Inferiority Complex Among The Urban Employed Dalits, Men and Women: Implications for Pastoral Care and Counselling

In order to reach at the crux of the research, the theoretical framework was built around the subject, `Caste and Identity', with special reference to Ambedkar and Gandhi. The book further deals with the concepts of Inferiority Complex in the light of different personality theories and contextual issues. The investigation reveals that Employed Dalits in Urban settings seemingly develop a higher level of Inferiority Complex compared to the Non-Dalits in the same context. In spite of their educational and economic development, the Employed Dalits experience more of Inferiority Complex apparently caused by the stigma of untouchability. The implications for Pastoral Care were made based on the findings to help Urban Employed Dalits, Men and Women, to overcome Inferiority Complex.

Rev. Dr. Epratha Sarathy is an Ordained Minister of 'Karnataka Baptist Convention' which comes under the umbrella of 'Southern Baptist Convention of USA'. At present he is on the faculty at United Theological College, Bangalore, serving as an Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Christian Ministry Department. He also holds the responsibility as the Coordinator of Counselling Training Centre of United Theological College, Bangalore. He is married to Dr. Rathnamma Sarathy, who serves as the "Taluk Health Officer' with the department of 'Health and Family Welfare', Government of Karnataka. They are blessed with 2 Sons, Daivashish Sarathy, a medical doctor, and Daivanvesh Sarathy, pursuing his Bachelor of Engineering (Aeronautical).

I am delighted to write a foreword for the book "Inferiority Complex among the Urban Employed Dalits, Men & Women: Implications for Pastoral Care & Counselling" by Rev. Dr. Epratha Sarathy whom I have known for the last 26 years as a student at the United Theological College since I joined the Faculty in 1992. I had the privilege of guiding his doctoral dissertation during which I observed Dr. Sarathy's interests and passions with regard to the church and the society. His concern for the wellbeing of the downtrodden and the marginalized is always reflected in his ministerial commitment. Since July 2016 Dr. Sarathy is my colleague in the Christian Ministry department at the United Theological College, Bangalore. Hence, I have known the author as a student, friend, and colleague with high level motivation and passion for ministry. It is the pastoral counselling theory and practice with reference to the challenging Indian contextual realities that I find the content of this book intriguing.

Dr. Sarathy brings to discussion in this book the traditional caste-linked dominance and subordination which had seriously impacted the psychological and social makeup of men and women in the subaltern communities. Though there is marked transformation during the colonial and post-colonial independent India though various social, legal and political enactments that helped to improve the plights of the downtrodden communities, the author strongly contents that discrimination, subordination, victimization of still continues between the high and low caste communities. At the surface level of the social and political process one may not view the divisions and disparities but at the deeper social level one can find the discriminating dynamics. The author contends that it is not only among the rural communities but the educated and employed also experience such social isolation and psychological discrimination.

**Contents and Sample Pages**