Towards a Theological Critique of the Debt System Among the Small Farmers in Idukki District, Kerala
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Towards a Theological Critique of the Debt System among the Small Farmers in Idukki District, Kerala A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Theology In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For The Degree of Master of Theology By Maxcin John Advisor: Rev. John Chhong- Fatchen Tainan Theological College and Seminary Tainan, Taiwan May 2009 Dedicated to All of our beloved Farmers in Idukki District who are the part and parcel of our life; the subjects and inspiration of this research who now is under severe debt crisis; who struggles to live and seek alternatives for the celebration of life. Acknowledgements I hereby extend my whole-hearted thanks and gratitude to all those who encouraged and inspired me to do this thesis out of my best. I am thankful to Rev. John Chhong-Fatchen, my Thesis adviser, for his efficient guidance, creative suggestions, and timely advice which motivated me to explore relevant knowledge and ideas for the thesis. He was always available and approachable throughout my work. I am grateful to Dr. M.P. Joseph, Director for International Program for his challenging, active, thought-provoking, and heart-rending ideas and information which thrilled and drove me to think differently about the vital issues and moulded my writing. I am indebted to our President Rev. Dr. Wu Fu-Ya (Taiwan), our Teachers, Dr. M.P. Joseph (India), Rev. Dr. Augustine Musopole (Malawi), Rev. Dr. C.S. Song (Taiwan), Rev. Dr. Afrie Songco Joyce (Philippines), and Rev. David Alexander (USA), International student’s adviser who helped me and inspired me in my theological endeavour. I am also thankful to all faculty members and staffs, especially our Registrar, Mrs. Bihua, and librarian Rev. Chi Harvey for their help and encouragements for my thesis. I am also grateful to all my friends, especially my classmates, Rev. Roger Mwaerreow (Nauru), Rev. Immanuel Bwalia (Zambia), Rev. K.C.Selvaraj (India), Rev. Chun (Korea), Rev. Jung Young (Korea), Ivan Pula (Samova), and Maina Talia (Tuvalu) for their prayers and encouragements in course of my work. I am really grateful to Udayan Joseph and Adithya Joseph, who helped to edit my thesis. Their sincere efforts are really appreciable. I am also thankful to Rt. Rev. Dr. K.G. Daniel (Bishop in East Kerala Diocese) and Dr. Betty Daniel for their care, love and concern for my theological studies and also all Officers, Pastors, Upadesis , missionaries and all beloved people of the Diocese, especially St. Peter’s CSI church Konnathady for their immense motivation and encouragements. I am with immense joy and pleasure acknowledge all the farmers who live in Pulickathotty, Pattayakudy, Maniyarankudy, Manippara, Keerithodu, Karimban, Konnathady, and Kulamavu in Idukki district for their open participation and co- operation in my empirical survey for the thesis. I am also remember our Missionaries and their families such Joseph Abraham, Johnson Daniel and Moniyamma , Georgekutty and Jolly, Johnson and family, Maniyarankudi, Benjamin George and family Kulamavu for their help and accompany throughout my empirical survey in respective places. I am also acknowledge my loving family: my wife Ani, my daughters Ammukutty and Minnukutty, my parents John and Annamma, Issac and Saramma, Joseph and Lila, and all of my brothers, sisters, relatives, and friends for their precious prayers, support, and encouragements in my theological endeavor. Above all, I praise and thank God for God’s very present and for all grace and mercies showered upon us throughout my work. Maxcin John TTCS, Tainan. THESIS ABSTRACT Program: Master of Theology, Tainan Theological College and Seminary, 2008-‘09 Title: A Theological Critique of the Debt System among the Small Farmers in Idukki District, Kerala. Advisor: Rev. John Chhong- Fatchen Student: Maxcin John The Agricultural sector of Idukki District is facing a severe debt-crisis which has economic, political, social, and cultural sides. This crisis is leading farmers to commit suicide. This is not voluntarily but an imposed negation of given gift of life and thus, an unintentional rejection of God, the giver of life. This situation needed to be researched in order to equip the church to find out how people could celebrate their life which is the gift of God. Therefore, a relevant contextual theological critique is indispensable for this time in order to facilitate for a radical restructuring of agricultural practices and management of money in order to celebrate the life. Since indebtedness is ruining the whole situation of human life and questioning the existence of human beings, it is a violation of human rights as well as negation of life. It is a state of economic exploitation, political marginalization, and social as well as cultural alienation and isolation. All