Christians Lead in India's Higher Education

In the religion polarized society who is where is important. The University Grants Commission (UGC) sponsored research studies conducted by Ravi S Srivastava and S.Sinha based on the NSSO data of the 61^st round (2004-06) projects Christians in the higher education in bright form.

Gross enrolment ratio in rural & urban social groups

Male Female Total

Hindu 8.83 5.1 6.95

Hindu SC 9.00 5.55 7.37

Hindu OBC 12.89 7.78 10.45

Hindu others 25.9 22.44 24.28

Hindu Total 15.19 10.86 13.13

Muslim OBC 8.22 5.16 6.73

Muslim Others 9.57 6.77 8.27

Muslim Total 9.09 6.16 7.7

Christian ST 8.67 13.11 11.14

Christian SC 11.89 32.59 23.53

Christian Others 27.61 22.44 25.19

Sikh SC 3 2.32 2.68

Sikh Others 14.65 21.68 17.81

Others 20.26 14.77 17.74

Total 14.42 10.57 12.59

Figures in %

The reasons for the higher percentage of Christians are familiar. In a paper submitted to the University of Brimingham, 2006, A. Prabaharan says that the influence of missionaries and churches is very strong among the Christians to embrace higher education. Here the religion plays a pivotal role in the social development. Proselytizing apart Christian community has played a predominant role in the development of India’s social sector.

The government can concentrate more on the backwards sections. This include certain Hindu groups. Saraswati Raju says that the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) among the SC women is one of the lowest in rural India (3.26%). Muslim community (3.08%) and ST Hindus (3.97%).

Pushing these deprived sections from all religions into the basic education and slowly into the higher education should be the agenda of the HRD ministry. In this mission everyone’s cooperation is needed.