Decolonising Christian education in India? Navigating the complexities of Hindu nationalism and BJP education policy

This chapters explores the nature of Christian-based values education in five Indian States, and considers how a sample of Christian foundation schools, with Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian intakes, navigate the tensions created by Hindutva, the secular education system, the Religious Freedom Laws, and the school’s Christian context. Data were collected to provide phenomenological insight into how a sample of Principals, teachers, Pastors, lecturers, educational workers, parents and children from the diverse Indian states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Mizoram narrated their perspectives. While acknowledging our opportunistic sampling strategy, and data collection by a white western agnostic, findings show that some teachers staunchly reject Hindutva in favour of a Christian ethos, paying lip service to the non-proselytising legislation, whilst some other teachers promote a more pluralistic outlook. However other teachers, mainly in the North Eastern states, synthesise Christian values with their tribal heritage.