Dalit Freedom Network
Encyclopedia
Dalit Freedom Network is an evangelical Christian
organization whose official mission is to "empower the Dalits in their quest for social freedom and human dignity by networking human, financial, and informational resources." Founded by Dr. Joseph D'souza, who heads the "All India Christian Council
" and Nanci Ricks, DFN is located in Colorado
. The Dalit Freedom Network is a partner of the All India Christian Council, a nationwide alliance of more than 2000 Christian denominations, mission agencies, institutions, federations in India
.As per Dr. Joseph D'Souza's biography on the The 700 Club
's website : "The Dalit Freedom Network grew out of the AICC's (All India Christian Council's) need to facilitate work in the United States". They have been accused of misrepresenting a "Dalit" cause to suppress their missionary identity.
and Kancha Ilaiah
, both prominent critics of Hinduism. D'Souza has also frequently been cited by the Christian Coalition
and other Fundamentalist Christian groups in the United States. The Dalit Freedom Network raised $795,462 in 2004 and spent $372,523 on programs and services as reported by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. The remainder of the money was sent the following year as designated money to support developing programs.
Joseph D'Souza was invited to testify as an expert on the Dalit issue by the United States Congress at a hearing on October 6, 2005.
DFN has four programming areas: education, healthcare, economic development, and social justice advocacy. In education, DFN has started more than fifty English-medium schools for Dalits and other low-caste people. In healthcare, DFN has sent dozens of medical teams to Dalit villages for preventative care and in response to emergencies. The economic development program is still in its foundational stages.
In advocacy, Joseph D'Souza and Nanci Ricks have both been recognized as international experts on the Dalit issue and have been invited to testify in the United States and internationally on the subject of Untouchability. D'Souza was invited to testify as an expert on the Dalit issue by the United States Congress at a hearing on October 6, 2005. He also testified before the UK Conservative Human Rights Commission on April 4, 2007. Both Ricks and D'Souza testified before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus on the effects of Untouchability on women.
and appealed to all sections of Naga society. He has also worked with a missionary Benedict Rogers working with the Karen people
in Myanmar
.
and Kancha Ilaiah
who have been accused of making statements that are biased against Hinduism.
The DFN and other similar NGOs have also been criticized by authors Crystal Hsu and PN Benjamin for working as "safe houses" for lobbyists engaged in destroying the cultural heritage of India. Hsu and Benjamin assert the DFN and other similar NGOs are using endemic problems with caste discrimination as a pretext to gain a foothold in Indian society that have increased social tensions without any meaningful benefit to the Dalit
community. They have also criticized DFN for equating caste discrimination with racism.
which occurred in Tamil Nadu on Sep 11 2011 is an evidence of a modern form of discrimination against Dalits.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
organization whose official mission is to "empower the Dalits in their quest for social freedom and human dignity by networking human, financial, and informational resources." Founded by Dr. Joseph D'souza, who heads the "All India Christian Council
All India Christian Council
The All India Christian Council is a nation-wide alliance of Christian denominations, mission agencies, institutions, federations and Christian lay leaders....
" and Nanci Ricks, DFN is located in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. The Dalit Freedom Network is a partner of the All India Christian Council, a nationwide alliance of more than 2000 Christian denominations, mission agencies, institutions, federations in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.As per Dr. Joseph D'Souza's biography on the The 700 Club
The 700 Club
The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. In production since 1966, it is currently hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Kristi Watts, and Gordon P. Robertson, two of whom will host on any...
's website : "The Dalit Freedom Network grew out of the AICC's (All India Christian Council's) need to facilitate work in the United States". They have been accused of misrepresenting a "Dalit" cause to suppress their missionary identity.
Programs
The DFN also hosted a conference entitled "Racism and Caste Based Discrimination in India: Implications for the US-India Relationship", where talks were given by Udit RajUdit Raj
Udit Raj was born in Ramnagar, Uttar Pradesh into a low caste Khatik Hindu family, and studied for BA at Allahabad University. He was selected for the Indian Revenue Service in 1988 and served as the Dy, Commissioner, Joint Commissioner and Addl. Commissioner of Income Tax at New Delhi...
and Kancha Ilaiah
Kancha Ilaiah
Kancha Ilaiah is an Indian activist and writer. His books include Why I am not a Hindu, God As Political Philosopher: Budha's challenge to Brahminism, A Hollow Shell, The State and Repressive Culture, Manatatwam , and Buffalo Nationalism: A Critique of Spiritual Fascism.- Bibliography :*Why I Am...
