The year 2020 began, as every new year does, with the promise of hope and possibilities. It soon turned into a nightmare. Covid-19 ravaged our world. Even the mightiest nations on earth have felt the chill, with 356,000 dead in the United States alone.
But with far fewer deaths from the pandemic, India still suffered possibly its worst social impact. It ruined the lives and livelihoods of over 1,000 million marginalized and vulnerable Indians. These toiling and exploited citizens have a historic resilience and a spirit strengthened and not broken in struggle and will spring back to a better life.
Our hope is rooted in our belief that the rest of the country, its government at the centre and in the states, and its institutions have learned lessons. When governance failed and institutions let down the people, including the migrant laborers trudging back home from closed factories, common people were roused by the misery and pain they saw in the images on their TVs and social media. Religious groups, healthcare workers and youth risked their lives to provide the much-needed relief…
A singular lack of meaningful planning and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, deficiencies in competence, commitment, passion and creativity in mission remain the order of the day.
Emerging India and the crisis within the Church demand a positive and proactive response from the Christian community.

Now it is do or die

The Indian Church cannot remain a mute spectator, nor pretend to be safe. If we fail the nation, our fellow citizens may not stand by Indian Christians when we and our identity face an existential threat from fascist, authoritarian and autocratic governments.
Some possible internal programs of action are:
— Let us be observant, gather information, study-analyze the emerging issues.
— Let us organize webinars, seminars, meetings on issues that affect the common masses. Also, on constitutional and human rights, policies and programs of the government that are detrimental to the poor and vulnerable, especially women, Dalits, tribal people, minorities.
— Let us use social media to highlight national issues like the farmers’ and anti-CAA movements.
— Let us join, support other initiatives taken by civil society and human rights groups.
— Let us participate in activities, public programs, initiatives, campaigns, dharnas, rallies, sign online petitions of CSOs, etc.
— Let us publicize secular efforts, initiatives in our churches, institutions and invite credible persons from civil and secular organizations and other religions.
— Let us start or join youth clubs, peace clubs, eco clubs, women’s forums, Dalit forums, tribal forums, etc.
— Let us be linked with local, diocesan, institutional and congregational, inter-church commissions and forums that are outward-looking and have credibility.
— Let us identify a spokesperson on secular and social issues in our institutions, dioceses, congregations and collectives of the Christian community to join in solidarity.
— Let us pray without ceasing. Pray within the Christian community and with people of other faiths for God’s intervention to protect and promote life, livelihood and rights of all citizens.

Some possible external programs of action are:

— First and foremost, the Indian Church should realize this fundamental fact: no farmers means no food and no bread. It is the hard labour of the farmers in sun and rain, day and night, which provides bread and wine for the Eucharist.
— The Indian Church should join others in support of various movements that are going on in India. Media reported that Delhi police on Dec. 1 stopped Bilkis Bano, who became a symbol of the anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh, from entering the Singhu Delhi-Haryana border. But she became a witness to her faith as a believing Muslim and human being.
— Medical personnel supported the protesting farmers by providing a free medical camp. The Church has done well providing health care during disasters. Indian Christians need to be present in all situations and not just in relief and charity.
— Committed Indian Christians hang their head in shame when they realize that some of the warring churches have invited Narendra Modi to resolve the conflict between them. Instead of aligning with the ruling establishment to save its minority status and its business interests, the Indian Church should undertake actions that resist the sinister plans of this fascist and exploitative government.
— The Indian Church should base itself broadly and call for fasts and prayer to save the constitution and ultimately save democracy, secularism and itself.
— It should join actions such as fasting in solidarity and social media engagements; create posters; use the pulpit to raise awareness among its faithful; join demonstrations and protests.
— The Church has a responsibility to engage with its various constituencies, especially students and youth, to prepare them to be part of wider civil and secular organizations. Planned and executed orientation programs for them will build at least the future generation to be more socially conscious and committed citizens and Christians.
We the undersigned share this statement with you seeking your endorsement and to invite you to be part of this enterprise: John Dayal, Brinelle D’souza, Hartman De Souza, A.C. Michael, Rosamma Thomas, Virginus Xaxa, David Selvaraj, Devasagaya Raj, Roselle Solomon, Ajaya Singh, Ranjan Solomon, Cedric Prakash, Sujata Jena, Tony Dias, Denzil Fernandez and Prakash Louis.

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News.