Course Code: BTT13

Dalit Theology

BD IV, Semester I, 2 Credit Hours, College Paper

Course Objectives

1. To enable the students to understand the prevailing casteist social realities and caste oppression which operate at various levels.
2. To help the students to understand and engage with caste issues in their local communities and congregations.
3. To facilitate the students to understand the diverse experiences and struggles of Dalits and other subaltern communities at the interface of other forms of oppression and marginalization based on class, gender, and sexual orientation.
4. To challenge the students to engage in the process of democratizing our communities and society by participating in the struggles for eradicating caste.
5. To inspire the students to understand the emerging shifts in Indian Christian Theologies, and to enable the Church to become an active agent in the Dalit search to become new identities with dignity and agency.

Note

Students are expected to choose any one of the courses listed in TC 209.

Pedagogical Methods

The course will follow lecture and seminar format. It is highly recommended to organize a week-long immersion program in which the students and the instructor will stay in a Dalit village and learn from the communities/congregations there.

Course Requirements

• Final Examination 60%
• Internal Assessment 40%

Course Outline

1. Unit 1: Introduction to the Course and to Dalit Realities
   1. A journey into Dalit realities.
   2. Epistemology of Caste.
   3. Origin of the caste epistemology.
   4. Religious legitimization of casteism, Scriptural sanctioning of casteism.
2. Unit 2: Critical Analysis of Casteism and Dalit Encounter with Casteism
   1. Dalit encounters with casteism in different historical contexts: Phule, Ambedkar, Dalit Panther Movement, Mandal Commission, Dalit Identity Politics, Dalit Womanism.
   2. Dalit perspectives on capitalism, globalization, development, patriarchy, and ecological crisis.
   3. Subaltern social movements and their struggles for survival, agency, and new subjectivity.
3. Unit 3: Christianity, Indian Christian Theology, and Casteism: Emergence of Dalit Theology
   1. Dalits and Christianity: Church and Caste.
   2. Dalit critique of Indian Christian Theology.
   3. Dalit Theology in the formative years: Sources, epistemology, Methods, Methodological Exclusivism and Dalit Experience as Norm.
4. Unit 4: Contemporary Articulations of Dalit Theology
   1. Dalit perspectives on God, Theological anthropology, Jesus Christ, Pneumatology, Sin and Salvation, Eschatology, Ecclesiology, Mission and Ministry, Sacraments, Worship and Preaching, Spirituality, and Pastoral Care.
   2. Dalit hermeneutics.
5. Unit 5: Dalit Theology: A Subaltern Faith Movement in Search of New Subjectivity

Required Readings

• Ambedkar, B.R. Annihilation of Caste. Dalit Sahitya Academy, 1987.
• Arvind P. Nirmal, ed., A Reader in Dalit Theology (Madras: Gurukul, 2007).
• Sathianathan Clark, Dalits and Christianity: Subaltern Religions and Liberation Theology in India (New Delhi: OUP, 1998).
• Sathianathan Clark, Deenabandhu Manchala and Philip V. Peacock, eds., Dalit Theology in the 21st Century: Discordant Voices, Discerning Pathways (New Delhi: OUP, 2009).
• Peniel Rajkumar Rufos, Dalit Theology and Dalit Liberation: Problems, Paradigms, and Possibilities (London: Ashgate, 2010).
• V. Devasahayam, ed., Frontiers in Dalit Theology (Chennai: ISPCK/Gurukul, 1997).
• Y.T. Vinaya Raj, Re-imagining Dalit Theology (Thiruvalla: CSS, 2008).
• James Massey and Samson Prabhakar, eds., Frontiers in Dalit Hermeneutics (Delhi: BTESSC/SATHRI & CDS, 2005).

