Mahasamund: A three-day workshop attended by 64 pastors, lay leaders and social activists has expressed concern at the threats looming large on the Indian constitution.
The workshop on “Indian constitution: liberty, rights and duties” organized by the Raipur Churches Development and Relief Committee (RCDRC) against the backdrop of growing violence and hostility against the Christians by the Hindu communal forces in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh.
The May 18-20 workshop was aimed at equipping the pastors and lay leaders with basic understanding of the Indian constitution, principles, rights and duties enshrined in it and, in turn, renewing their commitment to uphold and sustain the Indian constitution in words and deeds.
Describing the form and content of communal violence and hate campaign against church and Christians, the statement called the churches and Christians“ to galvanize their own resources – both ideological and organizational – and forge a broad-based alliance to combat communalism and defend democracy.”
The basic purpose should be to uphold and sustain the basic principles enshrined in the constitution of India, the statement noted.
The workshop began with a presentation on the theme by Advocate Sudha Bhardwaj, leading woman lawyer at the Chhattisgarh High Court who is also the General Secretary of the Chhattisgarh unit of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties.
It was followed by biblical reflections on ‘’The Church and the State’’ by Rev. Akhilesh Edgar, manager, Church and Community Relations, Alliance Defending Freedom, New Delhi.
There was sharing by participants as to what was the form and content of the communal violence against the Church and Christians.
Rajendra K Sail, a human rights defender and a Christian social activist working in Chhattisgarh for the past 40 years, presented the history, ideology and agenda of the fascist forces in Indian in general, and in Chhattisgarh in particular.
He presented various questionnaires for group exercise, which enabled the participants to relate the concepts to their ground level reality which was followed by discussions on: ‘’Attacks on minorities, dalits, adivasis and women in Chhattisgarh – how, why & by whom?’’
The opening and closing worship services were led by Rev. Suresh Samuel Deep, convener of the workshop.
With a history of social activism and development with social justice, the RCDRC is well equipped to conscientize various constituencies to strengthen the secular-democratic polity in India.
Similar workshops will be held in various other parts in Chhattisgarh in joint collaboration with progressive Christian Institutions and NGOs.
Though the results of the workshop are yet to be seen, the message carried forward from here is loud and clear: The church and Christians have to reaffirm their commitment to the Indian constitution as its upholders and sustainers.
The statement is being widely circulated for debate both within and outside the Churches in Chhattisgarh and outside.
The RCDRC has prepared systematic training workshops in three-tiers, which aim to sensitize the pastors and lay leaders to the basic structure and principles of the Indian Constitution and, in turn, shape up their own responses based on biblical understanding of the role and place of the Church and State.
The same group of pastors and lay leaders who attended the 18-20 May event would journey through a follow-up process spread for six months.
The second workshop will be on ‘’the secular-democratic movements in Chhattisgarh and the Christian participation,’’ and the third workshop on ‘’Peace and justice concerns in Chhattisgarh and the Christian response.‘’