From denial of priesthood to separate chapels and cemetery, the Dalit Christians of Sivagangai Diocese in Southern Tamil Nadu allege widespread caste-based discrimination, according to a public hearing reported released on Monday.
In the report titled “Dalit Christians Crucified”, CPI (M) affiliated Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front general secretary K Samuel Raj said the prevalence of two chapels and two cemeteries in the villages, holding of two separate festivals, and discrimination of in liturgy are the norm in the caste-ridden Christianity in Sivagangai. The schools, colleges and hospitals run by the church were located mostly in the Caste Christians areas, he said, adding that staff are also appointed from non-Dalits Christians.
“Sivagangai is now a diocese that has touched the zenith of the untouchability practices in the Roman Catholic Church. Among the Catholics in this Diocese, 25 per cent belong to Devendra Kula Velalar or Pallar — a sub-sect of Dalits. Thirty years after the formation of this diocese, there is not a single soul from among this Dalit community to be ordained as priest,” Samuel Raj said, pointing out that as many as 14 Pallar Dalit Christian seminarian have been evicted from the seminary.
The case of expulsion of Michael Raja,a Pallar Dalit seminarian, at the fag end of his theological course and training has become a rallying point for the Dalit Christians, said D Hariparanthaman, a retired Madras High Court judge.
“I along with five other seminarians were expelled from St Paul’s in 2011 for throwing microphones in the water. Even after one of the brothers confessed to his mistake, the expulsion of five others was not withdrawn,” said Raja. “There are 150 priests in the Diocese of Sivagangai but not one from his Pallar Dalits,” he said.
