JEWISH COMMUNITY IN INDIA

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Context: Kerala's Jewish communities, once flourishing, now face near extinction, with the population declining from 20,000-50,000 in the 1940s to just a few today.

Details

• Kerala once had a vibrant Jewish community. Today, the community has declined significantly, leaving behind a rich but fading legacy.

The Two Jewish Communities in Kerala

Malabar Jews (Cochin Jews)

• Origins: The Malabar Jews, also known as Cochin Jews, trace their history back nearly 3,000 years. They initially settled in Cranganore, present-day Kodungallur, where they were granted special privileges by local Hindu rulers around 1,000 CE.
• Migration to Cochin: In the 14th century, especially after the Portuguese arrived in the 16th century, the Malabar Jews moved south to Cochin (now Kochi). The local king welcomed them, and they became an integral part of the region’s spice trade.
• Economic Role: Malabar Jews were well-established as merchants and gained prominence in trade, contributing significantly to the local economy.

Paradesi Jews

• Origins: The Paradesi Jews, meaning "foreign" Jews, arrived in India during the 15th and 16th centuries. They fled persecution from Catholic rulers in Spain and Portugal and settled in Cochin and Madras (now Chennai).
• Integration and Differences: Although the Paradesi Jews adopted local customs and the Malayalam language, they maintained a separate identity from the older Malabar Jewish community.
  • • This distinction led to some social friction between the two groups, with the Paradesis often viewing themselves as superior.
      

The last woman of the Paradesi Jewish community, Queenie Hallegua, recently passed away. Her death marked a significant moment in the community's history, leaving her nephew as the last Paradesi Jew in Kerala.

A Declining Community

• Migration to Israel: Since the 1950s, many Kerala Jews have emigrated to Israel. Today, over 4,000 Cochin Jews live in Israel, while only a few remain in Kerala. This migration significantly impacted the community’s numbers in their ancestral land.
• Current Status: As of now, only 14 Malabar Jews and one Paradesi Jew are left in Kerala.

Jews in India

• The story of the Jewish community in India is about migration, adaptation, and significant contributions.

Early Migration

• Historical Background: The first Jews are thought to have arrived in India from Israel after the Assyrian conquest of the Kingdom of Israel around the 9th century BCE. They settled primarily on the Malabar coast in what is now Kerala.
• Key Jewish Groups:
  • • Bene Israel: Believed to have arrived in India around 175 BCE after a shipwreck on the Konkan coast. They settled in Maharashtra.
    • Cochin Jews: Also known as Malabar Jews, they have a long history in Kerala, with evidence of their presence dating back to around 1,000 CE.
    • Bnei Menashe: Another group with roots in the region, though their history is less documented compared to the Bene Israel and Cochin Jews.

Jewish Prosperity Under British Rule

• Growth and Prosperity: During British rule in India, the Jewish community flourished. By the mid-1940s, the Jewish population in British India reached between 20,000 and 50,000, marking a peak in their presence and influence.
• Economic and Social Achievements: Jews became prominent in various fields, including trade and commerce. They contributed significantly to the economic development of their regions.

Emigration and Changing Times

• Impact of Indian Nationalism: As Indian nationalism grew and India moved towards independence, some Jews felt uneasy about their future. Many had identified more with British colonial rule than with the emerging Indian nation.
• Creation of Israel: The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 provided a new homeland for Jews worldwide. This led many Indian Jews to emigrate to Israel, seeking new opportunities and aligning with their new national identity.

Current Population

• The Jewish population in India has declined significantly from its peak of 20,000-50,000 in the mid-20th century to about 4,000-5,000 today. This decline is largely due to emigration to Israel and other countries.
• In India, the majority of Jews belong to the Bene Israel community, which has been settled in Maharashtra for centuries.
  

Judaism ●Judaism is an Abrahamic religion, which means it, believes in one God. It’s closely related to other Abrahamic religions like Christianity and Islam. ●Judaism evolved from an earlier religion called Yahwism, which was practised by the ancient Semitic peoples around the 6th or 5th century BCE. It is closely related to another ancient religion called Samaritanism. ●The roots of Judaism go back to the Kingdom of Judah in ancient Israel, where the religious and cultural traditions began to form. ●As of 2021, there are approximately 15.2 million Jews worldwide. This makes up about 0.195% of the global population. Most Jews live in Israel (about 45.6%) and in the United States and Canada (about 42.1%). There are also Jewish communities in Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. ●Judaism is both a religion and a cultural tradition, focusing on the worship of one God and following specific laws and teachings. ●The core texts include the Torah and the Hebrew Bible, supplemented by the Oral Torah.

