Dalit Christians: Faith, Resistance, and the Ongoing Struggle for Justice

This discussion brings together four women speakers from diverse professional and experiential backgrounds to critically engage with the historical and contemporary struggles of Dalit Christians in India. The event foregrounds lived experiences, structural discrimination, and the ongoing movement for dignity, equality, and constitutional justice, while situating these within an Ambedkarite framework. It creates a space to examine how caste continues to shape social, religious, and institutional realities despite conversion.

At the core of this issue lies a constitutional contradiction: while Dalit Christians continue to face caste-based discrimination, they are excluded from Scheduled Caste (SC) status and the associated affirmative action policies in education, employment, and political representation. This exclusion originates from the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which restricts SC recognition to Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists, effectively rendering Dalit Christians invisible within the legal framework of caste-based justice.

Recent developments have intensified this debate. A 2026 Supreme Court position reaffirmed that individuals who convert to Christianity lose SC status and cannot access reservation benefits, even if caste discrimination persists in their lived realities. This has renewed mobilisations, protests, and policy advocacy across the country, with Dalit Christian groups demanding inclusion in the SC category or alternative mechanisms to ensure equitable access to rights and opportunities.

Beyond the legal question, the issue raises deeper concerns about the nature of caste itself, whether it is confined to religion or operates as a broader socio-historical structure. The discussion will therefore explore caste within Christian communities, the political struggle for affirmative action, grassroots resistance, and the intersection of caste, gender, and faith. By bringing together perspectives from art, activism, scholarship, and community work, the event aims to reflect on what meaningful equality and dignity could look like for Dalit Christians today.

SPEAKERS:

Percy Kaki A visual artist based in Hyderabad, Percy works across mediums exploring memory, gender, and marginalisation. She is part of the Yakshi Constitutional Values in Praxis programme, collaborating with marginalized women through art to engage with the Constitution. Her work has been exhibited at international and national platforms including Arles Photo Festival, Vanam Art Festival (Chennai), and Conflictorium (Ahmedabad). Her recent work focuses on community-based art practices centered on dignity, self-respect, and collective belonging.

Ravali Pidaparthi A social entrepreneur and co-founder of Esther, Ravali works with young women graduates from marginalized castes in rural Telangana, supporting their transition into careers. With experience across institutions such as Teach For India, Indian School of Development Management, SRIJAN India, and Udhyam Vyapaar, her work lies at the intersection of caste and gender. She brings a strong commitment to building equitable systems and amplifying representation.

Sr. Manjula Devarapalli A Carmelite nun and the National Secretary of the National Dalit Christian Watch (NDCW), Sr. Manjula has decades of grassroots experience working with Dalits and Adivasis. A lawyer and social worker, her work spans education, human rights, rural development, and advocacy for Dalit Christian rights within church and society. She has received multiple recognitions, including the Archbishop Oscar Romero Award and the Mother Teresa Award for her contributions to social justice.

Vennela Mocherla A doctoral scholar in Sociology at the University of Hyderabad, Vennela’s research focuses on the lives, faith, and socio-political realities of Dalit Christians in Telugu regions. A former president of the Ambedkar Students’ Association (UoH), her academic work critically engages with religion, charisma, and neoliberalism, bringing a rigorous sociological lens to the discussion.