Indian peacemaker visits Muskingum

  Neerja Prasad is a peacemaker who recently came to Muskingum as part of a tour with the Presbyterian Church. The tour features the lives of Indian people and what Prasad's group is doing to help them.

   Prasad is an Indian Christian who is the secretary for the Women's Fellowship for Christian Service Synod of the Church of North India. There she works with the Untouchable Caste of India. She has also been touring the states Presbyterian churches as part of a tour. She recently came to Muskingum University as part of the tour.

 "My country's full of people and poverty's the main issue and we find people still sleeping under a way station, and on roads, and on the streets," said Prasad.

  Prasad has experienced many things working with the Untouchable caste. However, her life and the life of her family aren't without their own trials. Her family converted to Christianity when the British were still in control of India. It was hard for them because this made them part of the Untouchable caste, themselves, so Prasad grew up hearing about the stories of her grandparents and this motivated her to help the people that no one else in the Indian community would.

  "I am very happy that our students, who have a North American understanding of Christianity, can hear a global understanding of Christianity," said University Chaplain Will Mullins.

    This is the truth of what Prasad works with every day. One of the stories she tells most often is about a teenage girl whose mother thought she was sending to work as a maid for a rich man after her father died and was instead raped and impregnated. Prasad and her group rescued the girl, but her mother wouldn't take her back because then the other girls in the house would have been thought to be loose women. This girl now works to change her community.

  "Jesus Christ did not just come for Christian people in this world, he came for everybody," said Prasad.

  This phrase is one that Prasad often says when asked about her religion and why she does what she does.

  "It's difficult, especially, when you hear about their stories," said Prasad. "When you hear about the oppression they had to undergo, on the basis of class as well as caste system."

  Even with all of the difficulties of helping these people she still continues to help people no matter the obstacle. No matter what she has to do to help people she will always do what she can do to help.

  As to Hinduism she is not afraid to help those of a different belief. No matter their opinion of the Christian faith she valiantly goes to help the poor people of the Untouchable caste and no matter what she sees or hears, even when members of two different castes are hanged for getting married to each other in the tiny villages of India.

  Regarding the main faith of her country; she is always direct and upfront about it.

  "It's a realistic view of Hinduism," said Associate Professor of Religion Melissa Conroy.