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esearch on <strong>the</strong> socio-religious identities <strong>of</strong> Indian communities has increased,<br />

probably due to <strong>the</strong> rise <strong>of</strong> religious militancy and its impact on politics. James<br />

Massey 7 and Sathianathan Clarke 8 both deal with <strong>the</strong> socio-religious identity <strong>of</strong><br />

Christians in India, with a particular focus on <strong>the</strong> identity <strong>of</strong> Dalit Christianity.<br />

While Massey deals with <strong>the</strong> basic question <strong>of</strong> Christian Dalit identity within its<br />

historical background, Clarke discusses Dalit identity from a subaltern<br />

perspective.<br />

As has been mentioned in chapter one, some states in India have recently<br />

introduced an anti-conversion law, and o<strong>the</strong>rs have revised <strong>the</strong>ir law <strong>of</strong> freedom <strong>of</strong><br />

religion. In this context, religious identity is a significant issue for discussion.<br />

Sebastian Kim’s In Search <strong>of</strong> Identity 9 is a significant source in this regard. He<br />

discusses <strong>the</strong> issue <strong>of</strong> religious conversion within <strong>the</strong> larger situation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> search<br />

for identity, and examines <strong>the</strong> major debates on conversion between Hindus and<br />

Christians, and among Christian <strong>the</strong>ologians in post-independent India, with <strong>the</strong><br />

aim <strong>of</strong> tracing trends in <strong>the</strong>ological and ideological interpretations <strong>of</strong> conversion<br />

from both <strong>the</strong> Hindu and Christian points <strong>of</strong> view. He also examines <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>mes <strong>of</strong><br />

‘human rights’ and ‘tolerance’ from both perspectives. Kim identifies that more<br />

than socio-political factors, religious dynamics are <strong>the</strong> key to identity quest in<br />

7<br />

James Massey, Dalits in India: Religion as a Source <strong>of</strong> Bondage or Liberation with Special<br />

Reference to Christians (Delhi: Manohar Publishers, 1995).<br />

8<br />

Sathianathan Clarke, Dalits and Christianity: Subaltern Religion and Liberation Theology in<br />

India (New Delhi: OUP, 1999).<br />

9<br />

Sebastian C.H. Kim, In Search <strong>of</strong> Identity: Debates on Religious Conversion in India (New<br />

Delhi: Oxford, 2003).<br />

46

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