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There were 30,000 Jews in India at the time of
Independence. Though many have left, in a number
of cities, there are small Jewish communities
still residing. The Jews of Kochi (Cochin), in
Kerala are of special interest because a group
claims that they have arrived here in 587 BC.
The Jewish Synagogue at Mattancherry and the Jew
street are among the major tourist attractions
in Kerala.
Christians account as the 3rd largest community
in India. There have been Christian communities
in Kerala since the coming of Christianity to
Europe (St. Thomas, the Apostle is supposed to
have arrived here in 54 AD). The Portuguese, who
unlike the English were as enthusiastic about
spreading their brand of Christianity as making
money from trade, left a large Christian
community in Goa. Generally, however, if success
is counted in number of converts, Christianity
has not been greatly successful in India. The
first round of Indian converts to Christianity
were generally those from the ruling classes,
and subsequently they were mainly from the lower
castes. There are, however, two small states (Mizoram
and Nagaland) where Christians form a majority
of the population. A quarter of the population
of Kerala and a third of Goa are also Christian.
India has around 22 million Christians. Some say
Christianity came to India with St. Bartholomeo,
others insist it was St. James but it was St.
Francis Xavier who spread Christian missionary
activity in the country. He arrived in the 16th
century and whose body still lies in a church in
Goa. Their work in the fields of reform &
education continues to be admired.
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