Suggested Readings

• Anand Teltumbde, Kherlanji’s Strange and Bitter Crop (Delhi: Navayana, 2008).
• Bama, Karukku, translated by Lakshmi Holmstrom (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2000).
• Bama, Sangathi, translated by Lakshmi Holmstrom (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2005).
• Omprakash Valmiki, Joothan: A Dalit’s Life (New York: Columbia University Press, 2003).
• P. Sivakami, The Grip of Change (Delhi: Orient Longman, 2006).
• Shivaram Karanth, Chomana Dudi, A feature film.
• D.R. Nagaraj, The Flaming Feet – A Study of the Dalit Movement (Bangalore: South Forum Press, 1993).
• Gail Omvedt, Dalit Visions (Hyderabad: Orient Longman, 2006).
• Kancha Ilaiyah, Why I am not a Hindu (Calcutta: Samya, 2000).
• Gopal Guru, ed., Atrophy in Dalit Politics (Mumbai: Vikas Adhyayan Kendra, 2005).
• S.M. Michael, ed., Dalits in Modern India: Vision and Values (New Delhi: Vistaar, 1999).
• Felix Wilfred, Dalit Empowerment (New Delhi: ISPCK, 2007).
• Gabriele Dietrich, A New Thing on Earth (Delhi: ISPCK, 2001).
• Uma Chakravarti, Gendering Caste (Calcutta: STREE, 2003).
• A.M. Abraham Ayrookuzhiyiel, Essays on Dalits, Religion and Liberation (Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation, 2006).
• Kancha Ilaiah, God as Political Philosopher (Calcutta: Samya, 2000).
• A. Maria Aral Raja, “Towards a Dalit Reading of the Bible: Some Hermeneutical Reflections,” Jeevadhara 26/151 (1996): 29-34.
• A. Maria Aral Raja, Breaking Hegemonic Boundaries, in Scripture, Community and Mission (Hong Kong: CCA, 2003).
• James Massey and Leonard Fernando, eds., Dalit World – Biblical World (Delhi: Vidyajyoti & CDS, 2005).
• K. Jesurathnam, “Towards a Dalit Liberative Hermeneutic: Re-reading the Psalms of Lament,” Bangalore Theological Forum 34/1 (June, 2002).
• Melanchthon, Monica. “Unleashing the Power Within: The Bible and Dalits,” in The Future of the Biblical Past, Semeia Studies Series, eds., Roland Boer and Fernando Segovia, Atlanta: SBL, 2010.
• Melanchthon, Monica. “Dalit Readers of the Word: The Quest for Hermeneutics and Method,” Frontiers in Dalit Hermeneutics, eds., James Massey and Samson Prabhakar, Bangalore/New Delhi: BTESSC/CDSS, 2005.
• Sathianathan Clarke, “Viewing the Bible through the Eyes and Ears of Subalterns in India,” Biblical Interpretation 10/3 (2002), 245-266.
• Surekha Nelavala, “My Story is Our Story: An Auto/biographical Feminist Reading of the Hemorrhaging Woman,” Gurukul Journal of Theological Studies 20/1 (January, 2009).
• Gopal Guru, “Understanding The Dalit Feminist Identity,” in Women of India; Colonial and Post-colonial Periods, edited by Bharati Ray (Delhi: Sage, 2005).
• Sharmila Rege, Writing Caste, Writing Gender: Reading Dalit Women’s Testimonies (Delhi: Zubaan, 2006).
• Evangeline Anderson-Rajkumar, “Politicizing Body: Towards a Feminist Christology,” AJT 8/2 (April, 2004).
• Aloysius, G. Nationalism without a Nation in India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1997.
• Anbukkarasai and Larbeer, Mohan, eds. Dalit Feminism, Madurai: Vidiyal, 1997.
• Clark, Sathianathan. Dalits and Christianity: Subaltern Religions and Liberation Theology in India. New Delhi: OUP, 1998.
• Devasahayam, N., ed. Dalit and Women: Quest for Humanity. Madras: Gurukul Summer Institute, 1992.
• Devasahayam, N., ed. Frontiers in Dalit Theology. Chennai: ISPCK/Gurukul, 1997.
• Eminent Contributors. Gender and Caste: Issues in Contemporary Indian Feminism. Delhi: Kali/Women Unlimited, 2005.
• Ganguly, Debjani. Caste and Dalit Lifeworlds: Postcolonial Perspectives. Delhi: Orient Longman, 2005.
• Gnanavaram, M. “Some Reflections on Dalit Hermeneutics.” In Frontiers of Dalit Theology. Edited by V. Devasahayam. Chennai/New Delhi: Gurukul/ISPCK, 1997.
• Jayshree, P.M. Dalit Human Rights Violations: Atrocities against Dalits in India. Vol. I. Chennai: National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, 2000.
• Jeyakumar, Samuel. Dalit Consciousness and Christian Conversion: Historical Resources for a Contemporary Debate. Delhi: ISPCK, 1999.
• Klass, Morton. Caste: The Emergence of the South Asian Social System. New Delhi: Manohar Press, 1980.
• K. A., Ipe. “Dalits and their Struggles: A Historical Perspective.” Faith Theological Review 6/2 (September, 2003): 7-22.
• Mahendra, Shivraj. “The Church Reimagined: Toward a Church for the Dalits” New Life Theological Journal, 3.1, Jan-June, 2013.
• Massey, James. Towards a Dalit Hermeneutics: Rereading the Text, the History and the Literature. Delhi: ISPCK, 1994.
• Michael, S.M., ed. Dalits in Modern India: Vision and Values. New Delhi: Vistaar, 1999.
