Fr Irudhaya Jothi SJ –
Trichy: Fr. Nithiya Sagayam, a Capuchin friar, has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Commission of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) for the Tamil Nadu Bishop Council (TNBC). The announcement was made on July 29, 2024, in Chennai by Most Rev. Jeevanandam, the Bishop of Kumbakonam and Chairman of the TNBC Commission of SC/ST.
In his announcement, Bishop Jeevanandam expressed his pleasure in appointing Sagayam, emphasizing the importance of his role in leading the Dalit Christian community, which has faced systemic discrimination. This appointment is seen as a significant step in advocating for the rights and welfare of this vocal and dynamic community in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.
Fr. Sagayam’s leadership is expected to bring renewed focus on the issues faced by Dalit Christians, aiming to address the challenges they encounter within the broader social and religious context.
The Dalit Christians in Tamil Nadu, like in other states of India, continue to face significant challenges rooted in the caste system despite converting to Christianity. These issues are multifaceted and deeply entrenched in Hindu societal structures, philosophy, and religion.
Caste discrimination within the church is one of the most prominent issues. Dalit Christians often face discrimination in church activities, including being denied leadership roles, participation in religious ceremonies, and access to church resources.
Many Dalit Christians continue to live in poverty and lack access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. They often face discrimination in employment and housing.
Dalit Christians, like their Hindu counterparts, often face challenges in securing land ownership rights, leading to economic vulnerability. While there is recognition of Dalit Hindus, the specific challenges faced by Dalit Christians often go unnoticed or unaddressed by policymakers, resulting in a lack of recognition as a distinct social group.
These challenges have a profound impact on the lives of Dalit Christians, limiting their social, economic, and religious mobility. They continue to experience marginalization and exclusion, despite their conversion to Christianity.
While the Dalit Christian community in Tamil Nadu continues to face significant challenges rooted in caste discrimination and socioeconomic disparities, it is also characterized by resilience, activism, and a growing sense of identity.
Some of the factors contributing to the community’s dynamism include:
- Educational Attainment: A growing number of Dalit Christians are accessing higher education, leading to increased awareness of their rights and opportunities.
- Social Activism: The community has witnessed the emergence of strong social and political leaders who are advocating for their rights and challenging the status quo.
- Religious Identity: There’s a growing assertion of Dalit Christian identity, with a focus on their unique experiences and contributions to society.
- Economic Growth: While challenges persist, some members of the community have achieved economic success, leading to a growing middle class.
- Technological Advancements: The use of technology has facilitated greater connectivity and networking among Dalit Christians, enabling them to organize and mobilize more effectively.
The overall trend indicates growing dynamism and resilience. They have been vocal in recent years, demanding equal representation in leadership and opportunities in institutions and affirmative action.
At this complex juncture, the appointment of Capuchin Friar Nithiya as the secretary of the SC/ST Commission of the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council is significant. Father Sagayam is currently the Coordinator of the Bl. Solanus Casey Centre at the Thalir Centre, Villupuram, Tamil Nadu.
Father Nithiya taught philosophy and served for six years as Dean of the Faculty at the Capuchin Major Seminary in Kotagiri and was a visiting professor in several major seminaries.
He served in the Capuchin General Curia in Rome for five years in the Justice and Peace Commission. He worked for the Indian Bishops’ Conference (CBCI) for nine years in Justice, Peace, and Development and then in the Office of Human Development of the Asian Bishops’ Conference (FABC) for four years.
At one time he was on the Board of Directors for the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance under the World Council of Churches (WCC), Geneva, and was an NGO lobbyist at the United Nations for the Arms Trade Treaty.
Father Nithiya has been invited by the Vatican for several meetings through various dicasteries such as the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, the Pontifical Council for Migrants, and the Pontifical Council for New Evangelization.
He was appointed by the Vatican as the Missionary of Mercy and continues this mission. He is the National Coordinator of the Association of Franciscans in India and serves as the Regional Coordinator of South Asian Franciscans.
Presently, as a member of a rural Capuchin community at Talir, he is working for the Gypsies, Primitive Tribes, cobblers, and the rural poor. During the COVID lockdown, he began online motivational training, reaching out to religious and laity in 43 countries by focusing on psycho-spiritual growth and the social uplift of the marginalized.
