Indian Christians in America are finalizing the preparations to celebrate Indian Christian Day in the wake of violence and killings in India’s northeastern state of Manipur. The celebrations will take place on Sunday, July 2 at 4 pm at St. Vincent de Paul Syro Malankara Catholic Cathedral in Elmont,New York. The Indian Christian Day is observed across the world by Indian Christians every year as Saint Thomas Day to commit to preserving faith and culture. The Day in Elmont will highlight speeches and prayers by prominent leaders of various Indian Christian denominations, on the painful problems and violence experienced by Indian Christians in many parts of India. The event will be sweetened by diverse cultural programs and songs in different Indian languages.
The Indian Christian Day is also a collective effort to increase awareness and to raise voice against the fundamentalists' attempts to establish that Christianity in India is a religion imported by the colonial rulers and is the result of forced conversion by foreign missionaries. They cover up the fact that Indian Christianity is as old as Christianity itself and established by Saint Thomas, one of Jesus’s twelve apostles. According to ‘Human Rights Watch, the prominent international human rights organization, the trend of turning a blind eye to communal riots and silently encouraging them has increased wherever the BJP government has been elected to rule. Archbishop Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry in Kerala even called what is happening in Manipur as genocide.
Since May 3, many Christians have been killed in Manipur by violent mobs; hundreds were seriously injured; tens of thousands of people became destitute and homeless; thousands are sheltered in relief camps. Many buildings, places of worship and houses were gutted. The BJP administration in the state has not been able to take effective steps to control the situation or establish safety and security. The state government's assertion that Manipur is a Meitei-Kuki inter-ethnic conflict is irresponsible and is admission of lack of control. Decades ago, the United Nations reported on rising Hindu extremism and its impact on India's secular democratic structure. Hindu extremism will continue to be an influential force for the Hindu nationalist party, the BJP which is under the umbrella of Sangh Parivar. The discontent of the minorities will continue to increase under the Hindu nationalists.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US received much fanfare and coverage in the world media reflecting the impact India's economic growth and power has had on world politics and diplomatic developments for many years. India’s growth did not occur overnight. From poverty and starvation to become the fifth economy of the world required relentless efforts and liberalization by all governments since its independence. As the prime minister of the powerful nation and its strategic location to counter the more powerful China, India is needed by the US. In this context, there is a need for a united movement of Indian Christians in America to counter the propaganda an to raise the voice that could be heard. The organizing committee of Indian Christian Day plans to take the recommendations and other inputs of speakers and participants very seriously.
Right Rev. Dr. Isaac Mar Philoxenos Episkopa (Mar Thomas Church), Right Rev. Dr. Johncy Itty (Episcopal Church), Right Rev. Dr. C.V Mathew (Evangelical Church), Bishop Mar Joy Alappat (Syro Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Chicago) and New York Senator Kevin Thomas will speak at the event. Rev. Jacob George, Rev. Wilson Jose (Indian Pentecostal Church), Rev. Fr. John Thomas (Malankara Orthodox Church) will offer felicitations. New York Governor Kathy Hochul will send Sibu Nair, the deputy director of Asian Affairs as her representative. Leaders of Nassau County and several Christian denominations in India and representatives of New York City will participate the event. The keynote speaker will be Pastor Bryan Nerren, who himself is a victim of Christian persecution in India. A pastor of House of Prayers Ministry in Shelbyville, Tennessee he was detained in India by the government for seven months on baseless charges. Several years of Indian internment efforts ended with persistent efforts by the US government.
Koshy George, Raju Abraham, Mathew P. Thomas, Mathew Eapen, Jerin Joe James, Pastor Jacob George, George Abraham, Shaimi Jacob, Koshy Thomas, Mary Philip, George Jacob, Rev. Milton G. James Sr., Lalu Mathew, Dencil George, Varghese Lukose, John Joseay, Rev. Christopher Solomon, Shaji Ennaseril, Lona Abraham, Dr. Anna George and Paul D. Panakal, George P. Chacko, John Joeph, Chuck Pillai, Don Thomas, Dr. Cynthia Prabhakar, and Rev. Anadasekhar Manuel are in the organizing committee. Address of Syro Malankara Cathedral: 1500 De Paul Street, Elmont, New York 11003.
Koshy George, President of the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations, informs that all those who are interested are welcome. Admission is free. What the victims of the Manipur violence now need most from the people of America is help for rehabilitation and daily needs. This event will also be used as an opportunity to raise funds from volunteers. For more information contact Koshy George (718 314 8171).
