ABSTRACT
Indian theology in the twentieth century-has been obliged to tackle problems presented by the large numbers of 'mass movement' conversions from the Depressed Classes. In the aftermath of the First World War a number of able South Indian Christians began to work together in a loose group around the Christo Samaj, the Bangalore Continuation Conference and a journal, the Christian Patriot. A mediating position was taken up by the signatories of 'An Indian Christian Manifesto' on 'Christian Duty to the Depressed and Backward Classes' which was published in March 1937 in response particularly to Gandhian criticisms of the mass movements. Surendra Kumar Datta together with K. T. Paul and S. K. Rudra may well be counted as the Fathers of Indian Christian Nationalism. The protective discrimination for Scheduled Castes and Tribes reversed at a blow the possible economic and educational advantages of conversion to Christianity, and indeed provided new and compelling disincentives to conversions from the underprivileged groups.
