The Identity Struggle of Dalit Christians

Today identities are no more considered as given but are the processes of social construction and reconstruction. The Dalits Struggle for the identity is a process of deconstructing and an attempt to reconstruct a new identity as individuals. The waves of deconstruction and reconstruction of the 'identity' particularly by the Dalits are very active not only in the secular fields but also in the Christian circles. It is a struggle to regain a new identity as individuals created in the image of God, called to be in fellowship of the redeemed. This book makes a thorough study of the identity struggle of Dalit Christians of the CSI Karimnagar Diocese (Telangana, India) which is the most distinctive feature of Dalit experience for the Dalit Christians. The context and experience of the people are crucial for an authentic Christian Ministry and Christian Education and it will enable the Church to deliberately participate in God's Mission in the world and lead its members to experience integral liberative transformation. It asserts 'Life Affirming Pedagogy' as an alternative educational methodology which empowers the members to practice the freedom and to think, reflect and engage critically and creatively with reality and discover possible ways and means of participating in the experiencing transformation of both individuals and the structures.