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winds of change<br />

These new Dalit leaders realized that the only way for them<br />

to escape the oppression they were under was to quit the Hindu<br />

religion and its caste system. They sought to embrace faiths that<br />

gave them dignity and value and brought hope to their children.<br />

They wanted a religion that saw all human beings as equals.<br />

The turning point came on November 4, 2001. On that<br />

day, tens of thousands of Dalits gathered in Delhi for a historymaking<br />

meeting in which they publicly declared their desire to<br />

“quit Hinduism” and follow faiths of their own choosing. I was<br />

humbled to be invited to speak as one of the few representatives<br />

of the Church. The night spent in anticipation prior to the rally<br />

is one I will never forget.<br />

The streets were packed, though thousands were prevented from<br />

coming because of the upper-caste opposition. These people stopped<br />

Many Dalit leaders recognize that in order to break the bonds of caste, children will need<br />

more than just a good education; they will have to embrace a religion that views all humans<br />

as equals.<br />

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