India - Country profile

"For the Christian minority of Karnataka, 2012 has begun in terror," Sajan K. George, President of the Global Council of Indian Christians, told Asia News when asked about attacks in the state at the beginning of this year.

In the states of Karnataka and Orissa attacks against minorities rose in the period 2008-11, while generally in the country there was a more than 65 percent decrease. Although in most places attacks on religious minorities have fallen, the Catholic-Christian Secular Forum on anti-Christian violence reported there were still more than 1,000 cases of anti-Christian violence in 2011.

The problems partly stem from the prominence of Hindutva political parties, such as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in local government in Karnataka and Orissa. Hindutva is a right-wing form of Hindu nationalism, which – broadly speaking – regards India as a Hindu country which should not tolerate other religions or cultures.

Memory of extremist attacks still overshadows life

Life for the Church is, in many places, overshadowed by the memory of the severe anti-Christian violence of 2007 and 2008 in Orissa State's Kandhamal district. Hindutva groups were responsible for the Orissa atrocities and much of the subsequent violence.

Seventy churches and other Christian institutions were attacked and 600 homes were destroyed when extremists interrupted Christmas preparations in late 2007. Far worse followed in August 2008 when Hindu monk and political leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was assassinated. The swami's party, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), falsely accused Christians in Kandhamal of carrying out the killing.

It sparked a campaign of anti-Christian violence resulting in the torching of 4,640 houses, 252 churches and 13 educational institutions. The Catholic Church reported 98 confirmed deaths but up to 500 people may have died in the violence that continued for several weeks. 54,000 were made homeless, seeking shelter in hastily prepared displacement camps.

Slow justice for anti-Christian violence victims

Progress in achieving justice for victims of large-scale communal violence in places such as Orissa continued to be slow and ineffective, according to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom 2012 report. A document sent to Aid to the Church in Need in August 2011 by Christian lawyer K. J. Markose described how in Sundargarh district, north-west Orissa, reconstruction of Christian houses was being obstructed. Read more

This was echoed by Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar who said local groups and lower level state officers in Kandhamal continued to block the supply of building materials needed for Christian homes and churches – despite good will from higher ranking officials. Even so, nearly 4,000 houses had been constructed by August 2011, meaning that "most" of the people displaced in 2007-08 could go home. Read more

'Anti-conversion' laws used as pretext for attacks

Many assaults used accusations of forced conversion as a pretext. Of India's 28 states, five have 'anti-conversion' laws, which impose heavy fines and jail sentences for those 'forcing' others to change their religion. The 'anti-conversion' laws are imposed in the north-central states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Orissa in the east, Gujarat in the west and Himachal Pradesh in the north.

Hindu hardliners routinely engineer the arrest of Christians on charges of 'forcible conversion'. In particular, attacks against small Evangelical churches appeared to be on the rise, particularly in Karnataka, southern India. Evangelical Christians' highly assertive, and sometimes culturally insensitive, evangelistic approach has been described as provocative to local Hindu communities.

The Dalit question continues to be important as many Dalits have converted to Christianity. Dalits – traditionally referred to as 'Untouchables' – are perceived as being at the bottom of the rigid caste system. Hence, the distinction between religion and social status is blurred. The deaths of Christian activists Micael Digal and Rabindra Parichha in 2011 were linked to their work with Dalits.

Key projects

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  Help priests bring the Faith to Christians in rural India

  In many regions of rural India priests are concerned that the faithful are not so deeply rooted in their Catholic faith – which makes them vulnerable to falling away. By providing cars for priests such as Father Michael in the diocese of Sagar, you are helping them reach out and teach the Faith to people in remote villages.
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  Construction of a convent for the Sisters of Nazareth in Gohpur

  Most tea plantation workers in the northern Indian state of Assam come from extremely poor villages. So the healthcare and education work of the Sisters of Nazareth here is very important. Thanks to your kindness a new convent is being built for the sisters, to replace their makeshift thatched hut – so they can continue to serve these 'Tea Tribes'.
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  Nurturing the Sisters of tomorrow

  For over 150 years the St Joseph's Sisters have served the under-privileged in India. With your help, each novice is personally accompanied on every step of her training, so she might discover God's will. Sister Amrita says: "We are deeply grateful to you for your support and help in training the young women of today to become the consecrated religious of tomorrow".
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  Courses in faith and the family in the diocese of Balasore

  Missionaries working with the largely illiterate, first-generation Catholic community of Balasore in Orissa state are using innovative courses and modern technology to strengthen the fledgling faith of Christians here – thanks to you!
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Last updated: 16/05/2012