Hinduism, however, pushes Dalits into believing that their karma for this life is already determined, and that submissiveness can make their next birth better. Although Social Darwinism -- the idea that helping the poor obstructs societal evolution -- is a 19th century Western invention, Hindu racists a millennium before developed strong rationales for malign neglect of those in need: The poor are suffering in accordance with their karma and their qualities.

 Indian leaders have long criticized others while letting themselves off easy. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru said in 1953: "India will not go with the doctrine of racial inequality. Wherever there is racial discrimination we shall do everything in our power, short of war, to oppose it." Good words, but he pointed to Africa and the United States as problem areas and left out the biggest one, his own country. Today, India is clearly the largest purveyor of racism in the world.

 Could that be changing? Vishal Mangalwadi, director of South Asian Resources, points out that over the past 70 years four major viewpoints have competed in India. Secular humanists contended that the British were India's chief problem. Radical Hindus blamed Western culture and Muslims, leftists slammed capitalism. Dalit leaders, though, insisted that Hinduism was the cause of India's oppressive backwardness. Mangalwadi states, "The Dalit analysis is now winning the day."

 Let's hope so. Institutionalized U.S. racism took a body blow in the 1950s and 1960s through the efforts of groups like the Southern Christian Leadership Council. Since no similar group within Hinduism has arisen, Christians have a God-given opportunity to show that Christian faith offers tangible change in this life. That lesson will lead more Indians to consider their true hope for the next one.