Dave Five

"In the United States, life is hard; in India it is easy," begins Dr. Job, as we drive through winding, crowded roads to visit Karunya University, about an hour away.  The lack of irony in his voice tells me that he sincerely means what he says. Does he not see what I see along the road? A woman trudges through a field of brick-red dirt with a woven basket atop her head; after a few steps she pulls the basket down and heaves its contents--the same red soil--forward into another field. Minutes later, we see a boy trying to retrieve his donkey; the poor beast has wandered out into the road with manacles on its fore feet and cannot seem to get out of the onrushing traffic. Another two miles down the road, a man twirls a stick at a pack of goats that he is leading along the roadway, inches from the motorbikes, cars and buses that pass perilously by.

"In America," Job continues, "the husband and wife wake up at 4:30. They take separate cars and drive 80 kilometers to work; their children go to school by themselves, and come home to an empty house. The parents get home at 8 o'clock, warm up food in the microwave oven, and are too exhausted to even speak to their children. This is a hard life. In India, the family stays together; they do not know they are poor; they eat mangos and rice and are happy--an easy life. Only Americans come and say: you have no TV; you have no refrigerator; you have no car; you must be poor. It is not true; the people of India are happy."

We reach Karunya University, and are greeted with roses and smiles by Dr. Anne Mary Fernandez, the "Registrar and Dean" (equivalent of a Provost in US) and members of her staff. We do not have time to tour the more than 500 acre campus, but we do get a chance to see the new, high-tech media studios and gleaming food processing areas, among others. Founded by evangelist and educator Dr. D. G. S. Dinahkaran only 25 years ago, the school boasts 7,200 residential students, a hospital, and a mix of Hindu, Christian and Muslim students (about 65-70 percent are Christians).  After the tour, we meet Vice-Chancellor Dr. Paul Appasamy, who relates the close relationship between our founder, Dr. Robertson, and Karunya's; Dr. Robertson actually gave them a 'sizable gift,' and a faculty building still bears his name. Karunya is interested in pursuing some joint programs in GLE and COM/ARTS, and we promise to keep the dialogue open.

Driving back to campus, Dr. Job begins another important lesson focused on Indian culture:

 "The basis for society in America is Christianity. In India, it is Hindu." I think of the pastor I met this morning who has asked me to pray for the money to replace the teeth that were knocked out when he was attacked by Hindus earlier in the week. He pulls back his blackened lips to reveal the gap and some jagged remnants. "Missionaries to India cannot be effective if they do not study the Hindu culture. The British tried and failed...."

His voice trails off into the cool evening air, and I am thankful to God for all we are learning from this rich, remarkable culture.

This is the founding building at Karunya University in Coimbatore, India.