Religious Discrimination in India

Several media sources have covered the results of the recent comprehensive study by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life on religious freedom in the world: http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=491. India did not fare well. Here is a link to coverage of the report in India: http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=491.

My limited observations: I saw no legal or social limits on freedom of religion while in India. However, Christians with whom I spoke remarked on subtle forms of discrimination. For example, members of low castes and other "backwards" groups lose government reservations (i.e., affirmative action) if they are no longer Hindu. After all, the official reasoning goes, there's no need for reservations for Christians because Christians don't have castes. Conversion to Christianity also works against promotions for government employees, at least as Christians perceive it. Even Christian public religious activities are subjected to a greater level of official scrutiny (e.g., needing permits for public processions) than festivals associated with Hindu deities.

Nonetheless, Christians continue to share their faith and the Church continues to grow in India.