India, Feb. 16 -- This is a book by two redoubtable Jesuit scholars. Lancy Lobo is currently the Research Director of the Indian Social Institute in New Delhi, while Denzil Fernandes was its former Executive Director. Those familiar with this Institute's work in social services and research will find this a sufficient introduction to the authors' pedigree.

This book falls within the genre of previous works such as "The Christian Community and the National Mainstream" by Prof. Louis d'Silva of Bombay University and "The Catholic Community in India" by Ka Naa Subramaniam. Yet each contribution to this vast subject is a unique and Herculean effort in itself.

In the authors' own words, in today's vitiated socio-religious atmosphere, "this v...