Thankfully, most agencies today take concrete steps to avoid such disasters.

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Samaj of Keshab Chandra Sen. The munities. But the problems of non- was the great reform contextual are clearly Book movement of 19th-century , and displayed for all who wish to learn under Sen it became remarkably Christ- why the gospel has made so little Reviews centered. (Keshab is mentioned a few impact on the Hindu world. Today times in the novel, but is a true historic Hindu society is being impacted by Gora, by figure. He joined the Brahmo Samaj as modernization and urbanization, yet (trans. Sujit Mukherjee, Delhi: a young man and later split the Samaj this new translation of a novel from Sahitya Akademi, 1997, paperback due to his Christ-centeredness and some the 1920’s was made just because the 2003, pp. 497 + xxiv.) personality issues.) issues Tagore saw then are still such vital issues in India today. Community —reviewed by H. L. Richard The hero of the novel is a Brahmo Samaji, Poresh Babu. Nothing is said remains at the center of Hindu lives ora is about what made this man the compas- and Hindu contexts. Feel it for your- G short for sionate, wise, spiritually-minded man self in this novel, and then see how Gourmohan, that he is, but nothing needs to be said; it rings true as you get heart to heart the central he clearly learned it from the Keshab with Hindu friends. figure in Brahmo Samaj, and so from Christ, Exploring the Depths of the Mys- this strik- interpreted according to insights from tery of Christ: K. Subba Rao’s Eclec- ing novel by Hindu spirituality. Poresh Babu’s rejec- tic Praxis of Hindu Discipleship to Rabindranath tion by society suggests that he is some- Tagore. Gora thing of a Christ-figure in the novel, but Jesus, by H. L. Richard (Bangalore: is a powerful it is better to view him as a picture of a Centre for Contemporary Christian- leader in Hindu society who repre- contextual disciple of Christ. ity, 2005) sents what is today called “Hindu This novel is all about community, and —reviewed by Aaron Glenn nationalism” or Hindutva or Hindu community is the essential fact to grasp fundamentalism. As the novel is set in Hindu contexts. Thus this is a bril- o follow in the 1880’s, it is only a nascent form liant introduction to contextualization T Christ is of this ideology whose emotional and in the Hindu world. The importance of to truly enter intellectual appeal is impressively community for contextualization, despite into the greatest presented in many of the dialogs in being often overlooked, is easily defined, of all myster- this novel. but in Tagore’s novel it is deeply felt ies. Emmanuel, Yet Tagore is powerfully oppos- rather than merely defined. God with us, ing the Hindutva position. “Gora” is a comfort- The Brahmo Samaj, with an impressive in fact means white man, and the ing yet baffling ideology and a heroic figure in Poresh reader is early let in on the secret that notion. How Babu (not to mention Keshab), is yet Gourmohan is not a pure Brahmin, better could humanity know God than completely marginalized in Hindu but rather an unclean European who to experience him as a man? God is society by its insistence on communal was adopted as an orphaned infant. inherently contextual in his pursuit of separation from the Hindu body. At a Gora’s mother is treated as unclean by his creatures, but his creatures have number of points Christianity makes Hindu society as she violates all caste a hard time seeing things from any a marginal appearance in the novel as taboos so as to live consistently with other perspective than their own. Our a still worse example of the disease of the violations involved in loving her tendency to prioritize our own per- Pharisaical separation that mars the adopted son. Gora’s Brahmin father spective is often detrimental, especially Brahmo Samaj. Of course one could stays away from him, and Gora him- with regards to the propagation of the argue that Tagore is not being fair to self only learns the truth in the next- Gospel Message. At the heart of the Christianity, but he is fair indeed to to-last of seventy-six brief chapters. matter is the unavoidable tension cre- Hindu perceptions of Christianity. ated when we attempt to distinguish Tagore is promoting a romantic One will not find in this novel solutions what we believe to be God’s universal humanistic ideology in this novel, but to the many problems and tensions message of salvation from a culturally does so by contrasting the nascent involved in contextual discipleship to specific context. Hindutva ideology with the Brahmo Jesus within Hindu families and com-

