This book exposes the discriminations suffering of Pandur Dalits in Tamilnadu and how
the Leipzig Evangelical Missionaries helped them to overcome their situations. The Leipzig
Evangelical Lutheran Mission (LELM) was a major mission in Pandur near Chennai. Pandur is
intimately associated with Rev. Johannes Kabis who came to India in 1877. Pandur has been
a thriving Christian centre for decades with a strong Christian congregation, Church and
several institutions. These Christians are descendants of Dalits (former untouchable
Paraiyars) who embraced Christianity. From a life of near slavery, poverty, illiteracy,
oppression and indignity, conversion to Christianity transformed their lives. Purpose of
this book is to elucidate the role of Leipzig missionaries in the social, economic,
educational and spiritual life of Pandur Dalits.
Contents
Forewords
Acknowledgement
Abbreviations
1. Introduction
1.1 Dalit in India
1.2 Dalit Christians
1.3 Hypothesis and Research questions
1.4 Methods
1.5 Informants
2. Background of Pandur
2.1 The Tamil people and caste system
2.2 Fifth Caste
2.3 Brahminic culture
2.4 Names given by other
2.5 The Term `Dalit'
2.6 Etymology
2.7 Tamil Nadu under Colonialism
2.8 Background of Thiruvallur district
2.9 Geographical
2.10 Pandur
2.11 Pandur pastorate
2.12 Social, Economical, Educational and Religious background
of in and around Pandur
3. Arrival and Mission Methods of Leipzig Evangelical Lutheran Missionaries
3.1 Protestant Mission in India
3.2 Anglican Period
3.3 Leipzig Evangelical Lutheran Mission
3.4 Leipzig Missionaries in Pandur
3.5 Mission Methods of Leipzig Mission Societies
3.6 Evangelistic Work
3.7 Intervention of war
3.8 Swedish Mission in India
3.9 Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church
4. Evaluating the Motives and Methods of Leipzig Mission through the voices of Pandur
Dalit Christians
4.1 Inducement
4.2 Education and accommodation
4.3 Living with the people
4.4 Living Christian values
4.5 Challenges
4.6 Present LELM Projects in Pandur
5. Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendices
Jayabalan Murthy is a Doctoral student at George August University
Goettingen. He completed his Bachelor of Divinity at Gurukul Lutheran Theological &
Research Institute, Chennai; M.A. in Christian studies from University of Madras; and M.A.
in Intercultural Theology from George August University Goettingen. He has written several
articles in German and English; one of his English article entitled Born To Be Broken:
Jesus, Christmas and Dalit Shepherds (Published by National Churches Council of India,
2011) was also translated into German and got published in SELK church monthly magazine.
His research focus lies on Martin Luther's Theology, impact of German Lutheran Churches in
India, Intercultural Studies and Dalit Theology.
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