indebted farmers are the victims of exploitation and marginalisation. Since, it is a human made phenomenon, it is retrievable and alterable. This situation of plight can be transformed through a remarkable joint- effort by articulating a relevant and meaningful theological critique and applying it on the basis of Jesus’ teaching on the debt mechanism during 1 st century Roman occupied Jewish Palestine. Debt crisis was the major economic problem of first century Roman occupied Palestine. It was also political, economic, social, and cultural issue. Roman emperors, and their governors and client kings, as well as the Jewish priests and elite groups were the chief exponents of this debt system. They held together to accumulate wealth. The ruling class, including religious authorities, amassed the land and wealth through tribute, taxes, tithe, and other sacrificial fees. But, the masses, especially the peasantry, became impoverished and eventually became debt slaves. Jesus was an alternative to those kinds of exploitative and oppressive structures and ideologies. So through his ministry, Jesus declared and taught forgiveness to others and urged for the cancellation of debts for a fresh beginning. Thus Jesus brought a counter program and reversal of society against unjust ideologies which led to the indebtedness. Nowadays the world wide phenomenon of Globalization under the leadership of America ruined the peasantry to a considerable extent on each level. The new global powers headed by United States of America are the ‘Reborn Roman Empire’. They have replaced the ‘Pax- Romanas’ as ‘Pax- Americanas’. The Indian Government as well as the elite groups of the society is still supporting the multinational companies and their value systems. Thus, the market became a mediator, money became a god, and competition and profit motif became the main driving force of society. The net result is Deruralisation or Depeasantisation; Agricultural sector has collapsed. This pushed all farmers in to the net of debt, and thereby, a majority of the farmers are living on the brinks of suicide. It became an issue of human existence. Therefore, it is the necessity of the time to articulate a relevant theological critique in order to activate the church for the well-being of those people under severe debt. Theology in the context of the debt crisis of farmers in Idukki is the theology of the celebration of life and money management. In this regard, God is identified as ‘God the Farmer’ who is still abiding amidst of the crisis of people. This understanding leads to the ‘Village-Oikos’ where people live together in reciprocal relationship in the light of the ‘Reign of God’. Furthermore, the Village-Oikos in the light of the reign of God necessitates the ‘Renunciation of Wealth, Right use of possession, and Cancellation of debts’. Finally, these attitudes lead to an ‘Ashram’- a Community where we can see the celebration of life as well as abundance of life. CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1-10 1. Introduction 2. Agriculture Sector in Idukki District 2.1 General Information 2.2. Economic level 2.3. Political level 2.4. Social Level 2.5 Cultural level 3. Importance of a Theological Critique 4. Research Methods 5. Limitations of the Study 6. Conclusion CHAPTER 2: PROBLEM ANALYSIS AND EXPLANATIONS . 11-33 1. Introduction 2. Research Methodology 2.1. Target areas 2.2. Target Group 2.3. Methods used for data collections 2.3.1 Personal Interviews 2.3.2 Direct Visit and Observations 2.3.3 Unstructured Interviews 3. Data Analysis and its interpretations 3.1 Occupation 3.1.2 Occupation in the socio-demographic pattern of family of Respondents 3.2 Land and Nature of its Ownership 3.3 Crops Pattern 3.4 Method of Agriculture and Use of Fertilizer 3.5 Favourable Conditions for Agriculture 3.6 Source of Technical Information for Agriculture 3.7 Income and Poverty Line 3.8 Average Members of the Family 3.9 Living-Standards 3.9.1 Housing 3.9.2 Education 3.9.2.1 Education level of family members 3.9.3 Health and Leisure 3.10 Social Participation 3.10.1 Savings 3.11 Family System 3.12 Debt, Source of Loan, and Purpose of Loan, and Tenure of Loan 3.12.1 Affordability of Interest rate, and Nature of payment 4. Conclusion CHAPTER 3: A COMPARATIVE THEOLOGICAL STUDY ABOUT JESUS TEACHING ON DEBT-MECHANISM IN VIEW TO THE DEBT CRISIS IN IDUKKI. 34-80 1. Introduction 2. Roman – Jewish- Palestine in A.D. 1 st Century 2.1 Factors led to the Roman hegemony 2.2. Politico –Economic Situation 2.2.1. Indirect rule through Kings and Priests 2.2.2. Roman’s Imperial Ideology 2.2.3 Taxation 2.2.4. Extraction-Production-Distribution 2.3. Socio-cultural-religious situation 2.3.1 Socio-economic group of Palestine 2.3.1.1. The wealthy-Kings and Priests 2.3.1.2 Traders- merchants-Priest 2.3.1.3 Poor- Peasants 2.3.1.4 Women 2.3.1.5 Slaves 2.3.1.6 Tax collectors 2.3.1.7 Sinners as ‘Amha’aretz’ 2.3.1.8 Prostitutes 2.3.1.9 Beggars and Cripple 2.3.2.