撰文／印度圣工小组｜圣灵月刊317期-2004.02｜主题／有生命力的信仰
Introduction
印度位于亚洲中部，版图包括印度半岛及亚洲中部的南方部份土地。面积3,287,263平方公里。由北到南长3,214公里，而东至西则2,933公里。
Located in the central of Asia, it consists of the India Peninsular and portions of the south central Asian mainland. It has a total area of 3,287,263 sq. km. It extends 3,214 km from north to south and 2,933 km from east to west.
印度有着许多不同的风土人情。从北到南或东至西都充斥着不同的种族、语言及风俗习惯。印度的交通系统差强人意。繁忙的交通及不卫生的食物使人烦乱。贫穷使你伤心，官僚作风则考验你的忍耐程度。虽然如此，这个国家里有许多值得探险及引人入胜的景点，使酷爱旅行者再次回来游玩。
India is a country with much differences. From north to south, and east to west, the people are different, the language is different, and the custom is different. Traveling in India is difficult. The exhilarating transport and the unhygienic of food will get to your nerves.
The poverty will get you down, and the bureaucracy tries your patience. Yet this is a country of great experience and amazing variety that draws the return of the most ardent traveler.
The Society In India
印度是这个世界上拥有第二多人口的国度，仅次于中国。估计约有十亿人数。人口增长率大约是一年2％。近30％的人口住在都市。这个国家共有20个城市是拥有超过一百万人口的。孟买是一个人口最稠密的城市──大约1,450万人。
India has the second-largest population in the world, exceeded only by that of China. It had an estimation of nearly a billion people. The growth rate of the population is around 2% per-annum. Nearly 30% of Indias people live in urban areas.
The country has more than 20 cities with populations of more than 1 million. Bombay is a city with the highest density of population - about 14.5 million people.
印度的种族并非清一色相同的。依照体型、肤色就可轻易的辨别出他们的家乡──来自西边的孟加利人比较矮；中部及北部的印度人较高较白。东部的Kashmiris人有显著的中亚洲人脸孔。而南方的则是皮肤黝黑的淡米尔人。
The Indian people are not a homogeneous group. It is easy to tell the difference between the shorter Bengalis of the east, the taller and fairer people of the central and north, the distinct central Asian features of the Kashmiris in the west and the dark-skinned Tamils in the south.
印度社会由许多不同文化风俗信仰及语言的人组成（印度有超过800种语言或乡土语言。在书写及言谈方面都不同。有15种语言是受官方承认。国语是Hindi但只在北印度被使用。在印度的其他地方则使用各州的语言。
但是英语在印度却普遍的被使用）。根据调查，印度有4,636种族群，组成不同的部落及阶级（这就造成了社会上的一些敌对现象及北印度的种族及宗教冲突）。因为印度有各式的种族，因此指定某一种文化是属于“印度”是不恰当的。
Indias society represents a dazzling array of different kinds of people along with their different cultures, religions, languages （India has more than 800 languages and dialects, which are different in its written and spoken form.
It has 15 officially recognized languages. Its national language is Hindi but it is mainly used in north India. In other parts of India, they will use the language of their state. However, English is widely used in all parts of India） and customs.
According to a survey, there are 4,636 ethnic groups existing in India, representing a variety of tribes and castes （This brought about the differences in the society and the much reported ethnic and religious unrest in northern India）.
Because of the diversity of the people in India, it is inappropriate to identify any one culture as the "Indian Culture."
虽然阶级制度已经式微，但还是普遍的存在社会上，尤其是少受教育的族群。低级级的人很难和高级级的人沟通。出生在低级级的人很少有机会长进。
The caste system although weakened is still prevalent in the society especially among the less educated. It is difficult for the lower caste to mingle with those of the higher caste. Those born into the lower caste have little opportunity to progress.
给小费已经融入印度的行事模式内。外国人如果不想随从此制度的话，很可能会以不愉快的争执收场。虽然很多人把Baksheesh当着是给小费，它也代表着济贫。您只需付几个卢比，就能把事情办妥。
Baksheesh or tipping is an integral part of the system. Foreigners trying to fight this system may end up with unpleasant argument.
Although most people think of baksheesh in terms of tipping, it also refers to giving alms. Baksheesh will open closed doors, and get things done. You only need to tip a few rupees.
印度人是保守的民族。女人的穿着不会太过暴露。她们穿“Saris”及以布或帕子遮盖头。在公车中，男女不得同坐。
Indians are conservative people. The ladies do not over expose themselves, wearing saris and wear a cloth/veil over their head. In public transport men and women are not allowed to sit together.
