National Rally for Scheduled Caste Status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims

It was on the 21st July forty-one years ago, for the first time in the history of the creation, that Mr. Neil Armstrong landed his foot on the Moon, and as he landed, he declared, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”  On the 21st July 2010, more than 5000 Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste origin marched together at the national capital, New Delhi joining their steps for justice and leaping a giant stride in their struggle for their just demand of ensuring Scheduled Caste status to them. The national rally organized by the National Council of Dalit Christians (NCDC) in collaboration with the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), certainly marked a giant leap in the struggle, for the Union Government of India cannot but took note of the earnest and genuine plight of Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims in granting them the much awaited justice. The All India Jamat- Ul-Hawareen and the All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz also joined this rally. The participants sat on a dharna for the whole day demanding the Union Government of India to take an urgent action on the NCRLM report (popularly known as Ranganath Misra Commission Report), particularly to the Additional Term of Reference for granting Scheduled Caste Status to Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste origin. The people also demanded that the Union Government to give an appropriate answer to the query of the Supreme Court to the writ petitions demanding deletion of the unjust paragraph 3 of the Constitution Scheduled Castes Order 1950 and to extend Scheduled Caste status to Muslims and Christians of Scheduled Caste origin. 

Earlier in the day, the rally began with a huge procession from the Kerala House, near Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. A cultural team with Dalit drums led the procession, for the beating of the drums spread the waves of Dalit Christian and Dalit Muslim cries for justice and reinvigorated the hope towards liberation, free from the cruel discriminations they have been experiencing in this secular and democratic India. Next to this team, a tableau of a Dalit Christian and Dalit Muslim, who were chained by the ropes of injustice walked along, this again to symbolically to represent the oppression these our people undergo. Following these people were the Bishops and Church heads from across the denominations, leaders of the Dalit organizations, representatives from various states and Churches shouting slogans for justice marched through the streets of Jantar Mantar.

A plaque, on which the Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) order 1950, which states, “no person who professes a religion different from the Hindu, the Sikh or the Buddhist religion shall be deemed to be a member of Scheduled Caste” was inscribed and was placed in front of the rally. Under the board, the two people representing the Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims were hanged, yet again to express the plight how this unjust paragraph 3 discriminates and oppress these our communities. This depiction was the cynosure of the rally, for it has caught the attention of several media and people. Archbishop Vincent Concesso, the President of the National United Christian Forum inaugurated the rally and several other Bishops, Church leaders, Dalit activists, Dalit Muslim leaders spoke and demanded an immediate action from the Union Government of India. Mr. Ali Anwar Ansari, Member of Parliament and National President of All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz and Mr. Dhanushkoti Adityan, former Union Minister addressed the gathering and assured their full support to this just demand.

Each state delegations were given chance to shout their slogans for justice in their own vernacular languages and the cultural teams expressed the agony and signs of hope through their performances in between the speeches. The speakers warned the Government, that if they fail to act swiftly in ensuring justice to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims acts like their communities abstaining from voting in the elections and mass closure of all their institutions may be some of the options to which they might succumb to.

Separate memoranda were written and sent to the President of India, Her Excellency Mrs. Pratibha Patil, to the Congress President and Chairman of the UPA Madam Sonia Gandhi, to Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, and to Mr. Mukul Wasnik, the Union Minister for Social Justice. Mr. VJ George, the National Convener of NCDC compeered the programme, Prof. Mary John, the President of the NCDC, Rev. Fr. AXJ Bosco, Advisor of NCDC, Mr. Franklin Caesar Thomas, National Coordinator of NCDC, Fr. Dr. Cosmon Arokiaraj, Executive Secretary, CBCI-Commission on SC/ST/BC, Rev. Raj Bharath Patta, Executive Secretary, NCCI-Commission on Dalits, Mr. Hafeez Ahmed Hawari, National President of All India Jamat Ul- Hawareen, Mr. Rafeeq, and other leaders spoke at the rally. H. G. Issac Mar Osthatius, Bishop of Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Dr. J. A. Oliver, Secretary of APCC, Mrs. SM Rao, Former NCCI-Vice President, Rev. Samson Nath, Methodist Church, Mr. Kasta Dip, Coordinator, CNI- PJPR, Mr. Samuel Philip Matthew from Mar Thoma Church, Mr. S. Raju from NCCI Delhi office, a huge delegation from the Salvation Army from Tamil Nadu and Delhi territories, and several others attended and spoke at the rally.

At the end of the rally, those that were hanging under the plaque of the paragraph 3 were released into freedom, and at the background of the loud sounds made from conches, the participants tore that plaque into pieces, expressing that only when that unjust paragraph 3 is deleted and destroyed, justice to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims would be granted. A wide sections of media has taken note of the proceedings of the rally, the concerned ministries in the Union Government has taken cognizance of the just demands made at the rally, which certainly would create ripples to act. The participating Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims expressed their hope that justice will be triumphant and they would certainly enjoy freedom from the discriminations made in the name of their religion, and pledged that to that end their struggle for justice will continue and went with a promise that justice surely will adorn them very soon.  Thanks to all who participated in this rally and also to those who have expressed their solidarity and support. 

Rev. Raj Bharath Patta,
Executive Secretary,
Commission on Dalits, NCCI

22nd July 2010

(Photo Courtesy: Mr. Kasta Dip)