What Is the Season of Advent and Its Spiritual Meaning
- Advent: Preparation for the Birth of Jesus Christ and the Second Coming
- Christians in India: A Small Minority with a Remarkable Legacy
- Contribution of Christians to Education and English Learning in India
- Role of the Christian Community in Nation Building, Healthcare, and Defence
- India’s Ancient Connection with Christianity Beyond Colonial History
- Suleh-e-Kul and the Indian Tradition of Respect for All Religions
An Advent Message of Solidarity and Goodwill to Indian Christians
An Advent reflection by Justice Markandey Katju on the meaning of the season and the historic contribution of India’s Christian community to education, unity, and nation building.
Season of Advent
By Justice Markandey Katju
This is the Season of Advent for Christians, a preparation or countdown for Christmas, which started on 30th November 2025. The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is preparation to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on 25th December in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent.
Christians in India are a tiny minority in India's huge population of about 1430 million people. They comprise of about 28 million people i.e. or about 2.3 % of India's population. This article is to honour them and their achievements in India.
Christians, including Anglo-Indians ( i.e. people of mixed British and Indian blood ), have made an enormous contribution in various fields in India.
Christians have set up the best schools and colleges in India, where most people of all denominations want their children to be admitted in their English medium schools ( I too am a product of one of such schools, the Boys High School, Allahabad ). English education, was a window to the West, a key to knowledge and progress, which Christian teachers provided to Indians, irrespective of religion, caste, sex, or economic status.
Christians have contributed to India in other spheres too. Many Christians have been members of India's defence forces and have contributed to other fields. e.g. in healthcare and empowerment of women, the poor and downtrodden and tribals.
India has an ancient connection with Christianity, much older than the coming of Britishers to India, as some people think.
India is a country with tremendous diversity, and hence the only correct policy for us which will keep us together and take us on the path of progress, is the great Mughal Emperor Akbar's policy of 'suleh-e-kul' or giving equal respect to all religions and communities
In this holy season of advent, I appeal to all non Christian Indians to extend their best wishes to their fellow Christian brothers and sisters.
(Justice Katju is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India. These are his personal views.)