印度民族受教育的比率是全国人口的53％。男人比女人多受教育的比数是64％及39％。
The literacy rate is 53% nationally. Men are generally more literate than women - 64% to 39% respectively.
印度主要是农业国家。农产品的出口占了国家收入的20％及雇用全人口的50％；40％的人民活在贫穷水平线之下。11％的通货膨胀率快要失去政府的控制。虽然有一大群中产阶级的人民，但是国家的个人收入一年只有12,000卢比（美金286）或一天等于35卢比（美金0.80）。因为就业机会少，很多人都移居城市。但是来到城市后，他们往往变成各处找吃的“市民”。
India is a predominantly agricultural country. Agriculture sector accounts for about 20% of GDP and employs over 50% of the population. 40% of the population lives on or below the poverty. The inflation rate of 11% is threatening to get out of control.
Despite the existence of a large middle class, the national GNP per capita income is only INR 12,000 （US 286） per annum or around INR 35 （US 80 cents） per day.
Due to the lack of job opportunities, more people are migrating to the cities, only to find themselves as the "street people" scavenging for food.
印度拥有各种不同的宗教。不单有世界上各种普遍的宗教，它也是兴都教及佛教的发源地。虽然宗教种类多，但是兴都教却是最普遍的（兴都教62.4％，回教12.6％，基督教7.3％，锡克教2.8％，Jainism2.2％，佛教2％，其他9.1％.）
India has a variety of religions. Apart from having nearly all the worlds popular religion, it is also the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Despite having a vast variety of religions, Hinduism is by far the most popular （Hinduism - 62.4%, Muslim - 12.6%, Christianity - 7.3%, Sikhism - 2.8%, Jainism - 2.2%, Buddhism - 2%, Others - 9.1%）.
The Life Of Our Believers In India
我们在印度有800位信徒，分散在六处教会，两处祈祷所及五处聚会所。（大多数在TamilNadu省，一小部份在Karnataka省）
In India we have about 800 believers from 6 Churches, 2 Prayer Houses and 5 Places of Worship （mostly in Tamil Nadu state; a small minority in Karnataka state）.
大多数的教会是在市镇──小城及乡村（Pammal, Chengalput, Tirunilai, Paduvancherry, Bangalore, Veppur, Ariyalur, Neyveli, Kuppanapuram, Karimanagar）。两间在郊外（Otteri及Tiruvothiyur）及一间在工业区外围（Ambatur）.
Most of the churches are located in the urban areas - town and villages （Pammal, Chengalput, Tirunilai, Paduvancherry, Bangalore, Veppur, Ariyalur, Neyveli, Kuppanapuram and Karimanagar）, two are located at the outskirt of the city （Otteri and Tiruvothiyur） and one at the outskirt of an industrial estate （Ambatur）.
Pammal及Otteri在过去被称为“收容区”（英殖民时，人民分散，有一些人变成社会的“渣滓”，也就是贼或小偷，危害社会。因此，英国统治者就把他们限制在“收容区”）。
Pammal and Otteri are also previously called "Settlement" （during the time of the British, most of the people are scattered and they are the social outcast and are robbers and thieves, endangering the society; as such the British confine them in the Settlement）.
我们在印度的信徒几乎都是淡米尔人。因为阶级制度，大部份信徒都是来自相同的阶级及家庭成员或亲戚同住一个地方。因此，结婚对象也是限制在同一阶级或来自同一个家庭（一定是亲戚）。
Almost all of our members in India are Tamilians. Due to the caste system, most of the believers are integrated to a certain locality where people of the same caste dwells and most are from the same family - relatives. At such, marriages are confine to the same caste, from the same family （should be relatives）.
大部份居住在小镇或郊外的信徒都有工作而且是中等的收入者。那些住在乡村的可以说生活水准是在贫穷以上（有一些在小城市工作）。但是有一些则是贫穷的。
Most of the believers who dwells in towns and outskirt of city are working people and are average income earners. Those who live in villages are considered above poverty （there are some who works in the city）, but there are some who are poor.
失业也是我们的一部份信徒所面对的困扰。
Unemployment is also a set back for some of our members.
基本上，本会信徒过着简单及纯朴的生活。吃的方面也是一样（天天吃蔬菜及一个星期吃一次肉）。生活单调（几乎没有娱乐），不过拥有一个单纯的信仰。
Basically the lives of our members are simple; they eat simple food （daily vegetarians and once a week they take meat）; they live simple life （almost no entertainment）, and a simple faith.