must encouraged, His believers to do the same, for their neighbor and oppressed. The followers of God can not remain cold and mute spectators rather they should make His justice to rule the injustice of this world everywhere. And bring comfort and hope for the victims of injustice and oppression. The Bible says that, “the creation groans” for liberty (Rom.8:22), and it’s true of the Dalits of India. It is a community, which has been oppressed physically and spiritually. It needs the love, care, liberation, and transformation in view of God’s people.
It is sin and Satan actually which inspires people to make, others suffer. Satan from the very beginning had not been at peace with God and his wonderful creation, which bears his image. Satan caused our forefather to sin and brought them under suffering of many kinds.
What Hindu scriptures teach and high caste Hindu practice today is the consequences of sin and its impact, “therefore they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).” Therefore, it is Christian Missions duty, now to bring these people, to the true knowledge of our Lord. The researcher believe if people know the True God and his Word, then the whole life of individuals and distorted society is going to be totally different. The distorted picture of our life and society will be changed and people will be transformed and will live at peace. Yes, there is hope for the betterment of Dalits. When they will come to the true knowledge of our Lord, then, they will be changed, inwardly and outwardly.
As God’s people, we can not be mute spectator of Dalits situation. “The Church must accept a new paradigm of the Mission of Dalit Liberation. The Dalit issue must be on the Christian Missions priority. The Missionaries must… join hands with all forces that enable Dalit Liberation: oppose all forces that perpetuate Dalit slavery. Church must be committed to liberate the Dalits from the age-old Hindu oppressors.”[1]
As we live together, we have to show our love in action for them as God did it by sending His only Son for us. The Bible says, “Speak for the voiceless.” Therefore, the role of mission is to be voice of the voiceless and bring hope to hopeless. The missionaries need to tell that God loves the Dalits and cares for them. And that they too, have the right to life, dignity, education and employment. The role of Christian missions is important to bring, the holistic transformation for the Dalits
And now, The Christian Missionaries duty is to make people know that God loves and cares for his creation. Dalits have hope in the present world and the world to come. And that God has entered in the human society in the form of Christ Jesus, the God-man. He has come as the Messiah of the oppressed people. He has broken the walls between Jews and Samaritans, clean and unclean, servant and Lord, male and female, Greek and Jew. And He wants to become the Messiah of Dalits, The Christian missions need to take this message to the concerned people and show their Christian love in actions, so that their lives will no longer be the same as it is today but will experience the social and spiritual transformation.
What is the identity of a person, well, first of all, A person is a human being and latter other things. We ought to value the humanness of a person and not the secondary or other things. It is not a person’s fault to be born in a particular community or nation. No one in this world can choose where he/she should be born. If we can not decide that and if we have no role to play in that then by what standard do we question the identity of a person or by what standard do we value the relationship of humans with each other?
I firmly believe we are not created or evolved from the monkeys or other animals. God made us in His image. We bear our Creator’s image and that is the most important thing in the world. God loves us as humans because He created us and He loves us. He shows us His love by protecting, providing, and sustaining our lives. We must be thankful to HIM for creating us humans and not other creatures.
The Bible says that, “you are more valuable than the bird of the sky”. God values us and loves us. He valued us that much and our relationship with Him that He could not see us in the state of sin and oppression but that He sent His Son to deliver us from the darkness and from the captivity of sin. He valued us, that He became human being for us and came to live among us. WE are so dear to Him. He sent Jesus Christ to love us and to care for us.
Jesus valued us and He taught in His Word that God is interested in us and wants to give us life. He does not delight in our sin, and dead state. He opened the gate of life for us by dying Himself for us. He valued us as His friends which no other person has done in this world.
My dear friends we need to understand things from God’s perspective. God’s perspective gives us hope, life and dignity. We ought to thank God for making us precious children. We ought to know His love in the Bible. We ought to understand His purpose for us. We ought to know that WE are more than birds and animals. We have no comparision with any other creature in this world, i.e. no animal or bird is suprior or equal to us for God made us unique.
If you have this foundation then you can be sure of your value, life and dignity but if your foundation is weak and shallow then it is futile or absurd to look for better in this life from the human beings. But remember with God and His Word we have hope here on this earth and same time after we depart from here.
Dr. Mangawadi says in his book, Truth and Social Reform, ““A great composer would not have a single note in his music which had no relevance. A great artist would not have a hue on his canvas which had no relevance. A great architect would not have a stone in his building which was not a purposeful part of the design. A great poet will not have a word in his poem which has no meaning. If the universe is indeed the work of a Great Designer, no individual is meaningless, insignificant or useless for Him.”
May you know your value in the light of God’s Word. Yes, you are indeed very important person. Thank God for it. Forget the false philosophy and teachings. May the light of God shine upon you and may you know how worth you are through Christ.
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Good News and Hope for the Oppressed
We want to tell our oppressed friends that they are victim of a wrong philosphy, which divided people right from the birth and closes all doors of any hopes for them. We also want to share with the world, what's going on in our society and community inspite of economic boom. Let the world know that Dalit people still have no opportunities (education, employment, social, political, etc) like others.
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