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Central government eventually intervened. An experienced Pentecostal leader in
Rajasthan lamented in a leaders meeting 12 that if such a bad thing happened to a
well-established institution, no Christian organization has a future. However,
some local leaders argue that there is no reason to run away from the situation,
because the Constitution of India allows the freedom to believe and practise any
religion, and the minority status of Pentecostals does not undermine their status as
Indian citizens. Therefore, they argue that Pentecostals have to stand firm as
Indian citizens, and as part of the Rajasthan community, and should resist their
minority complex. Another leader quoted C.V. Mathew’s suggestions for an
action plan for the Christian Church in India in the context of Hindutva and
religious nationalism. Mathew recommended that Christians should be ‘concerned
about human rights’ and ‘avoid the narrow agenda of “Minority Rights.” Let the
latter be the expression of the magnanimity of the majority community and not the
obsession of a fear-stricken minority.’ 13
4.1.4. Minority Pentecostals as Nation Builders
Although Pentecostals are a tiny minority in Rajasthan they, along with other
Christians, are part of the Indian nationalism. Despite the fact that Christianity in
India has many eastern traditions regarding its origin, Christians are unfortunately
identified with the western colonizers. The place of Christians in the making of
the nation is very evident even from the time of independence. A number of
12 A meeting of Charismatic Christian leaders took place on the 6 th May 2006 in Jaipur, the capital
city of Rajasthan. I was present at the meeting.
13 C.V. Mathew, ‘Hindutva: Majority Religious Nationalism in India,’ in Mission in Context:
Missiological Reflections, ed. C.V. Mathew (Chennai/Delhi, India: MIIS/ISPCK, 2003), 237.
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