Minorities in India

• The Central Government identifies Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jain, and Zoroastrians (Parsis) as minority communities under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.

As of the 2011 Census, minority communities make up 19.3% of the total population, with Muslims comprising 14.2%, Christians 2.3%, Sikhs 1.7%, Buddhists 0.7%, Jain 0.4%, and Parsis 0.006%.

Constitutional Provisions for Minority Rights in India

• India's Constitution provides several key provisions aimed at protecting the rights of minority communities. These provisions ensure that minorities can preserve their distinct languages, cultures, and educational institutions.

Article 29: Protection of Culture and Language

• Article 29 of the Indian Constitution guarantees that any group of citizens with a distinct language, script, or culture has the right to conserve it. This means that both religious and linguistic minorities can protect their unique cultural and linguistic identities.
• Scope and Interpretation: Although Article 29 is designed to protect minorities, the Supreme Court of India has clarified that it also applies to any "section of citizens," not just minorities. This broad interpretation ensures that even the majority of communities can benefit from this protection.
• Example: A linguistic minority in India, like the Tamil-speaking community in Karnataka, has the right to maintain and promote its language and culture through various means such as cultural events and language schools.

Article 30: Rights to Establish and Administer Educational Institutions

• Article 30 provides minorities, whether religious or linguistic, the right to establish and manage educational institutions of their choice. This right is specific to minorities and does not extend to the majority population.
• Significance: This provision ensures that minorities can set up schools and colleges that cater to their cultural and religious needs. It helps preserve their identity and provides them with education that aligns with their values and language.
• Example: A Muslim community in India can establish and run an Islamic school that offers education based on Islamic principles and in the Urdu language, thus serving their specific educational needs.

Article 350-B: Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities

• What It Says: Article 350-B, introduced by the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1956, mandates the appointment of a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities by the President of India. This officer’s role is to ensure that linguistic minorities receive the safeguards guaranteed under the Constitution.
• Duties and Role: The Special Officer investigates and addresses issues related to the protection and promotion of linguistic minorities. This includes monitoring whether the rights of linguistic minorities are being upheld and addressing grievances related to language issues.
• Example: If there are complaints about insufficient educational resources in the Konkani language in Goa, the Special Officer would look into these concerns and work with the state government to address them.

Socioeconomic Disparities among Minority Communities in India

• Despite India's comprehensive constitutional protections for minority communities, they continue to face socioeconomic disparities. These disparities affect various aspects of life, including education, employment, healthcare, and living standards.

Factors Contributing to Socioeconomic Disparities

Historical Legacies

• Colonial Rule: The British colonial period left deep socio-economic scars, particularly for minority communities. Policies that favoured certain groups over others created a lasting impact, leading to entrenched inequalities.
• Partition of India (1947): The partition not only led to mass displacement but also significantly affected the socio-economic status of Muslims, who became the largest minority group in India. Many lost their homes, livelihoods, and social networks, resulting in long-term economic instability.

Discrimination and Social Prejudices

• Religious Discrimination: Minority communities, especially Muslims and Christians, often face discrimination in various aspects of life, including employment, education, and housing. This systemic bias limits their opportunities for socio-economic advancement.
• Caste and Ethnic Biases: In some regions, minority communities also face caste-based discrimination, further restricting their access to resources and opportunities.

Educational Disparities

• Many minority communities face challenges in accessing quality education. The literacy rates for different minority groups vary significantly.
• As per Census 2011, the literacy rate of the Minority Communities namely Christians, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists is higher than the National Average of 72.98% except for Muslims which is 54 %.
• In rural areas, schools may be scarce, and minority children might have to travel long distances to attend school. This issue is exacerbated in areas with high levels of poverty, where families may prioritize immediate economic needs over education.

