Like any other religious grouping, the Christian community is a mixed bag. Its role in perceived differently in diverse parts of the country
In our troubled times, when people can be either privileged or suspected just because of their religious affiliation, a video is doing the rounds. Rishabh Shah, in an Instagram or Facebook reel, makes a case for appreciating the Christian "contribution" to India.
Shah says: "With 2.4 billion Christians, Christianity stands as the largest religion in the world. But in India, Christians make up a mere 2.4 per cent of our population. But in my humble opinion, they impact us more than 240 per cent."
This is a flattering thought, but is it really true?
Shah goes on to argue why: Mother Teresa, through her organisation, impacted the lives of 15 million people. India's "favourite sport" cricket, is upheld by president Roger Binny [an Anglo-Indian of Scottish origin, the 36th and incumbent president of Board of Control for Cricket in India]. And, he asks, which avid reader would say they've not read Ruskin Bond [born to a British father and supposedly Anglo-Indian mother].
What's the commonality between all three? The conclusion is that they're all Christians.
Shah then argues that Christian-[run] schools "generate" over Rs 10,000 crores, employing over 1.5 million skilled professionals in the country. Their success can be attributed to the "values their religion instills in them". This includes, he suggests, "Let each of you not look only to his interests, but to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4)
Rishabh Shah, incidentally, is the founder of IIMUN, India's International Movement to Unite Nations. He suggests anyone questioning the role of Christians, need to be shown this reel.
One is not questioning the background of the role models that Shah chooses as highlights for the achievements of the Christian community. Any community would have its own achievers, its highs and lows, its strengths and weaknesses.
But can we take credit from the doings of a few big names? What is more important is not just how the community is seen (or even packaged, to use a bad word, in these communalised times). What is the role it really plays -- not just seen to play -- in the wider national life.
Like any other religious grouping, the Christian community is a mixed bag. Its role in perceived differently in diverse parts of the country. In recent times, like the even bigger "minority" of Muslims, it has come under quite some questioning and suspicion.
For that matter, even the relationship with the Sikh population is coming under increasing strains; we could be heading back to the 1980s. For a country with so much diversity, this is indeed bad news. In Mizoram, the divide and civil war-like intense bitterness and uncontrolled conflict has an ethnic, besides a religious, gap.
In some ways, this is understandable if we get to know the thought process that feeds some of our politics.
You just need to read saffron politics' understanding of "foreign-origin" religions, to know why some of this could be happening. The book 'Brotherhood of Saffron' by Anderson and Damle offer a clear insight.
In a Goa context, much of what we "claim" to have achieved is based on past laurels. Or, what was attained by people of Goan origin in other parts of the globe.
In recent times, the community does seem defeatist about what it can achieve, how important out-migration is to them, and what its group aspirations are.
Opting for the easier way out has proven costly. For example take the case of running schools with government funding. This happened after being pressurised to do the same as even unaided primaries were expected to offer 'equal pay for equal work', an argument which went largely unchallenged. Finally, there has been an erosion on what kind of schools one would like to run, and what one is permitted to run. Or, with how much of government interference, even at the level of appointments.
In the case of health, very little has been done by the community in Goa itself. Unlike elsewhere, the Church in Goa has little role in healthcare here, apart from a few institutions which are decades old. Those with a potential have not grown either.
Homes for the aged are stuck amidst conflicting goals, offering good services and staying affordable. New initiatives like the prison ministry or networks showing concern for migrants have either received low visibility, or even been misunderstood within the community itself.
The community has minimal to no role in business. It is not seen as a job-creator of any significance, though a lot could have been done on this front. Its disconnect from its Daispora is writ large. Its role in politics has been dismal, and the community seems to be vanishing from having a presence in government service.
Goa's low-intensity (sometimes not too low) communal politics dating back since the 1960s can perhaps be blamed for stymieing the community's growth. Especially in fields where governmental permissions are involved, like higher education.
A community is only relevant if it can make a difference and genuinely touch the lives of others. Surely, even a tiny community can make a positive difference. The Parsis or Sikhs are examples that come to mind.
But, from a Goan perspective especially, the Christians as a community seem to be losing their vision. To reiterate, Christians, Catholics and even Goan Catholics have done well in other parts of India (even abroad). But less so in Goa itself.
It could be argued that this is because the relatively larger size of the community here makes it be seen as "competition". Or the community itself has been quick to sell out to, and compromise with, the highest bidder; and those controlling the levers of power know that.
Whatever the case, we'd be bluffing ourselves if we had an inflated opinion of ourselves.