Hearty congratulations
As I see it, God raises up prophets to enlighten the hearts of the oppressed. I wish you health and wisdom in this new assignment in the Church in India and as a public figure to be the voice of the voiceless who look up to you for freedom from bondage….somehow. The road may be full of thorns, but God has already endowed you with His Spirit of compassion and action. In my prayers. Stay blessed. Sr. Frances Farrugia OP Pakistan.
Congratulations, Fr Nithya, okd friend
The movement is moribund.
Need dynamic volunteer leaders and fresh blood to revive
Bishops buying train tickets for a few hundred to come Delhi once a year does not work. Must galvanise Punjab, Maharashtra , Telugus, Kerala Latin
Hearty congratulations Fr.
May you be blessed with good health and energy to work on this new mission.
Article 15, Constitution of India 1950 (1) states: “The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.”
Yet Fr Jothi’s categorical statement “Caste discrimination WITHIN THE CHURCH is one of the most prominent issues. They often face discrimination in church activities, including being denied leadership roles, participation in religious ceremonies, and access to church resources” proves that the Indian Catholic Hierarchy is knowingly violating the Constitutional provision with impunity. Doesn’t it trumpet “all-inclusiveness from the pulpits and in all public forums?”
This is not the first time we have heard of caste-wise discrimination within the church. Reportedly this discrimination is prevalent in the South particularly in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. What is CBCI and CCBI’s stand on this particularly in view of “Journeying towards a Synodal Church: Mission 2033?” Fr Jothi’s charge of discrimination within the church shows how hollow the Indian Synodal Church is!
In fact Madras High Court on 25 June 2021 issued notices to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, the 18 bishops in Tamil Nadu, ministries under federal and Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments regarding caste based discrimination within the Church in India. The Court had set July 8 as the deadline for India’s Catholic bishops and federal and state governments to respond in this matter (Source: Matters India report dated 30 June 2021).
It’s heartening to learn that Fr Nithiya Sagayam is very well-qualified for his new position of Secretary of the Commission of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). I am sure he will tend to his flock with great empathy. At the same time, I hope he will take care of all marginalized Christians in his jurisdiction, even if they are not SCs or STs. For, first and foremost he is a priest for all and is expected to rise above all discrimination, unlike his predecessors as the Madras High Court summons reveal.
Dear Isaac,
Thank you for your comments and for raising these challenges. I agree that the Church is made up of mortals, and unfortunately, many of us, even after becoming priests and religious, still carry the baggage of caste and ethnic identity. One priest publicly challenged me, asking if I could overcome my caste mindset, to which I responded, “Why not?” He argued that caste is in our blood and cannot be changed.
Though there is a growing awareness among Dalits about this systemic sidelining and even oppression, there is also a ray of hope among both Dalit and non-Dalit Christians, with some positive changes occurring. The process could be swifter if concerted actions are taken and consistently followed up.
Congratulations Father…
Dear Fr Jothi, Thank you so much for your candid feedback. In Christianity through our Baptism we all become one with Christ. Being part of the body of Christ, we all equal in the eyes of Christ – no one is high, no one is low. Therefore, in Christianity we cannot carry our ancestral baggage of high or low caste. If casteeism is allowed to persist, whether overt or covert, then we are not Christians. In the broader perspective, we form only 2.3% of the Indian population. With division among ourselves we will be a broken/fragmented family and cannot have wholesome development. I pity the priest who challenged you and said that one cannot give up casteeism as it is in one’s blood. That means Christianity and the education he has had have no effect on him. These are the priests who are vitiating the Catholic church. Neither they have transformed themselves, nor will they be able to transform others. The essence of Christianity is to transform oneself everyday into a better person and also help those who are weak, better themselves.
My Dear Fr. Nithya,
Praise the Lord 🙏🏻,
I praised our Almighty God for the greater things Who is doing in this last days. I hope and believe HE will do more marvellous things in our unidentified community in the nations like India. It is our heart felt prayer to do more and more things which will remain as living testimony among the people of other faith and other faith.
May God bless and exhalt you more.
Yours affectionately uncle,
Rt.Rev.Dr. A. Elijah,Ph.D.,
Bishop of SAUCF, Chenggai-South
Chennai, India.