Author:
Publication: Indian Currents
Date: September 8, 2002
Q.: Do you think the government
is Interfering with Church-run schools?
A.: The fear that governmental
interference is bound to seal the Christian initiative in the education
ministry is unfounded. If the government orders administration streamlining,
minority institutions, including those managed by Christians, have no option
but to follow. When the government funds the institutions, it is logical
that it demands certain regulations. The one who pays the piper calls the
tune.
India's demographic explosion has
brought more pressing needs and priorities that force the government to
cut its funding for education. The government's survival at times depends
on populist schemes.
Well, a good democratic government
is judged by how well it treats its minorities. We have the constitutionally
guaranteed minority rights. It is a safeguard but also a cause for friction.
Q.: Are those rights justified?
A.: Well, we need to view this
from two angles. First, the rights of the religious minorities have to
be respected if they have been historically determined. We should also
respect the rights minorities draw from political mobilization and historical
pacts. How long those rights need protection is another issue. Since the
framers of the Constitution did not specify a deadline, the decision lies
with the minorities.
Since April 2, the full bench of
the Supreme Court has been hearing some 200 cases on minority educational
rights. Therefore, it is not right for me to comment on the issue.
However, I support voluntarily giving
up the rights. Christians should have done this long ago and set an example.
It is time for those who enjoy minority
educational rights to ask, are the rights reserved only for the religious
congregations and orders of the Church, or for the people? Who should identify
the people who would run such institutions?
An estimated 20 percent of India's
national educational infrastructure is with Christians, who form less than
3 percent of the population. However, the minority rights have not helped
Christians themselves much, especially dalits (former untouchables) and
those at the grassroots. Some Church institutions seem to give more importance
to excellence than to serve the poorest in their community.
Q.: What options are available if
Christians were to surrender their minority rights?
A.: Set up a corpus fund in every
educational institution. It is possible to manage our needs ourselves over
a period of time if those administering them now are earnest. The gestation
time, of course, is bound to be a bit harrowing, but we have no other choice.
Many of our self-financing institutions
are doing a good job, both academically and in helping deserving Christians
through a liberal system of scholarships. We could follow their examples.
The corpus fund should prove handy
for implementing projects aimed at promoting the educational needs of dalits
and other poor groups. The Church should provide maximum possible support
for the dalits 'educational advancement.
Q.: How should Christians deal with
the spread of Hindu nationalist ideologies?
A.: Saffronization (Hinduization)
of education is a passing cloud. It does not deserve the importance we
give to it now. India's pluralistic ethos will tide over such threats.
India is a melting pot of many cultures and religions.
Even when they intrude into the
syllabi, Christian institutions have ample scope to inculcate in students
the values that sustain the country's secular fabric.
