History of NASA

NASA's Beginnings History of the Organization
Nazareth Association for Social Awareness (NASA) is a Christ-centered Do and Preach (Acts 1:1) organization, registered under the Indian Societies Registration Act, the Foreign Contribution and Regulation Act, and the Income Tax Exemption Act 12A.

NASA was established in 1980 by a dedicated group of Dalits (considered Untouchables) and Dalit Christians who had experienced the savage practice of untouchability, debasement, social, economic and other oppression sanctioned by the evil caste system.

This team dedicated themselves to liberating their people, bringing about social and economic justice, breaking social barriers built upon the caste system, and leading the people from the darkness to the Light.

NASA currently operates in 500 villages, serving about 120,000 Dalits, Adivasis (Tribals) and other less privileged peoples in East Godavari, West Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh state, India.
About the Founder

Dr.N.Christopher PremDas and Mrs. Jyothi PremDas
My Vision: "Yes" to Promise Keeper's Call

"He is the one who keeps every promise forever, who gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners." Psalms 146: verse 6-8

One day in March 1985, my wife Jyothi and I were praying in a closed room when I saw a greater light : Jesus on the Rock. Our Lord told me to leave my workplace and go where He leads.

A few days later I went to a village near the town of Tuni in the southeast Indian state of Andhra Pradesh to distribute relief aid to the survivors of a major fire. After a day’s work in 145 degrees heat I sat, parched with thirst, in the shade of a tree near a house. I asked the lady of the house to give me a glass of drinking water.

“What is your caste?" she immediately asked. When I replied “I am a Dalit”, she refused to give me water. The reason? I was a Dalit, an Untouchable.

Caste segregates all Indians into upper, lower and untouchable castes. Under this pernicious social pecking order Dalits are defined as polluted, inferior, almost sub-human. In India, according to the ancient Hindu lawmaker Manu all men are not born equal, they are divided by birth and caste. I have been humiliated with the word ‘untouchable’ since childhood. In school I was forbidden to sit beside other children or touch the class water jug.

I had barely recovered from the woman’s insult when two villagers approached. They were Dalits, naked but for loincloths and near-starved. They were nothing like human beings created in His image. I looked into their lifeless eyes. They told me their woes: How they had surrendered their children to upper caste landlords as bonded labourers; how their women were exploited and abused; how Dalits were barred from the public well and the temple; how Dalit customers in tea shops had to drink outside, from separate glasses to other customers.

I instantly realized that these encounters were nothing but the Promise Keeper's ordainment and guidance of my mission to stay and work for the liberation of the Dalits and other deprived brethren without basic needs like drinking water, medical facilities, homes, roads, hygiene and protection for their children from exploitation by the rich and the upper castes.

I bowed before the Lord and asked; “Is this the place you want me to go? The next week I resigned my job. I moved to Tuni where, together with my fellow Dalits and Dalit Christians, I established Nazareth Association for Social Awareness (NASA) to empower my people and bring them out from the darkness and into the Greater Light.

Exodus 3:7: The LORD said: "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them."

I have been strengthened by Him to do many things for His children walking in the wilderness.

Help construct over 12,000 permanent houses for Dalits and tribal people living in huts.
Acquire and develop more than 22,000 acres of land for landless Dalits and tribals.
Motivate so-called Untouchable people to break the shackles of caste. Today Dalits are entering hotels and questioning upper caste authority.
Construct 32 houses for 120 lepers who were living and dying on the streets. NASA provides monthly support to save them from starvation and liberate them from begging.
Provide support to 300 AIDS victims to save them from starvation.
Help thousands of Cyclone, Flood, Fire and Tsunami victims by providing Relief and Rehabilitation.
Relieve thousands of Dalit children from the bonded labour (Paleru) system. In 1985, less than ten percent of Dalit children in remote villages went to school, but today seventy percent do.
Care for 450 orphans/destitute children in the Light of Love Children's Home run by NASA with the support of Scottish Love in Action (SLA), saving them from begging and exploitation.
Assist many young people through College and University by paying for fees and books.
Help women escape sexual exploitation by enabling them to start women's federations and save a total of 20 million rupees to liberate themselves from exploitation and money lenders.
Conduct pastors' retreats, youth retreats and preach the gospel in rural India. We are reaching hundreds of villages through Nazareth Ministries.

God is sending His chosen children to this place and keeping His helping hand with us, as promised.

I am walking and walking in the light of the Lord, in His foot prints as a small shepherd (John 21:15-19) with many experiences. Look at the programs. Pray if you are inspired and if you would like to share in His work through NASA, Nazareth Ministries, just email me at premdasnasa@yahoo.com

In His merciful mighty hands

Dr. Christopher Prem Das,
Mrs. Jyothi Prem Das.