I am a Syrian Catholic Christian from India whose lineage goes way back to generations of Christian ancestors who were all true Indians. This is one reason why I find myself a bit taken aback whenever people presume that Christianity reached India only under the British Raj.
Christianity in India
One thing many people across the world assume is that Christianity reached India during British colonialism. The belief is so deeply rooted that Christianity in India is often casually spoken of as a religion brought by the “Angrez Sarkar.”
However, history shows a completely different picture.
India Knew Christianity Centuries Before the Western World
It is said that the Christian religion in India existed for about 2000 years. It is a well-known Christian belief in India that St. Thomas, who was one of the Twelve Disciples of Jesus Christ, came to India in AD 52. It is believed that he arrived in Kerala through ancient trade routes and began spreading Christianity here centuries before many Western nations themselves became Christian.
This changes the entire perception many people have about Christianity in India.
The Significance of Kerala in Indian Christianity
Kerala occupies a prominent place in Indian Christian history. It is believed that Saint Thomas landed on the Malabar Coast of Kerala in AD 52 via ancient trade routes. It is believed that he preached Christianity here and established some of the earliest Christian communities in India.
Because of this, Kerala is often considered the cradle of Indian Christianity. The Christian communities in this region are amongst the most ancient communities in the world, except in the Middle East.
Several Christian communities in South India trace their ancestry, traditions, and faith practices back to St. Thomas himself. Syrian Christian traditions in Kerala are often associated with this ancient origin.
Who Are Syrian Christians of Kerala?
Syrian Christians in Kerala are ancient Christian communities who trace their spiritual roots back to St. Thomas the Apostle. The word “Syrian” does not mean they are immigrants from modern-day Syria. It mainly refers to the Syriac liturgical traditions and language historically used in worship and church practices.
Over centuries, these communities of Christians have become an integral part of the cultural and social fabric of Kerala while retaining the old Christian traditions and practices.
This is how the Syrian Christians of Kerala have come to regard themselves as deeply Indian as well as deeply Christian, with their presence in the land dating back almost 2000 years.
And this also points to one important fact.
Indian by Roots, Christian by Faith
Indians of Christian faith cannot be considered foreigners to this country or any other type of immigrants who settled here. They are Indians by birth who have an Indian identity that is associated with India and nothing else.
India has always been a nation where various forms of faith, religion, and traditions flourished side by side. The story of Christians in India can further serve as evidence about the rich and ancient spiritual culture of this nation.
Christianity Does Not Belong to the West Alone
It’s high time the West stopped seeing Christianity as something that belongs only to them or as a religion they introduced to others. Christianity reached places like India centuries before many Western nations themselves became Christian. It doesn’t belong to any particular race, nation, or civilization.
India Belongs to All
India belongs to all of us. People with different religions, cultures, languages, and customs have been living in harmony here since ages past.. That is the true identity of India.
Indian Christians are not outsiders to this land. Their roots, culture, and history are deeply Indian. Faith may differ, but their identity remains Indian. No single community can claim ownership over India because India was never built for one faith alone. It belongs equally to everyone who calls this land home.