Joseph D'souza is an Indian bishop, missionary, and Christian and Dalit rights activist.
11 Facts About Joseph D'souza
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Joseph D'souza was born into an upper caste Christian family, living in what he calls "Christian ghettos" surrounded by low caste and Dalit people.
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Joseph D'souza married Mariam, who came from an Adivasi tribal group, despite the opposition of some of his family and friends.
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Joseph D'souza joined the Indian branch of evangelist George Verwer's Operation Mobilisation as an international vice president, and was 2012 promoted to CEO of the India branch, which has left the movement of OM in 2014.
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Joseph D'souza has set up 107 English Medium Education Centers educating nearly 25,000 Dalit children working with Operation Mercy India Foundation.
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In 2002, Joseph D'souza co-founded the Dignity Freedom Network, formerly known as the Dalit Freedom Network, first in the United States and, later, expanded to other countries.
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Joseph D'souza has discussed human rights issues with civil society leaders and politicians in India, Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil and the United States, and at human rights commission meetings.
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Joseph D'souza has given many examples of cases where Dalits have been attacked when they resisted oppression.
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Joseph D'souza asked them to refrain from "bombastic slogans, militant language and a general demeaning of Indian culture".
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Joseph D'souza has disputed that Christians are involved in forced, fraudulent and manipulated conversions.
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Joseph D'souza has stated that conversion by force is against the teachings of Jesus.