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Dalit Christians from Kottapalayam village in Tamil Nadu’s Trichy held a symbolic protest on Tuesday, July 22, alleging caste-based exclusion by dominant caste Christians at the century-old St Mary Magdalene Church. The protest took place on the 12th and final day of the church’s annual festival, which the Dalit Christians had boycotted. The protesters also raised black flags and submitted a petition at the Tiruchirapalli District Collector’s office.
“They don’t collect tax because we are Dalits. They have two different graveyards for Dalits and caste Christians, that shouldn’t exist,” said Mark, a parishioner. His words were echoed by Manickam, another protester who pointed out that the case is still ongoing in the court, but the discrimination remains unaddressed.
The protesters alleged that they weren’t allowed participation in organising church festivals and were barred from paying subscription fees, which would allow them voting and decision-making rights within the parish. “We are asked to make one-time donations instead,” they said. The refusal to accept regular subscriptions, they argued, was a tactic to deny them equal voice in church administration.
In an act of solidarity, Bishop Jeevanandam Amalanathan of the Kumbakonam diocese announced he would boycott the chariot procession, stating that caste discrimination continues to plague the parish and that dominant caste Christians remain stubborn in denying equal rights.
This protest is not an isolated incident. It is the continuation of a decades-long struggle by Dalit Christians in Kottapalayam and other parts of Tamil Nadu against casteism within the Church. In 2014, Dalit Christians from the village approached the Thuraiyur Munsif Court seeking access to the common Christian cemetery, after dominant caste Reddiar Christians constructed a wall blocking their entry. Though a court ruling instructed shared access, the wall remains, and segregation continues.
The St Mary Magdalene Church in Kottapalayam, under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kumbakonam, traces its origins back to the 16th century Jesuit missions. Today, despite all parishioners being Catholic Christians, the community is split along caste lines, with Dalit Christians fighting for access to burial grounds, festival roles, and decision-making bodies like the parish council.
In an earlier ground report by TNM, Dalit Christians revealed how separate graveyards, exclusion from festivals, denial of funeral processions inside the church, and casteist abuse have continued unabated. The dominant caste Christians even reportedly rejected a priest, Fr Charles Karunambaram, who spoke out against discrimination, forcing him out of the village.
“Once we pay a subscription, we get the right to question their decisions. That’s exactly why they are not allowing us to pay it,” a parishioner told TNM earlier.
The church's chariot, part of the festival’s processions, reportedly does not enter Dalit streets, despite seven cars being run during the celebrations.
In February 2024, the Supreme Court of India agreed to hear a plea filed by Dalit Christians from Kottapalayam, challenging their exclusion from church administration and access to burial grounds. The petition argued that discrimination persisted even after religious conversion, and sought recognition of caste-based exclusion as a constitutional issue, not a private dispute.
Despite this, the district administration has yet to act decisively, and Dalit Christians now demand the formation of a representative parish council, equal festival participation, and legal action against those responsible for caste-based discrimination.