Economic Inequality

• Economic opportunities and incomes also differ significantly among minority communities. For example, the 2011 Census data showed that Muslims have a lower average income compared to the national average, with a higher percentage of Muslims living below the poverty line compared to other communities.
• A study by the Sachar Committee (2006) found that Muslims in India have lower employment rates and income levels than the national average. This study highlighted how economic disparities resulted in limited access to capital, inadequate skills training, and discrimination in the job market.

Healthcare Access

• Minority communities often have less access to healthcare facilities and services. This is particularly experienced in remote or economically disadvantaged areas.
• A report by the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) noted that health indicators, such as infant mortality rates and maternal health outcomes, are poorer in minority-concentration districts compared to others.

Social and Cultural Barriers

• Discrimination and social exclusion can prevent minority individuals from fully participating in economic and educational opportunities.
• Discrimination in housing and employment has been documented in various reports. For instance, a study by the National Commission for Minorities found evidence of bias in job recruitment and housing, where minority applicants were less likely to be hired or find accommodation.

Political Underrepresentation:

• Minority communities often lack adequate political representation, which limits their ability to influence policies that could address their socio-economic challenges. This underrepresentation contributes to their marginalization in the broader socio-political landscape.
• There are currently 24 Muslim MPs in the Lok Sabha, which constitutes only 4.42% of the total strength. This is significantly lower than the 14% of Muslims in India’s population as per the 2011 Census.

Objectives of the Government Policies to Address Inequality

• Affirmative Action Measures: The Indian government has implemented affirmative action policies, such as reservations in educational institutions and government jobs, to improve the socio-economic status of minorities.
• Educational Scholarship: Programs like the Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme include scholarships for minority students. These initiatives aim to increase access to education for minority communities.
• Welfare Schemes: Various welfare schemes target minority communities, such as the Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP), which focuses on improving infrastructure and basic services in minority-dominated areas.
• Legal Protections: The government has enacted laws to protect the rights of minorities, such as the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, and the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.

Government Initiatives for Minorities

• Educational Empowerment:
  • • Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, and Merit-cum-Means Scholarships: These scholarships help students from minority communities continue their education from school through higher education.
    • Maulana Azad National Fellowship: Supports research scholars from minority communities.
• Skill Development and Employment:
  • • Naya Savera: Provides free coaching to help minority students prepare for competitive exams and gain admission to professional courses.
    • Seekho Aur Kamao: A skill development initiative aimed at providing vocational training to minorities.
    • USTTAD: Focuses on upgrading the skills in traditional arts and crafts, ensuring that these cultural skills are preserved while providing livelihood opportunities.
• Support for Specific Needs:
  • • Jiyo Parsi: Aimed at addressing the declining population of the Parsi community.
    • Nai Udaan: Provides financial support to minority students who clear the preliminary stages of competitive exams like UPSC or State Public Service Commission exams.
• Empowering Women and Youth:
  • • Nai Roshni: Focuses on leadership development among minority women.
    • Nai Manzil: Provides formal education and skill training for school dropouts from minority communities.
• Cultural Preservation:
  • • Hamari Dharohar: Works to preserve the cultural heritage of minority communities under the broader Indian cultural framework.
• Economic Empowerment:
  • • National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC): Offers loans at concessional rates to minorities for self-employment and income-generating activities.
      

Effectiveness of Government Policies ●Mixed Results: While government policies have made some progress in addressing socio-economic disparities among minorities, the results are mixed. Policies often fail to reach the most marginalized groups due to bureaucratic hurdles, lack of proper targeting, and political interference. ●Need for Holistic Approach: A more holistic approach is required, one that goes beyond affirmative action and addresses the structural causes of inequality, such as discrimination and lack of access to quality education and healthcare. ●Success Stories: There are success stories, particularly in states like Kerala, where inclusive development policies have led to better socio-economic outcomes for minorities. These examples highlight the potential for well-designed and effectively implemented policies to make a significant difference.

Conclusion

• The history of the Jewish community in India is a story of migration, adaptation, and resilience. From ancient times to the present, Indian Jews have made substantial contributions to the country's cultural and economic life. Despite the decline in their numbers, their legacy remains an integral part of India’s diverse heritage.

Source:

Indian Express

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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Despite constitutional safeguards, minority communities in India continue to face significant socioeconomic disparities. Discuss the factors contributing to this inequality and analyze the effectiveness of government policies aimed at addressing it.