The empty tomb is not just a symbol – it’s a message. That love is stronger than death, and peace can rise even in violent times. This is a truth India needs to hear.
By Bijoy A. Sangma
As dawn breaks over the Indian subcontinent on Resurrection Day (also known as Easter Sunday), churches across the land echo with hymns of praise and quiet wonder. From candlelit cathedrals in Kerala to hilltop chapels in the Northeast and urban congregations in Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai, Christians gather to commemorate not just a historical event, but the very heart of their faith – the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This day, often eclipsed by festivity or familiarity, carries a deeper, enduring message that transcends cultures and religions. In a diverse and plural India, Resurrection Day stands not merely as a ritual, but as a resounding reminder that love, peace, and hope are still possible amid the noise of despair, division, and fear.
A Bold Claim, A Beautiful Hope
At the heart of this observance lies a radical claim: Jesus of Nazareth, executed under Roman rule and buried in a borrowed tomb, rose again on the third day. This is not myth or metaphor for millions of believers – it is the cornerstone of the Gospel. As the Apostle Paul once declared, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile” (1 Corinthians 15:17, The Holy Bible). The resurrection of Jesus is not a footnote in Christian theology; it is the heartbeat of a living faith that proclaims mercy over judgment, grace over guilt, and life over death.
Why Resurrection Day Matters to India Today
India stands at a crossroads of promise and paradox. With the world’s largest population, a rapidly growing digital economy, and a rich civilisational heritage, India is rising. But so too are its challenges – deepening social inequality, religious tensions, gender injustice, rural deprivation, and political polarisation. Amid such a backdrop, the message of Resurrection Day speaks not only to Christians but to anyone yearning for hope in hard times. The resurrection tells us that renewal is real, that suffering is not the end, and that justice – though delayed – is not denied.
A Suffering Messiah for a Suffering World
Unlike emperors or prophets who wielded power, Jesus lived and died for the powerless. His service was marked by compassion for the sick, inclusion of the outcast, and courage against unjust systems. The resurrection, then, is not a spectacle of vengeance, but the vindication of love. It proclaims that even when injustice kills, it cannot bury truth forever.
This message finds strong resonance in today’s India, where violence and exclusion often masquerade as strength. In such a climate, Resurrection Day is an invitation to non-violence, forgiveness, and the long, hard road of peace-building. It is a call to live love out loud.
The Gospel in Action
Across India, Christian communities live out the gospel message of Resurrection Day not merely through proclamation, but through service. Schools in tribal belts, hospitals in remote villages, homes for the destitute, and relief work during disasters all reflect the risen Christ – not in sermons, but in selfless action. These acts are not rooted in conversion agendas, but in a belief that every life matters, every person carries God’s image, and no one is beyond redemption.
From Mother Teresa’s tireless ministry in Kolkata to nameless volunteers serving in silent humility, Resurrection Day becomes visible in these acts of love. It is the gospel without words, a quiet revolution of compassion.
Resonance with Indian Values
What makes this message uniquely powerful in India is its synergy with indigenous values. The resurrection affirms the dignity of every individual, echoing the Upanishadic vision of Tat Tvam Asi (तत् त्वम् असि) – “You are that (divine spark).” The idea of seva (selfless service), karuna (compassion), and ahimsa (non-violence) that permeates Indian spiritual thought finds profound fulfilment in the gospel of Jesus.
Moreover, the story of resurrection originates not in the West, but in the East – in the dusty streets of Palestine, under occupation, amidst oppression. It is a story that belongs as much to Dalit villages as to megachurches, as much to rural Northeast India as to global capitals. The resurrection speaks powerfully to those denied justice, abandoned by systems, or forgotten by the powerful.
A Moral Imagination for Civic Life
In a nation where millions of children still lack access to formal education, where thousands of farmers continue to take their own lives due to mounting debt and despair, and where hate speech increasingly corrodes the civic spirit, Resurrection Day offers more than hope – it offers direction.
It tells us that peace is not passive, that love is not weak, and that truth must be lived even when it is costly. Resurrection Day challenges us to build policies that prioritise equity, foster economic models rooted in care, and promote interfaith dialogues based not on dominance but on dignity.
In this sense, Resurrection Day can reframe our public discourse – not by introducing religion into politics, but by inviting ethics into governance, humility into leadership, and hope into national imagination.
For a Secular Nation, a Sacred Conversation
India’s secularism does not ask for the silencing of faith – it invites respectful dialogue between worldviews. The resurrection, if received not as a theological imposition but as a moral proposition, contributes richly to this conversation. It tells a story of radical love, of costly forgiveness, and of renewal available to all. This narrative does not erase difference; it dignifies it.
In a diverse democracy, we need not be afraid of stories. We should be afraid of forgetting them. Resurrection Day, rightly understood, is not a claim of religious superiority, but a celebration of sacred possibility.
A Rising Beyond the Tomb
As churches across the country joyfully declare, “Christ is risen!” – it is more than a refrain. It is a radical declaration that death does not have the final word – not in our lives, our country, or our world. In a time of disillusionment and uncertainty, Resurrection Day affirms that broken things can be mended, lost dreams can be revived, and hardened hearts can be softened by grace.
In the end, Resurrection Day is not just for Christians. It is a message the world desperately needs: that love overcomes hate, that peace is possible, and that hope still rises – even from the grave.
(Bijoy A. Sangma is a development strategist and public affairs commentator with extensive experience in global leadership roles, contributing to thought leadership in public policy and social transformation. e-mail: [email protected])
