Henry Martyn Institute, or HMI, is Christian based organization focused on interfaith relations in India. They do so through education, dialogue and community development. Graduate students can study and do research at HMI about different religions and the languages associated. HMI sponsors different sessions between different religious groups, promoting conversation between different faiths. The organization also has community development centers around the city that help educate children of different religious backgrounds, teach women tailoring and Mehndi, and offer a free clinic.

India is a diverse nation. There is a multitude of cultures, hundreds of languages, different weather patterns and many religions. Religion plays a huge role in the everyday life in India. It influences how people act and live their lives. However, there is much tension between different religions in India, much of which has to do with the history of India. India, even though it has most of the time been a majority Hindu nation, was controlled by Muslim rulers for hundreds of years. While some were more lenient when it came to religious freedom, like Akbar, others were much more strict and forced people to convert to Islam or face death. After the Muslim rulers, the British took over control and brought Christianity to all of India. Many associated Christianity with the poor treatment by the British. A history of religious oppression has definitely lead to the current state of interfaith relations in India. Today, there is much backlash from more conservative Hindu groups, who want India to be a fully Hindu nation. Those groups believe that other religions are just different forms of Hinduism and want to bring everyone back under the umbrella of Hinduism. The history and the current ideology has lead to much tension between many religious groups.

During our time at HMI, we were able to learn about and experience the religions found in India, but also learn about interfaith relations. It’s a complex issue that takes understanding of different religions as well as respect among people. It seems though that the conversation of interfaith relations tends to be started by Christian-based organizations, like HMI. Christians in India are the minority, which means they have to start these conversations in order to avoid discrimination. I think in order for interfaith relations to truly improve that all different religions must be involved with starting and maintaining conversations between the different religions.