“Christian Education and Democracy in India” (PENPRINTS, 2024), edited by George Thadathil, SDB, an experienced educational administrator, philosopher and author, comes at a time when, on the one hand, Christians in general are being vilified, with physical attacks even on institutions like Schools, Colleges, Orphanages and Hospitals; and on the other, when Christian educational institutions are sought to be taken control of by government, in line with the NEP2020, although it is settled Constitutional Law that Minorities have the right to administer their own educational institutions. The Gujarat Government Resolution of 2021 for Schools is an indisputable example of this.
So, is this book relevant today? Is it just glorifying the past legacy of Christian education or is it pointing to the very crucial role it is playing in the making of democratic India with its goal of equality and freedom for all? It is clear that the authors point to Christian education as introducing values that have been the foundation of the entry of Indian society to the global community, allowing exchange and interaction on a position of mutual respect. At a time when there seems to be an attempted revival of traditional upper caste values which disrupt the democratic enterprise, the special contribution of Christian education in forming the conscience of the elite, while empowering the disadvantaged who form the vast majority of the Indian population, is even more crucial for India’s future. This book, many years in the making, presents valuable research to evaluate the continuing contribution of Christians to our country India.
Dr. Frazer Mascarenhas S.J.
You can buy a copy of Christian Education and Democracy in India from here Christian Education and Democracy in India edited by George Thadathil – PENPRINTS