Bengaluru, September 26, 2025
In a pointed rebuke to the escalating caste census controversy in Karnataka, Archbishop Peter Machado of Bengaluru declared Friday that "caste distinctions are not part of the Christian faith," urging the state's Christian community to reject divisions rooted in the Hindu social hierarchy. The statement, delivered during a press conference at the Archbishop's House, comes amid a heated row over a proposed statewide survey on caste demographics—a move that has pitted political parties, social activists, and religious leaders against one another. As the survey, mandated by a Supreme Court directive and set to commence in early October, threatens to upend affirmative action quotas, Machado's intervention has ignited fresh debates on religious identity, conversion politics, and the persistence of caste among India's Christian minorities.
The archbishop's remarks underscore a long-simmering tension within Karnataka's Christian community, where historical conversions from marginalized castes have not fully erased social stratification. "Christianity teaches equality before God—there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, Dalit nor Brahmin," Machado emphasized, quoting Galatians 3:28. He called for an end to "caste-based reservations within the church," arguing that such practices undermine the gospel's core message of universal brotherhood. The comments, first reported by Deccan Herald, have drawn mixed reactions: applause from progressive theologians and accusations of naivety from Dalit Christian activists who view caste as an indelible socio-economic scar.
The Spark: Karnataka's Caste Survey and Christian Quandary
Karnataka's caste enumeration drive, announced last month by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Congress-led government, aims to collect granular data on over 5,000 castes and sub-castes across the state's 6.1 crore population. Proponents hail it as a tool for evidence-based welfare, potentially reshaping the 50% reservation cap in education and jobs. Critics, including the opposition BJP, decry it as a divisive ploy ahead of the 2028 assembly polls, warning of "social engineering" that could fragment communities.
For Christians—numbering about 11.5 lakh in Karnataka (1.9% of the population, per 2011 Census)—the survey poses a unique dilemma. Article 341 of the Indian Constitution bars Scheduled Castes (SCs) who convert to Christianity or Islam from accessing SC quotas, relegating them to the general category despite enduring discrimination. This "anti-conversion penalty," as activists term it, has fueled demands for inclusion under a separate "Dalit Christian" quota. The survey's inclusion of religious minorities has amplified these calls, with community leaders pressing for self-declaration of caste origins to capture the "invisible" persistence of untouchability in church pews.
Enter Archbishop Machado, a veteran prelate appointed in 2018 with a reputation for social justice advocacy. Speaking to reporters amid drizzling monsoon rains outside his St. Francis Xavier Cathedral office, he framed the survey as an opportunity for introspection. "We must report our true socio-economic status, not hide behind caste labels that Christianity rejects," he said. "The church has no room for such distinctions; they are a colonial hangover and a betrayal of our faith." Machado, who hails from a Goan Catholic family, referenced the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India's 2023 pastoral letter urging unity against casteism, adding that parishes should prioritize merit-based aid over caste affiliations.
Backlash and Backstory: Dalit Christians Push Back
The archbishop's stance has not gone unchallenged. Dalit Christian outfits like the Karnataka Dalit Christian and Muslim Development Association (KDCMDA) labeled it "elitist detachment," arguing that ignoring caste realities ignores lived hardships. "Conversion didn't erase our scars—landlessness, manual scavenging, temple entry bans persist in Christian villages," said KDCMDA president J. Robert Chelliah, whose group petitioned the state for survey exemptions. "If the church truly rejects caste, why do upper-caste priests dominate bishoprics, and why do Dalit converts fundraise separately?"
This friction traces back to the 19th-century missionary era, when British evangelists targeted lower castes in Karnataka's coastal and Mysore regions, promising liberation from Brahminical oppression. Today, over 70% of Karnataka's Christians trace Dalit or backward-caste roots, per a 2022 Pew Research study, yet church leadership remains skewed toward Syrian Christian or upper-caste migrants. The 2008 Sachar Committee report highlighted this anomaly, noting Christian Dalits earn 20-30% less than Hindu SCs due to quota exclusion, fueling a brain drain to Kerala or abroad.
Politically, the row dovetails with broader maneuvers. The BJP, which rules nationally, has historically opposed Christian reservations, viewing them as a Congress sop to minorities. In July, Union Minister Amit Shah reiterated that "religion-based quotas dilute SC benefits." Conversely, Congress MP D.K. Suresh tweeted support for Machado, calling it a "bold step toward true secularism." On X (formerly Twitter), reactions ranged from sarcastic jabs—"Good. I assume converts from lower castes will be happy to give up their quotas, then?" by user @orsoraggiante—to endorsements from interfaith forums.
Broader Implications: A Test for Faith and Federalism
Machado's intervention arrives as similar surveys roll out in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, where Christian communities grapple with analogous issues. In Telangana, a 2024 high court ruling mandated Dalit Christian inclusion, setting a precedent Karnataka activists eye hungrily. Nationally, the All India Catholic Union plans a conclave in Delhi next month to harmonize responses, with Machado tipped as a keynote speaker.
Yet, experts warn of unintended fallout. Sociologist Satish Deshpande of Delhi University noted, "By disavowing caste, the church risks alienating its base, just as the survey could expose intra-faith inequalities." Economically, a comprehensive census might unlock targeted schemes—Karnataka's ₹16,000 crore backward classes budget could expand if data reveals Christian poverty rates mirroring SC/STs (around 40%).
As enumeration teams fan out with 1,200 questions per household, Archbishop Machado's words hang heavy. "Let the survey be a mirror, not a weapon," he concluded. In a state where faith and caste intertwine like the Tungabhadra's tributaries, his call for doctrinal purity challenges not just Christians, but India's fractured quest for equity. With the October deadline looming, Bengaluru's faithful—and foes—watch closely, wondering if theology can trump tradition.
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