THE MIRAGE OF LIBERATION : WHY THE SHADOW OF CASTE STILL FOLLOWS THE CONVERT
The recent judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Chintada Anand vs. the State of Andhra Pradesh has kicked up a storm among minorities and those who seek to convert their religion while hoping to maintain their reservations. For nearly 50 years, a fierce debate has raged: should Hindus who convert to Christianity still enjoy the reservations meant for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes?
People embrace a new faith for many reasons. Some seek liberation from the soul-crushing caste discrimination practiced in their birth religion. Others may seek specific communal benefits. Most, however, convert out of a genuine love for a new faith, expecting to be socially liberated, economically empowered, and introduced into a culture that permits them to live a life free of the “abominable” labels of the past.
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The Short-Lived Honeymoon
Initially, the convert finds a renewed strength. They participate in new rites, rituals, and a community they were once barred from. But this “honeymoon phase” is tragically short-lived. Soon, the convert realizes they are drawing flack from two quarters.
First, they face mockery and social ostracization from their original religious community for
seeking a new life. Second, and perhaps more heartbreakingly, they find that their new religion has its own internal hierarchy. The convert realizes that the cultural practices of caste are not discarded as easily as a set of old clothes.
Ashok Gladston Xavier Ph.D
The “Suitcase” of Caste
Caste is so deeply ingrained in the Indian psyche that it has become a global export. Even when dominant communities migrate to the USA, UK, or South Africa, they carefully pack “caste” into their suitcases, propagating it in the new world as a cultural marker rather than a draconian system.
When this happens even in developed nations, it is no surprise that within India, converts refuse to give up their caste identity in every sphere except, perhaps, the place of worship. As Mr. Stalin’s eye-opening 2007 documentary, India Untouched, powerfully illustrates through interviews across eight states, Sikhs, Muslims, and Christians alike remain “stung” by caste. Conversion is often only a “baby step” toward a liberation that remains out of reach.
The cycle of discrimination is vicious. People flee one place hoping to be saved, only to find the same malice waiting for them in their new home. After 75 years of reservation, we are only now seeing members of Dalit communities take up leadership roles in prominent churches, and even then, they are often stifled by existing structures unwilling to transform.
The Indianization of Foreign Faiths
While it is true that Western religions do not doctrinally prescribe caste, they have been “Indianized” to such an extent that they have embraced the system, failing to neutralize its impact.
The issue of Dalit Christians in Tamil Nadu is a haunting example. The Thachur village incident remains unforgettable: a Dalit Christian (the brother of a Catholic priest) was buried in a graveyard marked for the dominant Reddy Catholic community—a defiance of a 200-year-old segregated system. The next day, the Dalit farmer who helped dig the grave was found dead in a nearby lake. This sparked massive protests and required a Bishop and police protection just to ensure a burial.
If one needs further proof, one need only look at the matrimonial columns of popular newspapers or exclusive websites for “Caste-based Christians,” which mirror the practices found in Hinduism and Islam. Caste is a cultural phenomenon that continues to hound the convert, regardless of what the scriptures say.
The Rare Exception: Meenakshipuram
There are rare, shining examples, such as the village of Meenakshipuram in Southern Tamil Nadu. Thirty years ago, facing severe discrimination, the community converted to Islam en masse. Decades later, evaluations showed a genuine transformation: those once addressed by derogatory caste names were now called “Bhai” (Brother). Yet, as the filmmaker Stalin documented, even this is an outlier in a landscape where discrimination remains the norm.
The Call for Equity and Justice
The cycle of discrimination is vicious. People flee one place hoping to be saved, only to find the same malice waiting for them in their new home. After 75 years of reservation, we are only now seeing members of Dalit communities take up leadership roles in prominent churches, and even then, they are often stifled by existing structures unwilling to transform.
It is in this context that the Supreme Court’s stance must be re-evaluated. To maintain true equity and justice, there is a desperate need to extend reservations to Christians and Muslims of SC/ST origin. They must be accommodated into the positive discriminatory framework. Only by recognizing the watertight reality of caste in practice—rather than just in theory— can we hope to eventually annihilate it wherever it hides.
