a contextual missiology of the spirit - eTheses Repository ...

and the way of life in the direction of a high and frequently “twice-born caste.”’ 13
S. Selvam states that the ideas of sanskritization ‘are part of the ideology of
Brahmanism.’ 14 Srinivas claims that sanskritization is not confined to Hindu
castes, but also occurs among the tribes, and consequently the tribe undergoing
the process claiming to be caste, and therefore Hindu. 15 However, the Indian
Christian theologian Ashish Chrispal concludes that although the sanskritization
project claims to be a natural, voluntary process, in reality it is fostered and
manipulated by the Hindutva ideology. 16 Srinivas’ observation supports this
conclusion, as he admits that in the traditional system the only way to become a
Hindu was to belong to a caste, and the mobility was usually related to a group,
not an individual or a family. 17 Therefore, by sanskritization the status of many
tribal communities has changed from being a tribe to becoming a caste to be
included in the social ladder of the caste system so that becomes Hindus. 18
2.1.2. A Missiological Issue
Various scholars have explored the identity of the Indian church. 19 In the face of
contemporary challenges from Hindutva ideology and the resultant religious
militancy, the church in India is very aware of the need to investigate the
13 M.N. Srinivas, Social Change in Modern India (Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of
California Press, 1966), 6.
14 S. Selvam, ‘Representing Hinduism,’ in Untouchable: Dalits in Modern India, ed. S.M. Michael
(London: Lynne Rienner, 1999), 81.
15 Srinivas, Social Change, 7. Tribes in India are not generally counted as castes, but are
considered Scheduled Tribes (ST).
16 Chrispal, ‘Sanskritisation,’ 76. The concept of Hindutva ideology will be discussed in detail in
chapter four.
17 Srinivas, Social Change, 7.
18 According to the caste system of India social order, tribes are not included as castes, but they are
treated as Other Backward Tribes (OBT).
19 For example, Hedlund, Quest for Identity; Hedlund, Christianity is Indian; F. Hrangkhuma, ed.,
Christianity in India: Search for Liberation and Identity (Pune/Delhi, India: CMS/ISPCK, 1998);
Snaitang, Churches of Indigenous Origins.
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