ABSTRACT
This chapter delves into the complex power dynamics that shape minority narratives in India and how they affect the understanding of colonial history. It reviews how the Thomas Christian community sought autonomy during the early modern period in response to Western colonization efforts. Despite being overlooked in historical accounts of colonialism and freedom struggles, leaders within the community including archdeacons, bishops, and laypeople fought for their autonomy. Importantly, the chapter argues that the persistence of colonial discourse has led to a misinterpretation of anti-development movements as attempts at religious conversion. It examines recent instances where Thomas Christian leaders have been affected due to this distorted view. The discourse of promoting colonizers’ goals of “civilizing” and “Christianizing” primarily served economic colonization and continues to be used in the context of globalization and development. This chapter thus highlights the contemporary relevance of the book's message by emphasizing how distorted colonial history has allowed corporations and Indian administrators to benefit from the public's misperception of current events.