International Journal of Frontier Missiology 24:3 Fall 2007 160 Book Reviews

Exploring the Depths of the Mystery Overall, Exploring the Depths of the themselves whether Smith’s evidence of Christ by H.L. Richard is a rare Mystery of Christ calls for the reader to supports this criticism. find for many reasons. In the book, put on a new pair of cultural glasses and The romantic missionary hero William Richard not only highlights the ask how Christ would look if he had Carey was a great linguist who trans- primary issues surrounding the been Indian. Subba Rao was not a theo- lated the Bible into multiple languages. contextualization of the Gospel in logian, but his focus on an experiential Smith only reaffirms what is a com- India, but he does so by telling the and contextual relationship with Christ monplace among serious students, that story of a unique individual. K. Subba sheds light into the Hindu worldview. in fact Carey was a poor linguist whose Rao is among those rare pioneers who This should be required reading for translation principles were foundation- challenged the accepted definitions of anyone interested in India and the ally skewed. This must not detract doctrine and dogma as defined by the related topics of contextualization from the incredible impetus given to established Christian church on his among Hindus. translation work by Carey’s remarkable personal journey into the mystery of effort and output. Christ. It is indeed unique to hear the The Mission Enterprise, story of an individual who followed by A. Christopher Smith (Studies in The romantic missionary hero William Christ, but remained unashamedly the Gospel Interface with Indian Carey was a great pioneer of cross- anti-Christian. Although not without Contexts, Centre for Contemporary cultural ministry. Smith shows that controversy, the telling of Subba Rao’s Christianity, Bangalore, 2006) Carey was really only deeply related story helps the reader draw a distinc- to the Bengali people during his first —reviewed by H. L. Richard tion between Christianity as a religion six exceedingly difficult years. From and one Hindu’s attempt to follow his volume the time of his move to Serampore in Christ as a true devotee. contains six 1800, and particularly after accepting T employment from the British govern- Included in Richard’s research, and previously pub- ment in 1801, Carey was confined central to understanding Subba Rao, lished and now re- to the mission compound and the are thirty-four songs written by the edited papers along teaching institute in Calcutta (par- Hindu disciple, which survive as the with a new con- ticularly the latter, far more than even only written legacy by this man of tribution focused being in Serampore). But those six peculiar faith. These songs are very on the evange- years of immersion in local life gave Psalm-like in devotional quality, listic work of the Carey an insight into Bengali life far and true to Subba Rao’s worldview, Serampore Trio. deeper than was ever attained by the their lines are full of Hindu imagery There is also an eighth brief closing vast majority of Protestant missionar- and concepts while being expressly chapter and eight appendixes. There ies who followed him to Bengal in the Christocentric. Hindu philosophical are broad introductory papers and succeeding decades. and theological words are included also papers focused on specific details; within the text in a transliterated this is not a comprehensive study on The relation of mission and colo- form for those who have or are inter- William Carey and the contributions of nial government is a theme running ested in acquiring a basic vocabulary Serampore to world missions. throughout this book, and is a topic that of common Hindu terminology. Smith writes with great esteem for makes it a book that needs to be read. The ministry of Serampore was clearly Another nugget found in the book is William Carey and his cohort in compromised by colonial associations, the appendix, which goes into much Bengal. He is careful to give due credit even though they set up shop in the needed detail regarding Orientalism to all of Carey’s illustrious co-workers, Danish territory of Serampore because and Post-orientalism as it pertains and also traces out the rather notori- it was illegal to exist as a mission in to India and its effects on the life of ous aspects of the conflict between British India! (The book title contains K. Subba Rao. The appendix alone the senior and junior missionaries that a double meaning, as local perception could be the subject of a discussion developed in the second decade of could only have been of the mission as a group and is an enlightening addi- the mission. Smith at points is rather business enterprise related to the overall tion that greatly contributes to an severely critical of “the Carey tradi- colonial effort; it certainly did not look overall understanding of the histori- tion” and the way mission promoters spiritual.) This topic is far from exhaus- cal relationship between the Eastern have romanticized the Serampore tively covered, as if that could even be and Western hemispheres. story; readers will need to judge for considered possible.

