India is marked by its “unity in diversity”, a term coined by its first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The nation is home to dozens of languages, cultures, traditions and religions, and the nation’s founding leaders took care to emphasize the celebration of this diversity. Although certain exclusivist ideologies that emphasize uniformity have come to the forefront of Indian social life – deriving their validity from their political power – Indians, on the whole, remain not only tolerant but revel in their diversity.
Christianity in India is as old as Christianity itself, or so it is believed, and tradition says that the Apostle Thomas arrived in India and founded the first churches there. For almost 2,000 years, Indian Christians have maintained a dialogue of life with followers of the various faiths of the Indian subcontinent and have enjoyed a largely peaceful coexistence. (This is despite the fact that colonial rule in India positioned Christianity as an alien faith in the country, and Western missionaries actually faced opposition Western leaders.)
Although Christians today make up only 2.3% of India’s total population, they have historically cultivated a reputation for service, largely through their work in education and health. . Yet this ministry is increasingly questioned and viewed with suspicion and cynicism by hardliners. who believes it is nothing but an attempt to manipulate India’s most marginalized.
To illustrate the close relationship that Indian Christians have cultivated with Indians of various faiths, CT spoke with Sikh, Baha’i, Buddhist, Jain and Hindu leaders, asking them to share Bible verses that have inspired them and personally moved. CT also interviewed four Christian leaders from non-Christian backgrounds about a religious text from their ancient faith that they admired and that positively inspired them.
The Bahá’í Respondent
AK Merchant is a leader of the Lotus Temple and the Bahá’í Community of India and Secretary General of the Temple of Understanding – India. He is an author and expert in interfaith education and actively advocates for gender justice and environmental issues.
The Buddhist respondent
Budh Sharan Hans is a prominent Dalitbahujan (a prominent Dalit movement) thinker and social activist from Patna, Bihar. Winner of the National Ambedkar Award for work with India’s marginalized, he challenges traditional Hinduism’s understanding of the caste system through public speaking and writing, including in his magazine, Ambedkar Mission.
The Hindu respondent
Goswami Sushilji Maharaj is National President of the Indian Parliament of Religion, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. He is also a choreographer, actor and spiritual guru.
The Jain respondent
Sharad Jain is a lawyer, businessman, founder and secretary of Shishu Sanskar Kendra (school) in Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh state, India.
The Sikh Defendant
Shamandeep Kaur is a teacher.
Christian respondents
Ram Surat spent 27 years sharing the vision and mission of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar and fellow Indian anti-caste social reformer Jyotirao Govindrao Phule. Currently based in Bihar, India, he champions the cause of caste reconciliation among the Dalit and OBC communities of North India.
Rajendra Prasad Dwivedi was a faithful Hindu before reading the New Testament and accepting Christ at the age of 22. Today he ministers among high-caste Hindu Brahmins and writes a book called Christ is the Fulfillment of All Quests. He previously worked in the state education department in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Vinod Shah, former CEO of Emmanuel Hospital Association, an association of Christian hospitals in New Delhi, is currently based in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. A pediatric surgeon and practicing physician, Shah established India’s first distance medical education program to empower government general practitioners and transform them into full-fledged family doctors.
Rajdeep Singh is of Sikh origin and is now the pastor of Focal Point Church, Ludhiana. Also called ‘Priest on Wheels’, Singh is an addiction survivor, biker, social worker, motivational speaker and the founder of Nomads on Wheels Riding Club Ludhiana and Priest on Wheels Foundation.
