S2-Day 27: God on the Street

Most people who belong to the Dalit Community live on the Streets in our Society. The people who live on the footpaths, children who beg on the streets of our county are ill-treated in our society. So, these homeless people are considered dirtiest people by the dominant class people. 

When I saw children, who are begging on the streets I asked one boy would you like to go to school. He replied, “he needs money.” Several times, I asked this question to such children most of them go away from me. 

But it is here that I encountered God in them, on the Street, as I was speaking to children from such “dirty” places. Most of us think these children are “impure and polluted.” But I believe their hearts are pure and they speak through their conscience. I believe that street children should be educated because, education enlightens the minds. 

We all know Ambedkar, father of the Indian Constitution, a Dalit Reformer. Ambedkar being a Dalit faced discrimination in his childhood, by the dominant class people in our society. As a Dalit Reformer he gave a Slogan i.e. Agitate, Unite, Educate. So Ambedkar says education is more important to build a Just society. Here I quote from Proverbs 16:16, which says “having wisdom and understanding is better than having Silver or Gold.” So, wisdom plays a vital role in the life of people. It moulds us into great leaders for our nation. 

Education brings radical changes in the lives of children. It builds a civilized society. There are differences based on caste, region, religion, race, community, gender, and so on. As a citizen we have great responsibility to equip the children with formal education and informal education irrespective of normality abnormalities in the children. But it is education that can enlighten our minds to look beyond the differences that humans have created. We see people living in slums who are deprived of education. The children on the street are forced to beg and show themselves as dirty so that people may pity over them. But this is merely a survival instinct to fulfil their daily needs. 

For this to change, we ought to change not just the system by pointing at it but change ourselves to empower those on the street through education. An educated/ enlightened child can bring in great revolutions. I strongly believe type of revolutions leads us to liberate the people from the narrow minded. This gives new hope and positive thinking about every human being. 

Jesus Christ explained about the reign of God to all the people during his time. It was all about Justice, Peace and Equality. Yet, after two-thousand years we are still striving for Justice, Peace, and Equality. I believe early-education builds a great person to transforms the Nation. Hence, I call you all to join hands in pushing those children on the dirty streets to study so that it empowers the entire community. 

Prayer: 

Dirtiest God, who lives on the streets, we praise you and thank you for all life. Enlighten us with your wisdom to support the education of the children on the street in our localities. God transform our minds and hearts to build egalitarian society where your justice prevails. Amen. 

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Author: Rev. Karedi Silo 

About the Author: Silo is an Ordained Minister of Church of South India- Diocese of Krishna Godavari. He completed his Bachelor of Divinity from United Theological College.