India: First Dalit cardinal chosen

Archbishop Anthony Poola

On Friday, 27 August, Archbishop Anthony Poola of Hyderabad, will be the first Dalit in history to be made a cardinal. The Christian Network Against Caste Discrimination (CNACD), which is based in the UK, had the opportunity to meet with Archbishop Poola in 2017 and were appreciative of his support, to bring the unfair practice of caste discrimination to an end.

The Sanskrit word "Dalit" means "downtrodden" or "broken" and the life of Dalits is often one of survival. Having had to take a break in his schooling due to poverty, Archbishop Anthony Poola, puts the spark that led to his own change of fortune down to missionaries. It was thanks to their solidarity and witness that he was able to resume his education and was eventually inspired to become a priest.

It is estimated that each day, three Dalit women are raped, two Dalits are murdered, eleven are beaten, and two Dalit houses are set on fire. Certainly, these are communities that Catholics desire to stand in solidarity with. Yet, despite representing an estimated seventy percent of Catholics in India, Dalits are often considered as outcasts, often with separate cemeteries and separate entrances for entering Catholic churches. No doubt, all eyes will therefore be on this new cardinal. Some will certainly be looking for an empowering role model while others will find their current mindsets greatly challenged.

Some are surprised when they learn that discrimination of Dalits also exists in the UK, where those of South Asian origin have often made up our largest ethnic minority group. Due to their marginalisation, oppression and fear of further discrimination, the plight of Dalits continues to remain obscured. It was therefore of no surprise and not a criticism that their synodal contributions did not make it into the National Synodal Synthesis document. However, Dalits in the UK are desperate for the Church's help and a report on their synodal discussions is available on the CARJ website.

Many Dalits may work as slaves or in informal employment in the UK. Many also suffer from homelessness and represent a significant proportion of our hidden population. While caste discrimination in the UK was outlawed in 2013, the UK Government decided in 2018 not to implement it. This response ran counter to a study by the Anti-Caste Discrimination Alliance which found that 58% of those surveyed had been discriminated against because of their caste.

On a positive note, Saturday 27th of August, will be a day of joy for Dalits around the world as they see one of their own, be made a cardinal. Yet this shift has not been without its struggles. For many years, Dalit organisations and supporters have been championing this cause including the UK based Christian Network against Caste Discrimination, VODI (Voice of Dalit International) and CARJ (The Catholic Association for Racial Justice). Through the volunteering of their time and personal sacrifice, these organisations have continued to assert the unique spiritual gifts and traditions that Dalits offer the Church. It can be a challenge to get support and funding. Caste discrimination is an issue that is not well known or seen as fashionable. Due to the large number of people impacted, it can also feel overwhelming. Some misunderstand the issue as simply cultural. Caste discrimination has also never been seen as a trendy subject for celebrity support! Those in the UK who speak up, can feel that they are lone voices on an almost invisible issue.

If we truly are one Catholic family, the sufferings of Dalits cannot be seen as an 'Indian' or South-Asian problem. Catholic charities need to understand these issues and raise awareness around the barriers faced by Dalits. With caste-based discrimination affecting 1.5 billion people and being a cause of poverty for one third of the global poor, the world is deprived of their gifts. Without opportunities such as those offered to Archbishop Anthony Poola, is the Catholic Church bankrupting itself of traditions, cultures and previously silenced perspectives? Rejected and forgotten, maybe this time of Synod, can be a time for Dalits to be finally recognised for the gifts they have to offer our Church.

Nalini Nathan is a Trustee of CARJ and member of the CNACD.

LINK

CARJ - www.carj.org.uk/