Christians of various denominations in Tamil Nadu marked Black Day on 10 August with public demonstrations, gatherings, and awareness campaigns across all 18 dioceses of the state. In addition to parish-level meetings, the programme was conducted in 51 prominent locations in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Catholic Bishops, Protestant Bishops, priests, religious congregations, and lay faithful gathered — many in the streets — to hold public meetings and present memoranda to the government. The state-wide network was coordinated by the Chairman, Bishop Jeevanandam, and the Secretary, Fr. Nithiya OFM Cap, of the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council (TNBC) Commission for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, working through all Diocesan SC/ST Commission Secretaries and staff.
Black Day is observed by Christians in India, particularly Dalit Christians, to highlight the injustice stemming from the Presidential Order of 1950. This order decreed that the entitlements granted to Hindus from the Scheduled Caste category would not be extended to Dalits of other religions. Despite facing similar socio-economic challenges, such as discrimination, lack of education, and limited employment opportunities, Dalit Christians and Muslims remain excluded from these benefits. In addition to diocesan headquarters events led by bishops, priests, and religious, several meetings were held at parish level. Leaders from other faiths — including Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Sikhs — attended, alongside political leaders, laity movements, and social activists. The public meetings were held under police protection.
The day’s observances included hoisting black flags in Christian homes and churches, wearing black badges, conducting public meetings and protest gatherings, delivering speeches on constitutional injustice, holding media briefings, passing resolutions demanding Scheduled Caste status, submitting memoranda to government officials and the SC/ST Commission, organising rallies and peace marches, drum beating, and forming human chains for awareness campaigns.
