1) I have seen HR activist John Dayal claim in an interview that Christianity came to India to liberate lower castes from Brahamanical slavery and patriarchy.
In this thread, I will be exploring the social dimensions of early Christianity in India.
[Thread]
In this thread, I will be exploring the social dimensions of early Christianity in India.
[Thread]
2) The very first evidence for the existence of Christianity in India comes from an inscription dated 849 CE
In this inscription, the King of Venad(Kerala) grants donation and certain privileges to Tharisa Church established by a Mar Iso who was a Christian refugee from Persia
In this inscription, the King of Venad(Kerala) grants donation and certain privileges to Tharisa Church established by a Mar Iso who was a Christian refugee from Persia
3) Among the gifts bestowed to Church, the King granted that the Church does not have to pay slave tax
The Church owned a lot of slaves and the king granted them freedom from slave tax which slave owners had to pay.
This is the first evidence for existence of slavery in Kerala
The Church owned a lot of slaves and the king granted them freedom from slave tax which slave owners had to pay.
This is the first evidence for existence of slavery in Kerala
4) This is the earliest inscriptional evidence for existence of slavery in India.
Ancient Greek sources like Megasthenes note the absence of slavery in India. It is possible that Christian refugees settling in Kerala must have brought their middle eastern slave owning customs
Ancient Greek sources like Megasthenes note the absence of slavery in India. It is possible that Christian refugees settling in Kerala must have brought their middle eastern slave owning customs
5) Who were these slaves owned by the Church? They belonged to castes like Pulayars, Parayas and Ezhavas. The slaves were "owned" by their masters who also had the right to kill them. The slaves also had to take the religion and surnames of their masters
6) So prevalent was the existence of slavery among Kerala Christians that as late as 1845 AD, a Christian named Enathikkal Thomman purchased a male+ female Pulayar (Dalit) slave for rupees 21
Christians owned Dalit slaves until the practice was banned by the Raja of Travancore
Christians owned Dalit slaves until the practice was banned by the Raja of Travancore
7) The great queen of Travancore, Rani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi abolished slavery in 1812 throughout her kingdom and brought dignity to the lives of many slaves.
The great queen abolished slavery 22 years before the British, 53 years before the United States and 150 years before Saudi
The great queen abolished slavery 22 years before the British, 53 years before the United States and 150 years before Saudi
8) Vascodagama was the first "emancipator" of lower castes from Brahmanical tyranny. He was the first Christian to establish power in India.
The first thing he did on coming to India was chop the hands of 800 Dalit fishermen and throw their bodies in sea
The first thing he did on coming to India was chop the hands of 800 Dalit fishermen and throw their bodies in sea
9) Now coming to Dutch Christian emancipators. In medieval Kerala, Moplah Muslims used to kidnap Children and sell them as slaves to the Dutch emancipators.
When requested to end the practice of Child Slavery, Dutch declined stating that they obtained a lot of money from it
When requested to end the practice of Child Slavery, Dutch declined stating that they obtained a lot of money from it
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