Ethnic Identity Vs Christian Identity in North East India

 

My ethnic Blood is stronger than the Blood of Jesus Christ.

The Water of Baptism is too thin to clean my thickly stained ethnic blood.

 

Caught up in the throes of conflicting ethnic phenomena, I being a Church leader and a young theologian have been confronted with a pressing bipolar necessity. On the one hand, there is a need to safeguard my respective ethnic identity over against the assimilating or demonising non-self forces; on the other hand, there is also an urgent necessity of promoting peaceful co-existence among diverse ethnic groups. In other word, as a Christian which identity precedes? Helpless indeed! How am I to maintain a balance between these two pressing necessities? Which should the priority be? Ethnic identity or ethnic harmony? Can I make these two co-exist? Great struggle!

 

To bring the issue on the ground, like in any other part of the world, ethnic feelings and struggle for identity run deep among people of a tiny North East India (NEI). The region is plagued by a strong nativistic sentiment and resulting into self-other or us-them tension. The experience of being minoritised, exploited and deprived of opportunities locally available runs acute between the ethnic groups. Every ethnic group finds ‘self is good’, ‘small is good’ and so a quest for ethnic self-identity.

 

Consequently, there are mushrooming of ethnic quests in form of political movements, justified in the name of defending identity, ethno-cultural rights and self-determination. Every ethnic group aspires to discover and rejuvenate its own identity and freedom.

 

Sad enough, in this process, the extreme exclusive self-assertion and other-negating attitude and expressions are leading each ethnic group to a state of self-helpless-ness. For, my identity is identity in relation to other’s identity and my freedom is freedom in relation to other’s freedom.

 

I owe a share in making beauty of ethnicity to a monstrosity ethnicity because I too claim supremacy of my ethnic identity, often relegating even my Christian identity to a secondary place. When ethnic aspirations are in question, at times, religion or my Christianity is of no help. Indeed, as it is said, “blood is thicker than baptismal water and ethnicity stronger than the bond of faith that calls for forgiveness and reconciliation.” “Christianity is only a skin deep, faith has not sunk in.”

 

What have I say gospelly and theologically to such awesome scenario where in the name of asserting self-identity, innocent fellow beings are killed. My gospel is too weak to make people happy and my theology is too sallow to block the bloodsheds. Even though my faith teaches values that transcend caste, race or ethnicity, it fails to withstand the test when confronted with ethnic loyalty.

 

I am doubtful now, “how far has ‘the Christianity’ transformed my values and attitudes” or “has ‘my Christianity’ been only a veneer of my social refinement?” I doubt whether there is any interplay between ethnic aspiration and contextual theological articulation. I find “balance rod” missing by the way.

 

While interpreting the gospel in a manner resonant with various cultures it got ethnic short circuit. Since, the external symptoms of violence and hostility are the spurt of cultural awakening of many ethnic groups wanting to be recognised and accepted, the contextualised theological articulation of gospel might have served as strong ideological as well as psycho-emotional boosters for ethnic rebel consciousness among the ethnic groups.

 

I know Gospel gave me identity and dignity, but I have made this captive to my “self” and I want this Gospel to dance according to my tune. I have misspelled the gospel – “go-spoil”. This convinces me to accept the fact that until today I just have a half-gospel proclaimed to the half-world through half-Church. I need to be recaptured by gospel of Christ – to have life and to give life. For that matter, a Christian more than anything else.