International Journal of Frontier Missiology Book Reviews 161

Smith mines archival sources to refine ful study of the father of the modern noted. Pickett’s application for mis- a picture of evangelism and church missionary movement. sionary service and how he responded planting. Carey is famous for his transla- to various questions are addressed. tions, for his social concerns, and for The Road to Delhi: Bishop Pickett Noteworthy is his calling which his personal piety and sacrifices; but Remembered 1890-1981, by Arthur G. was rooted in the Student Volunteer he longed for effective evangelism and McPhee (SAIACS Press, PO Box 7747, Movement. His growing impatience church planting, and there was precious Kothanur, Bangalore, 2005, pp. 394) with the application process, an inter- little success in this area. Smith struggles view with the Candidate Committee —reviewed by Jamie Bean, Executive with this failure, as did Carey and his and his first assignment details with Secretary, Rethinking Forum cohort. The colonial connection is part the mission are all chronicled. A his- of the problem, but so is a terrible failure he Road to Delhi: Bishop Pickett torical focus on American Methodists to properly deal with Indian sociologi- T Remembered 1890-1981 is the fruit in India including ministry locations cal realities. Of course, sociology as a of Arthur McPhee’s doctoral disserta- rounds out the section. science did not even exist in that time. tion. The book chronicles the life of The Settling Down Years include But the decisions made by Carey and his Jarrell Waskom Pickett, a pioneer in Pickett’s passage to India, his first cohort, particularly the cynical perspec- developing missionary strategy from placement at the Lal Bagh Church tive they adopted on caste, left a negative social science research with a focus on in Lucknow, several challenges he legacy that exists to the present time in group conversion. In his 46 years of would face, his ordination and a Indian church and mission. service with the Methodists in India historical and cultural overview of Smith shows that the birthing of Pickett served as a pastor, evangelist, Lucknow. Meeting and interacting Serampore was related to researcher and administrator. Pickett with British aristocrats, the story of aspects of the evangelistic struggle of left his mark through research that a Muslim convert turned evangelist, the mission. It had laudable goals, and stimulated a greater concern for people Pickett in love and health challenges Carey and cohort were certainly entirely group thinking, initiatives in service to resulting in a medical furlough are accurate in their assessment that national the poor and needy, relationships that detailed. Pickett’s experience with workers would have to be the effective ranged from the homeless to presidents, tuberculosis caused him to have a evangelists. But romantic missiology perseverance in poor health and occupa- growing concern for health care to be refers to Serampore College in glow- tional hazards, fundraising endeavors modernized in India. Also discussed ing terms which hardly match reality; and speaking engagements, and his are mass conversion movements, Smith’s perspective needs to be carefully writings. This thorough study can be fundraising in the USA, the mar- studied and taken into account. commended to those with an interest riage of Waskom and Ruth and the in the history of mission in south Asia, initial stages of the voyage to Arrah, Smith suggests that a divergence of mass movements for Christ and the India, the Picketts’ first home as a myth and reality began already during mark of the Methodist church in India married couple. Carey’s lifetime, and sorting out the in the 20th century. difference is a task that needs more A history of the work in Arrah and than one book. Yet however much The book is broken down into sections details of the Picketts’ new home disagreement there may be in various marked by time and placement: The begins the section on the Arrah details, Carey is a truly heroic figure Early Years (1890-1909), The Settling Years. Conferences and colleagues, and one cannot but be challenged and Down Years (1910-1915), The Arrah health and geographic challenges encouraged (as well as warned and Years (1916-1924), The Lucknow Years and Waskom’s oversight of a boy’s advised) by studying his history. (1925-1935), The Bombay Years (1936- school are mentioned. World War I 1944), and The Delhi Years (1945-1956). and other challenges Pickett faced It is perhaps in the nature of a volume as he began his second assignment mostly of previously published papers In The Early Years readers learn about are acknowledged. Some of the that there is an element of repetition Pickett’s family history, with significant difficulties Pickett encountered are at times. But this volume presents attention paid to his parents, who both as follows: an increased pastoral some new angles on the study of Carey had missionary aspirations, but never load due to the closing of a German and Serampore, and as the issues that made it to the foreign mission field. Mission, inflation caused by the Carey grappled with are far from Waskom’s three jobs as a college profes- import and export market with adequately resolved, much light is still sor before the age of nineteen as well as Germany coming to a halt, mission shed on current situations from a care- his friendship with E. Stanley Jones are

