IN DESCRIBING Heslington author Agnes Sam’s family as being “particularly unusual: Indians who were Catholics”, in addition to two other references to their religion, Stephen Lewis is correct in the particular context of Indians in South Africa (The Press, November 26).
There they only constitute 20,000 or so in a total Catholic population of more than three million – this being due in part to 19th century British colonial policy.
The Catholic population of India itself, however, is now reckoned to be over 17 million out of a total Christian population of about 24 million.
This is largely due to a significant Portuguese and especially Jesuit presence from the early 16th century onwards, reinforcing a much earlier Christian tradition possibly going back to the apostle St Thomas.
The Christian and perhaps especially the Catholic contribution to India’s complex and fascinating history is frequently overlooked.
Tony Lawton, Skelton, York.
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