TRUTHSEEKERS FOOTWASHING RALLIES
NOVEMBER 18-26, 2010


I’m back from India--and where to begin to tell about all that I saw, experienced, and learned! As one of our leaders said, it was like taking a drink from a fire hose! The amount of input was so enormous that I’m still trying to process both the information and the emotional responses that were called out of me during our week in Delhi. I think the best way to capture all of this here, in my blog post, is to let my thoughts flow freely and to write down whatever comes to mind as I recall everything that struck me on this incredibly powerful mission trip:

India Today: India is a country of both shining accomplishments and acute suffering. Politically, it is a democracy, but practically speaking, literally millions of its people (the lower castes, Dalits (“untouchables”), and other tribal groups) have suffered and labored under “divinely” sanctioned slavery for over 3000 years.

The Caste System: You probably learned about this in school. Hindus believe in a system of almost endless reincarnation, and that the level or station you are living in now is a result of the way you lived your past life--even if that station is child prostitution or slave labor. It is your divine fate. Therefore you deserve what you are experiencing in your present situation, and there is very little sympathy or desire to help and change the conditions in which people find themselves. Unfortunately, the upper castes only comprise about 10% of the Indian population. The rest of India is Shudra/”Other Backward Castes” (OBC) or outcastes (Dalits, people in religions other than Hinduism, tribal groups, etc.). In 1948, India became a democratic nation with a constitution. The claim is that the caste system no longer exists, and that huge strides are being made for social reform and to help the poor of this huge nation. But as Braj (one of the Truthseeker staff) explained to us, “The caste system is continually reinventing itself!” It is still very much in force, continuing to oppress millions of Indians today in subtle, insidious ways that are almost impossible for us in the West to detect, comprehend, imagine, or understand.


We certainly saw the disturbing, destructive effects of this evil system. We were with “the poorest of the poor” during our week in India. We experienced firsthand the harsh conditions that so many Indians live under, the hard existence they are forced to endure, the extreme physical, mental, and emotional state of these beautiful, gracious people, and the hopelessness that is present in the miserable jobs, routines, and cultural systems that dictate their daily lives. It was heartbreaking. It quickly highlighted to me the things that are truly important in life, and how petty and trivial so many of our issues and self-centered concerns are here at home in the USA, with all of our affluence, comforts, and individualistic well-being.

Truthseekers: Tradition has it that the apostle Thomas brought Christianity to India. Christian outreach has been going on in India since the days of William Carey, and Christianity has grown--even in the face of persecution, which continues today. The bulk of these efforts have been toward the Dalits, tribal groups, and to a lesser degree the higher castes (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Baniyas). However, the largest single group in India is the nearly 700 million members of the Shudra/OBCs. They have been considered unreachable; so locked into the caste system that they are beyond help.


Enter Sunil Sardar, the founder of the modern day “Truthseekers International.” Sunil believes that God has already made Himself known to the OBCs, much as God made Himself known to the Athenians as recounted in Acts 17. A native of central India, a Dalit, a third generation Christian, with decades of pastoral, church planting, and social activist ministry, Sunil has discovered monotheistic, pre-Christian, and even Christian roots within OBC beliefs and traditions! It centers around “Baliraja,” a sacrificed king who was righteous and benevolent, identified himself with his Shudra/OBC people, and strove to bring peace and prosperity to them. However, through the treachery of another god, he was put to death, so for centuries the people have waited and yearned for Baliraja’s return, when he will bring justice to all the oppressed. Do you see all the elements of the Christ story here?! There is also a type of “communion” (using coconuts as the elements) and “baptism” for washing away sin (in the Ganges River) in these ancient beliefs and traditions.

Sunil has taken up the mantle of the 19th century reformer, Mahatma Jotirao Phule, who is known as the “Martin Luther of India.” Phule founded the original Truthseekers Society in the late 1800’s to push for spiritual and social reform in India, and he is revered throughout the nation. He sought nothing less than spiritual, mental, social, economic, educational, and physical freedom for India’s slaves (the OBC’s, Dalits, and tribals). The story of Phule’s life, passion, activism, and unceasing efforts to advocate for the poor castes of India is so stirring, so noble, and so captivating that it would make a compelling, blockbuster movie! He called upon Indians to abandon the polytheistic system of oppression that had been imposed on them and to embrace Mahadeva, the Most High God, Jesus Christ! Sunil reestablished Truthseekers to complete what Phule started, so wherever he goes, wherever he speaks, Sunil proclaims to the people that the Baliraja they have been waiting for all these years has already come--and He is Jesus Christ! “Baliraja Yeshua!” Sunil describes how this Savior loves everyone, how there is no caste, no higher or lower levels of humanity, no greater or lesser people--all are accepted, embraced, and treated equally by Baliraja Yeshua. Sunil tells of the transformation and healing this Savior brings into people’s lives and into their relationships through reconciliation (a word that does not exist in the Hindi language!). Most of the people have never heard these radical ideas before. It is indeed “gospel” (“good news”) to them! As you can imagine, this message creates much excitement, conversation, hope--and many conversions.

This is where the footwashing comes in. Several years ago, Sunil and the Truthseekers team discovered that holding public rallies where the message of Christ is not just proclaimed but demonstrated by Westerners kneeling and washing the feet of India’s oppressed men, women, and children is a powerful tool for spreading the message of spiritual and social freedom in Christ. Sunil describes to the crowd at the footwashing rallies how Baliraja Yeshua demonstrated His love, compassion, and service to all people by washing the feet of those who were followers of Him. Since “no servant is greater than his Master” (John 13:16), this act of humility, equality, and service is what the Truthseekers team would like to offer to everyone gathered there. The eldest members of the community are invited to come first, and the effect of Americans (who are considered by most Indians as being from the highest caste of all) touching the feet of these “untouchables” is astounding! For most, it is the first time they have ever been touched by someone they consider to be from a higher caste. Sometimes the people would touch our heads as we knelt before them, washing and drying their hard, calloused feet. Many would embrace us afterwards, delighting in this human contact and connection that they have not known or experienced before. Quite different for people who are accustomed to being “touched” by upper caste persons only when they are struck or pushed aside!


