Christian Missionary Role In India - 6

[Bharatvarsh]

An important part of examining xtian missionary work is to look at their role in the freedom movement, since the first xtian missions were set up here, almost all of them were supporters of colonialism and taught their flock to serve the Queen faithfully (no wonder then that there are no worthwhile xtian freedom fighters), some of the letter's written by these ignorant indian xtians to the Queen expressing their faithfulness to the British crown can be found in Shourie's book "Missionaries in India", here is a sample:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->To her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen by the Grace of God, Queen of Great Britain and Defender of the Faith

   We, native Christians of the Province of Tinnevelly, in the English dominions, who, by means of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, and the Church Missionary Society, have embraced the Christian religion, in number of 40,000 persons, persume to approach the feet of your Gracious Majesty, with all humility and reverence, presenting this humble memorial..... Incalculable are the benefits that have accrued to our country from the English rule... We have heard with much sorrow that there are in these times many of the kingdoms of Europe revolutions and sanguinary wars; but we have heard also, with the greatest joy, that in happy England peace and prosperity prevail... Surely then, we who enjoy these inestimable blessings, under a Christian Government, are, above all our fellow subjects, bound to acknowledge to Your Gracious Majesty our obligations to be at all times unfeignedly thankful for them; and we would also entreat, with the confidence and humility of children, that Your Majesty, agreeable to the words of Holy Writ, "Kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and queens thy nursing mothers," will graciously extend to us your care and protection...

(Pg 117-119, Missionaries in India by Arun Shourie)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I cut out many parts of the long letter, you can read the whole thing there in the book.

So we see that the Church had no qualms supporting imperialists who were exploiting Indians, that it brainwashed it's followers to do the same but now portrays itself as the champion of Dalits and women without any shame.

In contrast Hindu reform movements like Arya Samaj stood for complete independence from the British and spread the same ideology among their followers as that b@st@rd Valentine Chirol said.

It is interesting to note that the only minority which made any substantial contribution to the freedom movement was the Sikh community and to some extent the Parsis (Madame Cama and Dadabhai).