The Thomas Christians in India

Christianity occupies a relatively modest place in India. In this densely populated country – which will shortly overtake China with regard to the number of inhabitants (more than a billion) – Christians account for more or less three per cent of the population. That means 25 million. Barret even estimates double that in his World Christian Encyclopedia, but his estimations are often generous.

Officially, according to the constitution of 1947, India is a secular state. Here “secular” does not refer to the (Western) separation of state and religion but to the fact that the state is neutral with respect to the religions. Gandhi and Nehru, the spiritual fathers of the constitution, sought very much to protect both the Muslim minority, fourteen per cent of the Indian population, and the Christian minority in the constitution. In fact, “secular” means primarily that India is not a Hindu state, according to the constitution. It does not mean that the state does not meddle in the different religions through its legislation.

Recent decades have witnessed a growing, nationalistic Hindutva movement that is striving for a Hindu state under the slogan “India for the Hindus.” Through violent acts against Muslims and Christians and more subtle political pressure, this movement is explicitly making its presence felt in India today.