Sunil also challenges the people at the rallies to cut off their red wrist bands to proclaim their desire to be free of the oppression of caste. These red bracelets are tied onto the people by the Brahmin priests, and everyone believes they are a blessing and a means of protection. However, Sunil lets the people know that the bands are actually a curse, binding them to the hurtful beliefs and structures and gods of Hinduism, keeping them in their place of servant duty and exploitation in the caste system. Because the words are recited in Sanskrit, and only Brahmin people are permitted to learn this language, the people have no idea what is really being done to them. When people come forward at the rallies and have these red wrist bands cut off, they are making a significant public decision to renounce all of this. Of course, there are huge implications in doing this.

During our week in India, our team of 27 participated in three footwashing rallies: one in a poor urban neighborhood in the city of Lucknow, one in a shepherd caste community, and one in a scavenger community--where the people are the garbage collectors of Delhi and literally live at the dump. (See my photo album for more about these rallies: photos) I also visited a school started two years ago by a Truthseekers member for Muslim gypsy children who, because they are not even in a caste, have no legal standing, no documentation, and therefore no access to even the most basic government services. Deshpande was appalled at the blatant discrimination that was happening to these people, and so with very few resources at his disposal, he hired two teachers, built a flimsy tent structure, and started the school. Today there are more than 80 children enrolled here! Deshpande has also been able to rent a nearby building for the students to meet in, so now the school has a roof, a lock, and a toilet!


For just one day on our trip, we were totally “tourists” and traveled to Agra to see the Taj Mahal--a place I have always dreamed of visiting. This amazing, exotic, exquisite, ancient piece of architecture continues to be one of the “7 Wonders of the World,” and it is easy to see why. The entire Taj Mahal complex is perfectly balanced, orderly, beautifully landscaped, and the artistic craftsmanship of the Taj itself, built entirely of marble, is truly breathtaking. Unfortunately, the day we visited, it rained--up until the time we began our tour! At least we did not have to endure getting drenched... However, it remained cloudy and overcast throughout our time there, so we were not able to see the Taj in all its translucent beauty against a blue sky and enjoy the colorful splendor of the enormous gardens and reflection pools surrounding the complex. When I travel to India next time, I certainly plan to return here when I can appreciate this historical Indian treasure even more.

A few more things that I learned while in India:

•Ghandi is not revered by everyone in India! His approach to social and political reform in India did nothing to help the OBCs and Dalits, who, again, make up well over half of India’s population, and so Ghandi is not held in high esteem by them.

•Truthseekers is a movement, not a strategy or a system. “To make Baliraja Yeshua known!” This is the purpose and goal of Truthseekers. And to do this, they must remain flexible. Many Indian Christians are caught in “religion”--do’s and don’ts, keeping Christianity clean and neat and orderly and “true”--but Christianity is dirty and messy! Following Jesus is never nice and clean and orderly.

•There are no preconditions in Truthseekers; just people coming together around the common cause of social reform and justice--and seeing what God will do. People from different religions, beliefs, philosophies, even atheists are welcome in the movement. As long as you are a “truthseeker,” grace covers all beliefs, actions, mistakes, etc. as people are on the way to following Jesus. All “right” and “correct” and “orthodox” ideas and understandings are not required first. JESUS HAS ALL TRUTH! Truth is truth--it’s all of God, whether by Christians or others. Truthseekers is about connecting Truth with what the various leaders have been saying and doing already--connecting it to Jesus. Whatever they have done to fight oppression, Jesus completes.

•We do not lead people to Christ--we welcome them into faith! Sunil has seen nonbelievers in meetings suddenly convert, in the middle of everything, as the Truth becomes clear and real to them!

•We must remember that God is already at work in every place in the world to accomplish His purposes before Christians ever show up. (Look at all the examples of “redemptive analogies” that are keys to Christ and already present in the beliefs and traditions of the Indians.) Jesus is not the property of Christians!

•In the West, we think (organize, plan, strategize) and then we act. In the East (India), they act first and then think it through (implications, logistics, meaning, etc.). Sunil reminded us that the Bible is an “eastern” book as well! So we need to read it with “eastern eyes,” not with a western viewpoint.

•Serving, caring, helping, etc. is more radical than revolution--totally different from most people’s understanding of Christianity in India.

That’s it - that’s all - that’s enough! I could go on about much more (impressions, challenges, learnings) but I hope these paragraphs have given you at least a taste of what happened on this mission trip and of the issues, realities, differences, and demands that I’ve been confronted with and now must grapple with--and respond. I think you can tell that, overall, this India adventure was an incredibly exciting and rewarding experience. So let me end by challenging all of YOU to take part in future Truthseekers Footwashing Rallies. These happen twice each year, in March and November. You’ll be glad you did.

You will never be the same.

Some fantastic links to related sites:
Truthseekers International
Truthseekers North America
WorldNextDoor
•This is an amazing website! Check out "Photo Gallery: Dignity" (Nov. 29) and "Photo Gallery: Dreams For the Future" (Nov. 17); these are Barry Rodriguez's impressions of our trip. Here's what the website is all about:
World Next Door, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our mission is to use entertaining, thought-provoking and heart-breaking journalism to change ordinary people into wild-eyed revolutionaries and to unleash them on local and global issues of social injustice.
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