• Narala, Smita. Broken People: Caste Violence against India’s “Untouchables”. New York: Human Rights Watch.
• Nimbalkar. Woman Dalit Literature: Nature and Role. Nagpur: Prabodhan Prabhakar, 2006.
• Nirmal, Arvind P., ed. Towards a Common Dalit Ideology. Madras: Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, 1990.
• Nirmal, Arvind P., ed. A Reader in Dalit Theology. Madras: Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, 1990.
• Omvedt, Gail. Dalit Visions. Hyderabad: Orient Longman, 2006.
• Omvedt, Gail. Dalits and the Democratic Revolution: Dr. Ambedkar and the Dalit Movement in Colonial India. New Delhi: Sage Publications, 1994.
• Prabhakar, M.E., ed. Towards a Dalit Theology. Bangalore: CISRS, 1988.
• Praveen PS, Perumalla. “Camouflaged Dalithood: Telangana Experience and the Churches’ Mission to Strive to Sustain, Renew and Safeguard the Integrity of Creation.” In Peniel Rajkumar, Joseph Prabhakar Dayam, L.R. Asheervadam (eds.). Mission At and From the Margins: Patterns, Protagonists and Perspectives (Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2014) pp. 97-109.
• Praveen PS, Perumalla. “Dalit Vision for Transforming Social Relationships through Telangana Struggles and Mutual Interactions between the Subalterns: Challenges to Build Solidarity among Contextual Liberation Theologies.” In Chungi, Hrangthan, Raj Bharath Patta and P. Mohan Larbeer (eds) Building Theologies of Solidarity: Interfacing Feminist Theology with Dalit Theology and Tribal/Ädivasi Theologies (Bangalore: BTESSC, NCCI, SCMI, 2012), pp. 1-5.
• Praveen PS, Perumalla. “Land Struggles and the Indian National Movement: Adivasi and Dalit Experiences,” in Éapen, Viji Varghese and P. Mohan Larbeer (ed) Kairos-Palestine: An Indian Reflection (Bangalore: BTESSC, 2012), pp. 120-131.
• Praveen PS, Perumalla. “The Million March 2011 and The Telangana Movement” in Rajkumar, Vincent (ed) Theologizing in India Today: Interpreting the Signs of Time (Bangalore: CISRS, 2012), pp. 30-38.
• Praveen PS, Perumalla. “Christian Dalit Identity Denied.” Patil, R.R. and James Dabhi (eds.) Dalit Christians in India (New Delhi: Manak Publications Pvt. Ltd., 2010), pp. 179-193.
• Praveen PS, Perumalla. “Dalit Liberation Sunday.” in Rew T.I. James (ed), Theopneustos (Chennai: CSI, 2013), pp. 249-252.
• Praveen PS, Perumalla. “Land and Caste from Dalit Perspective,” In Sacred Perspectives Journal of Culture and Religion (Chennai: Sacred Heart Seminary, March-August 2012) Vol. 2, Issue 1, pp. 44-54.
• Praveen PS, Perumalla. “Land, Livelihood and Legitimacy: Inclusive Exclusion, Violence of Legitimacy.” In Zachariah, George (ed) Gurukul Journal of Theological Studies (Chennai: Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, June 2010), Vol. XXI, No. 2, pp. 79-87.
• Rajshekar, V.T. Dalit: the Black Untouchables of India [original ed. Apartheid in India] Atlanta: Clarity, 1987.
• Robinson, Gnana, ed. Religion of the Marginalized: Towards a Phenomenology and Mythology of Study. Bangalore: UTC, 1998.
• Samuel, Simón. “Two Novels and a Sacred Story: Re-Imagining the Symbolic Universe and Meaning System of the Marginalia,” in a forthcoming book Theology for a New Community: Symbolic Universe and Meaning Systems: A Probe into Dalit Consciousness (eds.) T.K. John, Sj and James Massey, (New Delhi: Center for Dalit/Subaltern Studies, 2012).
• Stanislaus, L. The Liberative Mission of the Church among the Dalit Christians. Delhi: ISPCK, 1999.
• Srinivas, M.N., ed. Caste, its Twentieth Century Avatar. New Delhi: Viking, 1996.
• Vashum, Yangkahao. Dalit-Tribal Adivasi Theological Interface – Towards Justice and Peace (New Delhi: Centre for Dalit Studies, 2011). Co-edited with Monodeep Daniel.
• Victus, Solomon. “Healing the Memory: Dalit Experience in the Midst of the Experience of Victims around the World” in Gurukul Journal of Theological Studies, Chennai: Gurukul Theological College & Research Institute, Vol. XXIV, Nos. 1&2, Jan-June, 2013.
• Victus, Solomon. “Dalits, Development and Ecology” Gandhi Marg, New Delhi, Vol. 19, No. 2. July-Sept. 1997.
• Vinayaraj, Y.T. Re-visiting the Other: Discourses on Postmodern Theology (Tiruvalla: CSS, 2008).
• Vinayaraj, Y.T. Intercessions: Theology, Liturgy, and Politics (Delhi: ISPCK, 2015).
• Vinayaraj, Y.T. “God and the Other: Re-locating Mission in the Context of Margins,” in Intercessions: Theology, Liturgy and Politics (Delhi: ISPCK, 2015), 86-117.
• Wilson, K. The Twice Alienated: Culture of Dalit Christians. Hyderabad: Booklinks, 1982.
• Zelliot, Eleanor. From Untouchable to Dalit: Essays on the Ambedkar Movement. New Delhi: Manohar Press, 1998.