, both prominent critics of Hinduism. D'Souza has also frequently been cited by the Christian Coalition
Christian Coalition
The Christian Coalition of America , originally called the Christian Coalition, Inc., is a US Christian advocacy group, which includes Christian fundamentalists, evangelicals, neo-evangelicals and charismatics. , the CCA stated that its membership was 2.5 million supporters.The Christian Coalition...
and other Fundamentalist Christian groups in the United States. The Dalit Freedom Network raised $795,462 in 2004 and spent $372,523 on programs and services as reported by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. The remainder of the money was sent the following year as designated money to support developing programs.
Joseph D'Souza was invited to testify as an expert on the Dalit issue by the United States Congress at a hearing on October 6, 2005.
DFN has four programming areas: education, healthcare, economic development, and social justice advocacy. In education, DFN has started more than fifty English-medium schools for Dalits and other low-caste people. In healthcare, DFN has sent dozens of medical teams to Dalit villages for preventative care and in response to emergencies. The economic development program is still in its foundational stages.
In advocacy, Joseph D'Souza and Nanci Ricks have both been recognized as international experts on the Dalit issue and have been invited to testify in the United States and internationally on the subject of Untouchability. D'Souza was invited to testify as an expert on the Dalit issue by the United States Congress at a hearing on October 6, 2005. He also testified before the UK Conservative Human Rights Commission on April 4, 2007. Both Ricks and D'Souza testified before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus on the effects of Untouchability on women.
Mass baptism
On 21 October 2006, Joseph D'Souza, Dr. John Dayal, and Bishop Moses Swamidoss organized a mass baptism, and baptized 528 Hindu converts to Christianity.Activities in Nagaland and with Karen people
In 2007 Joseph D'souza and John Dayal, expressed sadness over the recent violence in NagalandNagaland
Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur...
and appealed to all sections of Naga society. He has also worked with a missionary Benedict Rogers working with the Karen people
Karen people
The Karen or Kayin people , are a Sino-Tibetan language speaking ethnic group which resides primarily in southern and southeastern Burma . The Karen make up approximately 7 percent of the total Burmese population of approximately 50 million people...
in Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
.
Controversy
The DFN hosted a conference entitled "Racism and Caste Based Discrimination in India: Implications for the US-India Relationship", where talks were given by activists Udit RajUdit Raj
Udit Raj was born in Ramnagar, Uttar Pradesh into a low caste Khatik Hindu family, and studied for BA at Allahabad University. He was selected for the Indian Revenue Service in 1988 and served as the Dy, Commissioner, Joint Commissioner and Addl. Commissioner of Income Tax at New Delhi...
and Kancha Ilaiah
Kancha Ilaiah
Kancha Ilaiah is an Indian activist and writer. His books include Why I am not a Hindu, God As Political Philosopher: Budha's challenge to Brahminism, A Hollow Shell, The State and Repressive Culture, Manatatwam , and Buffalo Nationalism: A Critique of Spiritual Fascism.- Bibliography :*Why I Am...
who have been accused of making statements that are biased against Hinduism.
The DFN and other similar NGOs have also been criticized by authors Crystal Hsu and PN Benjamin for working as "safe houses" for lobbyists engaged in destroying the cultural heritage of India. Hsu and Benjamin assert the DFN and other similar NGOs are using endemic problems with caste discrimination as a pretext to gain a foothold in Indian society that have increased social tensions without any meaningful benefit to the Dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
community. They have also criticized DFN for equating caste discrimination with racism.
Modern discrimination
Paramakudi RiotsParamakudi Riots
The beginning of the riots was at a road roko at Five Point Junction, Paramakudi on 10th September, 2011 demanding the release of Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader John Pandian who was on detention while heading to the town on the 54th death anniversary of Immanuvel Devendrar, a Dalit leader...
which occurred in Tamil Nadu on Sep 11 2011 is an evidence of a modern form of discrimination against Dalits.
See also
- Christianity in IndiaChristianity in IndiaChristianity is India's third-largest religion, with approximately 24 million followers, constituting 2.3% of India's population. The works of scholars and Eastern Christian writings and 14th century Portuguese missionaries created an illusion to convert Indians that Christianity was introduced to...
- Indian caste system
- Reservation in IndiaReservation in IndiaReservation in India is a form of affirmative action designed to improve the well being of socially backward and underrepresented communities of citizens in India. There are laws in place, wherein a certain percentage of total available slots in Jobs and Education are set aside for people from...
- VarnasVarnasVarnas is the masculine form of a Lithuanian family name. Its feminine forms are: Varnienė and Varnytė .The surname may refer to:* Adomas Varnas , Lithuanian artist...