The Future of Christian Mission in India by Fr Augustine Kanjamala which recently released in the US has stirred up quite a hornet's nest in the church even before its release here. Yogesh Pawar spoke to the priest about some of the contentious points he raises about conversion, exclusivism and the question mark he puts on the very relevance of the Christian mission. Excerpts

You say in the introduction to your book that the Christian mission in India is not relevant any more.Yes. The Christian mission has been a complete failure both in India and across the world. The traditional concept of the Christian mission is just not relevant any more, definitely not in Asia at least given the ground realities. After nearly three to four centuries of Christian Faith arriving in Asia less than 3% of the population has accepted it. After so much time, money and effort as many as 97% of the population has rejected the concept of Christianity.

Aren't you worried taking this kind of stand since you are yourself a part of the clergy? Did you get your work vetted before publication?Why should I? I am merely making a logical argument. Asking the mission to introspect and correct itself cannot be wrong. As for asking anyone to whet my work, I don't think that is necessary according to rules.

Are you discounting the good work that the church has done?I am not saying that. My book argues that thought it has failed spectacularly quantitatively, qualitatively it has achieved a lot. And I am not merely talking only about institutions created for healthcare and education but also about a more fundamental Hindu mindset change. This led to socials changes like the rejection of socially ill practices like sati, child marriage and castration of young children. The religious identity many marginalised caste and community groups found with Christianity, has helped them find a voice to question their oppression and exploitation and assert themselves.

But has the church really been successful in breaking caste? In Kerala, your own state, you have seen many denominations keeping with caste hierarchy.How can you say that when 2/3rd of those who converted come from Dalits and tribals?

But even within the church and within the clergy why do we then see that its not these 2/3rd but the 1/3rd from the upper castes who wield significant influence?There are some tendencies like that, I agree. But you cannot take away from the act those from the Dalits and tribals who converted are doing better socially and in terms of quality of life, than those who didn't.

Since there is such a hullabaloo over conversions right now, what is your take on conversions which are incentivsed – financially and otherwise?See I know historically there have been some human rights' excesses committed in the name of conversions during the Portuguese rule and some of these new-fangled churches try to use the aggression of marketing companies when they reach out to people for conversions. That is bringing bad name to the entire community. This is especially unfair given the good work that the Roman Catholic Church has done in India both in healthcare and education.

Would you agree that some of the problems are also to do with the exclusivism that the church propagates?You know when I was secretary of Bishop's conference we conducted survey of over 15,000 nuns, priests and members of the laity to find out what they felt about this. A whopping 85% of them said that irrespective of their religion, if people lead a life of conscience, then salvation will be available to them as well. Only 15% even in the Catholic church held on to the traditional belief that only Christ could lead to salvation. The church is changing its ideas too. It now believes that it should evangelise and civilise simultaneously.

Also Read: Malaysia-based academic Iain Buchanan blows the lid off a subject that most scholars and journalists tend to shy away from: the rise of US evangelism as a force in global affairs.