We, Indian Christians 

by Dr Kranti Kiran Farias

Printed at St Paul Press Training School, Bandra, 

Mumbai; 454 pages; price: Rs 700 

ISBN 978-93-5759-041-9

At a time when identities are increasingly boxed into narrow labels, and history itself is often contested, We, Indian Christians arrives as a calm, confident, and deeply researched affirmation of belonging. Written by Dr Kranti Kiran Farias, the book reads less like an academic treatise, and more like a long, thoughtful conversation—one that gently but firmly reminds us that Indian Christians have always been, in every sense of the word, Indian.

This substantial volume is an anthology of essays, lectures, and previously published articles, brought together by a unifying thread: the love of country and the lived faith of Indian Christians. The book has three broad sections—Culture, Nationalism, and Christian service. From the cultural history of Christians in Dakshina Kannada and Maharashtra, to their role in the freedom struggle, Constitution-making, education, healthcare, and social reform, the book offers a panoramic view of Christian life in India across centuries.

One of the strengths of the book is its rootedness in place. Dr Farias devotes considerable attention to the history of South Kanara and the western coast, tracing how Christian communities grew organically within local cultures. Language, customs, social structures, and everyday life are described with care, showing how faith did not erase cultural identity, but enriched it. The chapters on the Basel Mission, Jesuit contributions, and medical and educational initiatives highlight how Christian institutions became agents of social transformation long before such terms became fashionable.

Equally compelling is the section on Nationalism. Here, Dr Farias brings to light stories that have too often been overlooked or forgotten. Christian freedom fighters, Constitution-makers, poets, and public servants are presented not as footnotes, but as active participants in India's struggle for Independence and nation-building. These chapters quietly dismantle the persistent myth that Christians are outsiders or inheritors of a "foreign" legacy. Instead, the reader encounters men and women whose patriotism was lived through sacrifice, service, and civic engagement.

The author's own life story lends the book a quiet authenticity. Coming from a family deeply involved in the freedom movement, Dr Farias writes not only as a historian, but also as a witness shaped by memory, inheritance, and faith. Her scholarship is meticulous, drawing on archival sources, official records, and historical documentation, yet her tone remains accessible and warm. This balance makes the book suitable not only for scholars and students, but also for ordinary readers interested in history, faith, and society.

In the final analysis, the significance of We, Indian Christians lies in its timeliness. In an age when minorities are often asked to justify their place in the national story, this book does not argue defensively; it simply tells the truth—carefully, patiently, and with dignity. It invites readers to remember that service, love of neighbour, and commitment to the common good are at the heart of both Christian faith and Indian nationhood. For today's readers, especially young Christians searching for roots and reassurance, this book is both a resource and a quiet source of courage.