Excellence and Integrity (Fostering the Greater Good as Adding Value to the Business of Life)

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This book, marking the celebration of Prof. Rev. Dr. Kondasingu Jesurathnam's 60th year, consists of several articles and essays, mostly from his colleagues and students, and provides an array of views that inform the perception and place of God's liberative acts in the ancient texts and modern thoughts. The book's title explains polyphonic voices that uphold the Liberation of God in multiple contexts of human life in the ancient biblical texts. At the same time, the hermeneutical principles employed lead its readers to discover the liberative acts of God in their contexts of life. It also informs various vantage points that unpack the liberative potentialities of the Bible.

Dr. Jesurathnam's approach to the scriptures is distinctive in its deep concern for the oppressed, especially the Dalit and subaltern communities. His interpretations, always rooted in the socio-political realities of the marginalized, challenge traditional readings of the Bible and open up fresh avenues for liberative thought. Through his meticulous scholarship, Dr. Jesurathnam has revealed the multifaceted ways in which divine revelation scan be understood in contexts of suffering, offering hope and transformative possibilities for oppressed people.

The theme of this festschrift, ""Deciphering Diverse Liberative Readings in Indian Biblical Studies"", aptly reflects Dr. Jesurathnam's life and ministry. His focus on the plurality of liberative acts of God in the Bible and his insistence on reading the Scriptures through the lens of marginality have inspired a generation of theologians, pastors, and students to engage more deeply with the liberative potential of the Bible. His influence has been profound, and this collection of essays, contributed by his friends, former students, and colleagues, serves as a testament to the far-reaching impact of his work.

Varaprasad Gosala is Professor of Old Testament, currently Principal of the Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad.

Jeeva Kumar Ravela is Professor of Old Testament at United Theological College, Bengaluru.

It is an immense privilege to write forward to the festschrift in honour of my friend, colleague and fellow minister in God's vineyard, Rev. Dr. Kondasingu Jesurathnam, whose profound scholarship and commitment to the liberation of the marginalized through Biblical interpretation has significantly shaped theological discourse in India and beyond. On the auspicious occasion of his 60th birthday, 'Shashtipoorthi,' it is fitting that we reflect on his groundbreaking work and celebrate his invaluable contributions to Old Testament studies and the cause of justice.

Dr. Jesurathnam's approach to the scriptures is distinctive in its deep concern for the oppressed, especially the Dalit and subaltern communities. His interpretations, always rooted in the socio-political realities of the marginalized, challenge traditional readings of the Bible and open up fresh avenues for liberative thought. Through his meticulous scholarship, Dr. Jesurathnam has revealed the multifaceted ways in which divine revelations can be understood in contexts of suffering, offering hope and transformative possibilities for oppressed peoples.

The theme of this festschrift, ""Deciphering Diverse Liberative Readings in Indian Biblical Studies"", aptly reflects Dr. Jesurathnam's life and ministry. His focus on the plurality of divine revelations in the Bible and his insistence on reading the Scriptures through the lens of marginality have inspired a generation of theologians, pastors, and students to engage more deeply with the liberative potential of the Bible. His influence has been profound, and this collection of essays, contributed by his friends, former students, and colleagues, serves as a testament to the far-reaching impact of his work.

As we honour Dr. Jesurathnam, we are reminded that Biblical scholarship is not merely an intellectual endeavour but a calling to speak truth to power and to stand in solidarity with the oppressed. Dr. Jesurathnam has embodied this calling with grace and courage throughout his distinguished career. It is my sincere hope that this festschrift will inspire new generations of scholars and students to continue in his footsteps, exploring the depths of God's revelations and their implications for a world yearning for justice and reconciliation.

May this volume serve as both a tribute to Rev. Dr. Jesurathnam's legacy and a source of inspiration for the ongoing theological task of liberating Biblical interpretation.

This book, marking the celebration of Prof. Rev. Dr. Kondasingu Jesurathnam's 60 year, consists of several articles and essays, mostly from his colleagues and students, and provides an array of views that inform the perception and place of God's liberative acts in the Ancient texts and modern thoughts. The book's title explains polyphonic voices that uphold the liberation of God in multiple contexts of human life in the ancient biblical texts. At the same time, the hermeneutical principles employed lead its readers to discover the liberative acts of God in their contexts of life. It also informs various vantage points that unpack the liberative potentialities of the Bible.

The book is divided into five sections. Section One presents Prof. Jesurathnam's life, ministry, and academic contributions, highlighting interesting turns in his pastoral and teaching ministry. The two essays by Varaprasad Gosala and Jeeva Kumar Ravela take a glimpse into Prof. Jesurathnam's life and ministry, emphasizing his journey through pastoral and academic ministries.

Section Two talks about the biblical interpretative contexts in an Indian church, inviting and influencing the reading communities with the subaltern, Dalit and Tribal interpretations of the Bible. David Joy, in his article, Towards an Indian Subaltern Hermeneutics, while evaluating the immense collection of biblical interpretative methods and models, challenges the present reading communities and native scholars to consider the sociocultural, political and religious realities to read and interpret the biblical texts to navigate the subaltern communities in their search for a just society. The Biblical hermeneutics must reach out to the faith communities to accentuate the significance of the Bible in the day to day life. B. Lalnunzira, in his article Hidden Story of the Subalterns in the Healing of Naaman, examines the complex relationship between the Assyrian and Israelite empires during the 9th century B.C.E., focusing on the healing narrative of Naaman, an Assyrian military officer, as described in 2 Kings 5:1-14. By applying a socio-literary approach with a subaltern perspective, the article aims to reveal the hidden stories of these subaltern figures, which have often been neglected in interpretations throughout history. Sam P. Mathew, in his article, A subaltern reading of Mark 10: 46-52, expounds a paradigmatic story of the liberation struggle of the subalterns of society. It reinforces the point that the subalterns need to throw away the mantle of victimhood and play an active role as agents not only in initiating their liberation but also in remaining steadfast in persisting with the liberation struggle amid adversities to become independent, affirming their agency, dignity and self-worth. Johnson Thomaskutty, in his article, Reading the Scripture in 'Groaning: A Contextual Biblical Hermeneutic in India Today, examines the development of a defensive hermeneutic among Christian communities in India in response to the dominant Hindu nationalism. It highlights how biblical readers, particularly the marginalized, employ a ""hermeneutic of groaning"" to understand and respond to persecution, political marginalization, and communal conflicts while maintaining their faith and identity within the broader socio-political context. Varaprasad Gosala, in his article The Weeping Prophet and the Dyche: Lament, Resilience and Quest for Justice draws a parallel between the experiences of the biblical prophet Jeremiah, known as the Weeping Prophet, and the life of Dalits in India. Just as Jeremiah endured physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges, Dalits faced caste-based discrimination and oppression. The essay emphasizes that expressing sorrow can foster unity and drive social change while recognizing Dalits strength and determination in their ongoing fight for equality and justice. Jeeva Kumar's article Culture of Knowledge in the Book of Job: Exploring Dalit Cultural Interpretation explores the culture of knowledge that the Book of Job presents as its central argument. The views of Job and his friends show how ancient communities struggled to understand and establish various views by using cultural and moral values through the discourses of knowledge. By venturing into Dalit cultural interpretation, this article argues that Dalit cultural discourses must initiate discovering the culture of knowledge that Dalit communities possess to counter the hegemonic cultural discourses that humiliate and marginalize Dalits.

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