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support from the West decreasing, foreign rule. McPhee also reports on have known McGavran, but without the logistics of getting around and a meeting between John R. Mott and McGavran, Pickett’s ideas might never slow transportation methods. This Pickett to discuss the possibility of a have met their potential.” section references the typical village scientific mass movement study that The chapter Politics and Conversion excursion experience with a specific would clear up misconceptions about marks the beginning of a season of life focus on the “untouchable” Chamar mass movements or invalidate them and service in Bombay. Readers learn people including early lessons in altogether. The Mass Movement Study that Ambedkar’s focus is on leaving evangelism and culture. The author is then prominent in several chapters Hinduism versus embracing Christ. gives attention to keys to successfully with topics including: funding, techni- McPhee also discusses Gandhi’s views fostering mass movements, couples cal advisorship, study goals, survey on mass movements, missionaries, and with whom the Picketts worked at methods and questionnaires. The book a particular speech made by Pickett as this time, schooling, discipleship resulting from the study, authored by having “extravagant statements” with models, opposition to the work and Pickett, was Christian Mass Movements “unbelievable elements.” The line is five reasons why the Arrah District in India which led many mission clearly drawn to show that the Mass work expanded. Pickett’s involve- boards to rethink mission priorities Movements and Gandhi’s Reform ment and leadership of the temper- and strategies. Another study done at Movement were not in alignment, ance movement in India and a brief the same time chaired by a Harvard and the displeasure of those in the meeting with Gandhi are cited. professor resulted in the liberally Ambedkar camp towards Gandhi was Chapter twelve gives a glimpse of a angled book Rethinking Missions which manifest. The drama is then shifted major flood Pickett and his associ- was skeptical of missionary methods. back to the politics of missions in The ates endured. Within the chapter is In the chapter, Lessons from the Survey, McGavran Controversy as an article also a comment on the handicap of three areas are highlighted: Pickett’s McGavran wrote for a British journal competitive denominationalism. observations on how group conversion (that was never meant to see the light In The Lucknow Years Pickett the movements begin, survey respondent of day) kept him from a desired post fundraiser shows his face once again, motives for coming to Christ, lists of in the mission. Another issue from the yet the main theme early on is his generalized observations on the mass chapter worth noting is the idea that role as editor of the Methodist- movement approach and some rec- Gandhi was able to hijack mail from Episcopal journal, The Indian ommendations for missionaries and Pickett and those with whom he was Witness. Pickett’s missiology is church leaders. in correspondence with a case in point prominent in the initial chapter of A chapter on Sudra movements leading to such an assessment. Other this stage and attention is given to describes the relationship between topics addressed from the Bombay general themes and specific content Pickett and his protégé Donald years: requests from Ambedkar for of the journal under his leader- McGavran (church growth missiolo- Christian baptism and the training ship. Notable is Pickett’s interest gist), Pickett’s “Trickle-Up” theory of of untouchables to be pastors under in “Indianizing the church” and church growth and problems with a the supervision of Ambedkar (both “Naturalizing Christianity,” a holistic largely outcaste church welcoming and requests denied by Pickett), Pickett’s approach to mission service, Indian overseeing their socially superior Sudra encouragement of local church leaders religions and cultures, creative brothers and sisters. The social activ- to incorporate mass movement study methods of expressing the gospel, ist Ambedkar then enters the picture findings in their work, preference for ethnocentrism, tolerance, open-air with a focus on the unjust treatment of single mission workers, the succes- preaching, what he called “Golden untouchables, Ambedkar’s motives in sor of Pickett as leader to the mass Rule Evangelism” and book reviews. a possible mass conversion of depressed movement research (not McGavran), A chapter entitled Mott’s Proposal class people as social versus spiritual, a depleted missionary force due to opens with several pages of his- and the friendship formed between World War II, church growth in tory on the relationship between Pickett and Ambedkar. The author Bombay, indigenization of the gospel Woodstock School, the Methodists then tells of a typical mass movement and differences that Pickett and Jones and the Pickett family’s Landour research day on the field and the impact had on India’s Independence and experiences. Space is given to the of Pickett on McGavran. McPhee Gandhi’s initiatives. McPhee states, politics of India in the face of then describes the situation as, “with- “As for Jones, his views were as colored growing nationalism and British out Pickett’s ideas, we might never by Gandhi’s influence as Pickett’s were by Ambedkar’s.”

International Journal of Frontier Missiology Book Reviews 163

The Delhi Years round out the book with India’s Independence and partition as important themes. Here, one encounters a Pickett who has not lost his compas- Are you serious sion for the poor. The chapter Orphans of the Storm recounts a month-long period of civil unrest when Pickett and other well-wishers assisted and aided displaced about your faith, Muslims in Delhi. Another chapter in the section focuses on a new initiative to recruit post-college aged young people for short-term placements to help meet have an inquiring existing personnel needs. A separate issue addressed in the chapter is the “Dearness Allowance” which funded village pastors mind, and a heart and teachers. Also mentioned is a confer- ence where Pickett’s sessions focused on what he called “confirming the gospel” or acts of service that meet practical needs. for missions? Because of relationships with government personnel Pickett’s potential contribu- tions to the India Constitution article on religious freedom are taken up in the chapter Birth of a Republic. Although he has himself suggested the word- ing of the article is his, this fact cannot be adequately corroborated. Pickett as an Ambassador-at-Large is evidenced in meetings with members of the U.S. Congress and President. www.uscwm.org/insight/ The last chapters of the book are no less significant than the first as readers see the impact of Pickett in the founding of the INSIGHT is an undergraduate-level United Mission to and his many retirement years which were spent as an academic program of the U.S. Center educator at Boston University, a fund- raiser for different mission projects, with for World Mission that prepares high family in different parts of the country school graduates through intensive and active in overseas travel. IJFM study of God’s purposes in the world throughout history.

Available for 32 units of college credit at the USCWM and various locations.

Contact: [email protected]

24:3 Fall 2007