Thiruvananthapuram: July 3rd is not just another day in the Christian calendar it is a day etched into the spiritual consciousness of millions in India. It is the feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle, revered as the Apostle of India, who sowed the seeds of Christianity on Indian soil nearly two millennia ago. His declaration “My Lord and my God” remains one of the most profound professions of faith in Christian tradition. For the Christian community in India, especially in Kerala, July 3rd is a solemn, sacred, and historically significant day.
Despite its spiritual importance and cultural relevance, July 3rd remains neglected by the state machinery. For years, Indian Christians have appealed to the Kerala government to declare this day a public holiday. The demand is not rooted in politics but in the simple plea for recognition of religious identity and freedom. Sadly, this plea has fallen on deaf ears.
The refusal to acknowledge July 3rd as a public holiday is not just administrative negligence it is a reflection of a deeper insensitivity to religious minorities. Every year, Christian organizations, bishops’ councils, educators, and lay associations have reminded the government of the historical and emotional significance of this day. Yet the response has been silence, evasion, or bureaucratic sidestepping.
And now, the situation has taken a more disturbing turn. The decision by the Education Department to schedule mandatory value assessment camps on July 3rd despite the known religious importance of the day cannot be dismissed as a coincidence. It reeks of systemic disregard and covert disrespect. For Catholic teachers and students who wish to participate in the Dukhra observances, this decision is an infringement on their constitutional right to religious freedom.
It is no secret that political parties suddenly remember Christian voters during election seasons. Churches become stops on campaign trails, and Christian festivals become occasions for lofty promises. But once the polls close, the same leaders vanish, conveniently forgetting the very communities whose votes they courted. The repeated sidelining of July 3rd reflects this selective engagement where Christian faith is acknowledged for political mileage but neglected when it comes to actual policy implementation.
The latest move by the Education Department only deepens this distrust. The deliberate scheduling of academic obligations on a day sacred to millions is not just insensitive it is offensive. The government must be reminded that secularism does not mean ignoring religion; it means respecting all faiths equally.
The protest by the Catholic Teachers’ Guild, youth movements across dioceses, and the Syro-Malabar Church is not a political stunt it is a moral and spiritual stand. These groups are not asking for privilege. They are asking for acknowledgment.
In its social media post, the Syro-Malabar Church rightly condemned the move as a deliberate attempt to limit Christian worship. The post was more than a criticism it was a lament, echoing the frustration and pain of a community that continues to be marginalized despite its historical contribution to Indian culture, education, and nation-building.
It is high time the Kerala government and other state bodies engage sincerely with this long-standing demand. Declaring July 3rd a public holiday is not just about granting a day off. It is about acknowledging a 2000-year-old legacy of Christianity in India. It is about respecting the sentiments of a community that has stood for peace, education, and social service. And it is about reaffirming that India, in its true secular spirit, protects and honors the diversity of all its people.
Governments must rise above vote-bank politics and act with integrity. Religious freedom is not measured by promises made during campaigns but by policies enacted between elections. The refusal to recognize July 3rd as a public holiday worse, the imposition of duties on that day reflects poorly on our democratic fabric.
This July 3rd, let the government do more than issue greetings. Let it listen. Let it act. Let it finally offer justice to a community whose only demand is to worship in peace and dignity.