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DALIT ROOTS of INDIAN CHRISTIANITY -..:: Global Group Of 292 ISSNJames 0972-1169 Massey April 2003, Vol. 3/IV DALIT ROOTS OF INDIAN CHRISTIANITY James Massey Case Histories The Founder of Sialkot Region (Punjab) Church: Ditt The story of Ditt began when a Hindu of the Jat caste (a Punjabi, Forward Class) by name Nattu was baptised on November 17, 1872 by the Rev. J.S. Barr. Nattu was not only from a high caste, he was also the son of a lambardar (village head), and legal heir to his father’s property and position. Missionaries were very happy, but later on they turned unhappy, because Nattu forfeited his right to be his father’s heir. For them he proved a failure, ‘a weak brother’. But this was not true, because he became an instrument in bringing a person into the Christian fold, who later became one of the main founder leaders responsible for the present Church of Christian community of Punjab. This man’s name was Ditt. Ditt was from a small village named Shahabdike, which was about three miles south of a larger village named Mirali, and thirty miles from Sialkot, (now in Pakistan). Ditt was born around 1843. The Rev. Andrew Gordon introduces him with these words: “...a man of the low and much despised chura tribe, by the name Ditt, a dark man, lame of one leg, quiet and modest in his manners, with sincerity and earnestness well expressed in his face, and was at that time about thirty years of age”. By profession Ditt was a dealer in hides. He came in contact with Nattu, who taught him about Jesus Christ, and in June 1873 Nattu took him to Sialkot for baptism. April 2003 Dalit Roots of Indian Christianity 293 The Rev. Samuel Martin was hesitant to accept Ditt for baptism. After all, the Christian teaching he had received was based on the teaching of ‘a weak brother’ Nattu. But with all that, Ditt’s knowledge of Christianity was quite sound. He also appeared to Martin, an honest person. Still he wanted to delay his baptism, for which Ditt was not prepared. In the words of Gordon: “Mr. Martin finally decided to baptise Ditt, not because he saw his way decidedly clear to do so, but rather because he could see no scriptural ground for refusing”. Martin faced another problem when immediately after the baptism, Ditt asked permission to go back to his village instead of staying in the protected mission compound. This again was a new thing for Martin. The practice was that a new convert stayed with the missionary for more instruction and for protection. Martin’s worry was how this poor illiterate man would face the inevitable opposition. However, Ditt returned to his village and this very act of his proved to be the starting point for a Christian movement among the ex-churas (Dalits) of Punjab. On reaching home, Ditt did face bitter opposition from his own relatives. For example, one of his fellow villagers rebuked him by saying: “‘Oh ho.’ You have become a Sahib” (gentleman). Others said: “You have become a ‘be-i-man’” (one without religion). His own sister-in-law said: “Alas, my brother, you have changed your religion without even seeking our counsel; our relationship with you is over. Henceforth you shall neither eat, drink, nor in any way associate yourself with us. One of your legs is broken already, so may it be with the other”.1 But Ditt did not care for any opposition. Instead he witnessed his new faith in Christ openly and boldly, both to his family members and to others. The result was amazing. Three months after his baptism in August 1873, he had the privilege of taking his wife, his daughter and two neighbours to Sialkot for baptism. He had to walk 30 miles for the sole purpose of introducing his family and friends to the missionaries. Martin examined them and was fully satisfied and gave them baptism. Global Religious Vision, Vol. 3/IV 294 James Massey Ditt’s work of buying hides from different places took him to many villages. Wherever he went on business, he preached about Christ also. In the eleven years (1884) after his baptism, he brought into the Christian faith more than five hundred persons from his community. By 1900 half the people of his community had accepted Christ and by 1915 almost all the Dalits known as churas of Sialkot district had become Christians.2 The Founder of Travancore (Kerala) Church: Vethamanikam “How Vethamanikam... came to believe in one God is sure proof of the Spirit’s work in the heart of a man who had never heard of Christ, and yet was led step by step until he found Him,” says Rebecca J. Parker. Vethamanikam was a son of Dalit parents, who belonged to one of the Dalit communities of Travancore namely Sambavar. He hailed from a village Mailady which was a few miles from Cape Comorin, but part of the district of Travancore (at that time a native state). He was brought up by a very pious mother, because his father had died soon after his birth. She gave him basic education, which enabled him to read and write. She inculcated in him moral values and also helped him to love his family god. Even in the later years of his life, he built a temple for his family god. He used to read religious books including the Puranas. In search of truth, he went on a pilgrimage, along with his nephew, to the temple of Chidambaram. But reaching Chidambaram, he found that the life of the priests and others was not at all holy. While staying there for a night, he had a dream, which convinced him that Chidambaram will not be able to help him in his search for truth. So along with his nephew he returned, but on the way they stopped at Tanjore, where his married sister was living with her family. Both his sister and her husband were Christians. It is here that Vethamanikam first heard about Christ. On Sunday, while standing outside the church he heard the singing and the message. At the end of the service, the missionary came to talk to him. He told him all about himself including his pilgrimage, which he undertook. He also told the missionary it looked as if the April 2003 Dalit Roots of Indian Christianity 295 Almighty God had sent them there. The missionary gave him a small booklet, which Vethamanikam read, and while reading, he was filled with ‘deep joy and satisfaction’ about which he later remarked: “My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! He touched my heart and it melted before God. A light from heaven shone upon my darkness and I did not want to leave the place.” Then Vethamanikam stayed at Tanjore for some more time and read more Christian literature and asked friends more about Jesus. Finally, he was fully convinced that his journey of search for truth had ended and that he had found the true Saviour in Jesus Christ. Therefore he asked for baptism, which was given and he also spent some more time there, for further guidance after which, according to Parker “he felt he was ready to return and take the good news to his own place; and staff in hand, he turned his face homewards.” On return to Travancore, his relatives and friends asked Vethamanikam: “Where is the holy gift of the Lord of Chidambaram and the sacred ashes?” Holding in his hand a copy of the Gospels, he answered, “Lo, here is the holy Gift of the Lord of all worlds!” Parker adds here: “From that time forward Vethamanikam gathered round him day by day such as were willing to hear more of the good news he had brought, and to them he read and expounded the Scriptures. This patient teaching of his at last won its way to their hearts... and eventually they decided to join Vethamanikam... A couple of hundred believers were thus gathered together... He gave Christian names to the members of his family... Many listened and were won over to join the growing band of believers.” But all this was not as easy as it looks, because at the same time a very strong opposition came from the Hindu community. They even ex-communicated him from his caste and they persecuted him in many ways. The news of his suffering and persecution even reached the Rajah’s family. His life as well as property became unsafe. But he Global Religious Vision, Vol. 3/IV 296 James Massey decided to take his case to the highest Authority, therefore while reading the Word of God, the following prayer burst out from his inner being: O Thou dear Lord! When I worshiped idols which have no life Thou didst reveal Thy self to me, a great sinner. Thou didst pass by the rich, the learned and the honourable people, and didst choose me to be Thine. Now teach me, O Lord, What should I do. Put me in Thy right path, and let me know what I should do in this difficulty. Is it Thy will that the light which has begun to shine here should be quenched? Vethamanikam received an answer to his prayer and as a result he refused to sell his property. Instead he took another pilgrimage to seek help from his friends at Tanjore. This was the time when services at Travancore were being held regularly under his leadership. The number of inquirers was increasing day by day. Therefore after making the arrangements, he undertook a journey to Tanjore.
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