State Leader Shares Heart for
Dalits in Interview

Recently, one of Gospel for Asia's field correspondents had the privilege of sitting down with Dhir Vinesh, GFA's Rajasthan state leader, and asking him about his incredible ministry to Dalits ("Untouchables"). With openness and honesty, Vinesh shared the trials, challenges and victories that come from working with these oppressed people. In the second half of this interview, Dhir continues sharing his heart for the Dalits of Rajasthan, India.

How did you know you were called to work in Rajasthan?

God spoke to my heart and told me to go to a place where the people were oppressed, where the Gospel has already reached, but where the harvest has not been gathered. He called me to reap the remaining harvest. So, I came to Rajasthan.

Please share your thoughts about the anti-conversion legislation in your state.

We have a government controlled by an anti-Christian extremist political party. So, we fear that the bill will be passed. The governor of the state is a Hindu who went to Catholic schools, and she is a bold person who is against the bill. She has said, "I am not going to put my signature on it. I will never have it."

Why is the governor taking that chance?

She says that the bill favors Hindus, and that is not good. She said she can't allow it to happen. The governor studied the bill, would not sign it, and sent it to the president of India. The president sent it back to the state assembly. The assembly once again passed it and sent it back to the governor. The governor just said, "Still, I will not put a signature on this bill." But, there is a lot of pressure on her, because the government is run by extremists.

In this bill, is the person who leads someone to Christ punished, or the person who comes to Christ?

Both people are punished. If they are convicted, they have to pay 50,000 rupees (about US$1,166), and face a possible five-year imprisonment.

“They are not worried about any other religion; they are only worried about Christianity. They know that if Christians step into any village, people will come to know Christ. The Dalit people are treated like slaves and are waiting to be liberated.” Why is the government so motivated to have these anti-conversion laws?

They are not worried about any other religion; they are only worried about Christianity. They know that if Christians step into any village, people will come to know Christ. The Dalit people are treated like slaves and are waiting to be liberated.

You were saying that this governor is Hindu, but she went to Catholic schools. Do you think that is what had an impact on her life?

Yes. She commented, "I know that Christians do not force conversions, because I studied at a Christian school and no one converted me. The value that convent school placed on me made a great impact on my life."

The chief minister of our state also studied 10 years in a Catholic school. She also studied at Oxford. She said, "I know Christianity. I studied 10 years in a convent school where nuns never tried to convert me." So, they know what is reality; they know how Christians really behave. It is only a political matter. But they cannot help us very much, because they are funded by extremist parties.

Do the Dalits have any views or thoughts about these anti-conversion bills?

Yes, they have strong opinions. Some are even protesting against the government. They are upset about the anti-conversion bill. They are also upset that they cannot get the same [affirmative action benefits] that Hindu Dalits do, if they become Christians.

Do Dalits feel more freedom to speak out than they did maybe 10, 15, 20 years ago?

They finally feel like they can speak out, because there are even a few Dalits in the government now. So, they are more in the forefront. I totally believe that in the days to come something beautiful is going to happen through their lives. God is going to use them, definitely.

Do you find people from mixed castes in the GFA-affiliated church congregations?

Right now, we have two to three congregations where we have high-caste people and Dalits combined. Though they are from different castes, or people groups, they do not have any problems worshipping together.

Are there many Dalit women who are missionaries?

We have one women's Bible college where all of the students are from Dalit backgrounds. The beauty of our girls is that they are all from our GFA-affiliated churches. So, they will be going back to their own villages. Many of these women will marry young men from our men's Bible college. When they return to the girls' hometowns, the men will work in the GFA churches and they will both do outreach as missionaries.

What kind of relief work did you do among the displaced families from the monsoon flooding?

We did a lot of compassion ministry there. We helped 250 families. We gave a lot of blankets and bags full of household items, food and toiletries. At first, we helped them with blankets because winter was starting, and we gave the people bedding and medicines. Two of our evangelism teams went there to help as well. We also helped one school with things like notebooks.

Do these people who were affected by the flooding still have homes?

The government provided sheds, but now they have taken them back. The people lived without even a tent in the winter season. We are planning to do something for them, but we are still working things out. We desire to adopt one small village and set up houses for them. We have been praying, and we know that God is going to do something. This month, we will be giving them blankets and other things. One thousand families will be helped by this.

Was this relief work done through the GFA-affiliated churches?

Yes. We set a budget aside to do these things.

Why are you doing so many different kinds of things?

We are doing what God has called us to do. If that means we must have several different kinds of ministries then we will. Time is very limited, and we know that.

You have a window of time that you can do the work without being hindered; how can we pray for you?

Please pray for us continuously. Getting students is very difficult for us, and we want a lot of men and women to come to our colleges. Pray that God may make it happen. We will definitely have female students, but it is more difficult for us to get male students. We believe that God is going to do it. So, pray that we will have many students so we can start more Bible schools this year.

Also, several Jesus Wells are going to be drilled soon. I already have permission and everything, so please pray that things will go well.

Read the first half of this interview

Learn more about Rajasthan