About India:
India, officially the Republic of India, is a vast South Asian country, ranking seventh-largest in the world by area; roughly one-third the size of the USA and similar in size to the entire European Union. Population-wise, India surpassed China in 2024 to become the world’s most populous country, with a total of 1.22 billion people.
India consists of 28 states and 8 union territories, with New Delhi as its capital. India is a federal parliamentary democratic republic, featuring immense diversity in languages, cultures, and religions, alongside a rapidly growing economy. The country is known for its caste system which, despite being legally abolished in 1950, remains an entrenched social hierarchy that influences daily life (particularly in rural areas) affecting marriage, social circles, education, and employment. While modernization has reduced its impact in cities, it continues to shape social status, with lower castes often facing economic and social challenges.
In the 1990s, India emerged as a global technology outsourcing leader, driven by economic liberalization, a large English-speaking workforce, and low labor costs. Following 1991 reforms and the 1999 National Telecom Policy, India shifted from a niche service provider to a major IT/BPO powerhouse. IT BPO (Information Technology Business Process Outsourcing) is the delegation of IT-intensive business processes—such as technical support, software maintenance, and cybersecurity—to external providers (e.g., Infosys, Wipro, TCS).
Many of you have no doubt interacted with one of these providers when contacting customer service for some of your electronic devices….or your home appliances…or whatever!
Catholic places of interest in India:
Saint Thomas the Apostle introduced Christianity here in the year 53 A.D. In fact, Thomas is a common surname among Syrian Christians in Kerala, South India. Other western Europeans followed in later years and then, when the age of exploration opened up in the 15th Century, Portugal became the first of the Western powers to colonize the area. Among the most well-known was the Franciscan missionary Saint Francis Xavier. India finally gained it Independence in 1947.
The vast majority of Indians are of the Hindu faith, some 827 million. Although the percentage of Christians in India is small by comparison (a bit over 2%), it is actually quite large in terms of numbers (about 24 million). This comprised primarily of Roman Catholics but also the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches, which are in communion with Rome. There are a few Protestant sects included in the number of Christians as well.
The Syrian Christians of Kerala are a very conservative community are an aristocratic and trading ethnic group who are considered to be an upper caste in India in accordance with their Brahmin, Jewish and Assyrian ancestry.
Note: the name “Syrian Christians” refers not to the country of Syria, but to the Syriac language origins of the community’s religious liturgy and their ritual origins; they are ethnically Indian.
Saint Thomas the Apostle introduced Christianity here in the year 53 A.D. In fact, Thomas is a common surname among Syrian Christians in Kerala, South India.
Other western Europeans followed in later years and then, when the age of exploration opened up in the 15th Century, Portugal became the first of the Western powers to colonize the area. Among the most well-known was the Franciscan missionary Saint Francis Xavier. India finally gained it Independence in 1947.
Most Catholics will recognize the name of Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Canonized 2016). Though born in Macedonia, she is India’s most famous Catholic figure, founder of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata. However, there is much more to the Catholic history of India.
Catholic places of interest in India:
Bengaluru: Saint Anthony’s Friary Catholic Church;
Chennai: Basilica of Saint Thomas the Apostle and tomb of Saint Thomas
Ernakulam: Several churches of interest
Goa: Basilica of Bom Jesus & tomb of St. Francis Xavier
Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta): Motherhouse of the Missionaries of Charity and tomb of Saint Mother Teresa
Vailankanni: Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
Sources:
2011 Census Data, Government of India