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Conversions

B. S. Raghavan

THE ISSUE of religious conversions has gripped the public mind in India and abroad, following the incidents of arson and murder in some states involving Christian priests and churches. However reprehensible such episodes may be , there is absolutely no sense in brushing the contributory factors under the carpet and mouthing platitudes about Constitutional provisions permitting the propagation of religion, and the individual's right to convert to whatever reli gion (s)he wants.

There is no question that even non-practising Hindus who belong to no political party, and who certainly are no votaries of either the BJP or the Sangh Parivar, are deeply perturbed over the status of second class citizens, to which the majority religiou s community has been relegated under the pretext of upholding secularism and minority rights. It is the Hindus who are at the receiving end of humiliations, by being forced to put up meekly and mutely, to the denigration of the precepts and tenets that h ave been the sheet anchors of their faith for millennia.

Leading lights of political parties claiming to be agnostic, if not atheistic, think nothing of hurting the feelings of Hindus, whereas they act like timid lambs before other religious groups, taking extreme care not to say or do anything, even if warran ted or legitimate in the public interest. For instance, they will revile the Hindu traditions and practices and foulmouth Hindu gods and goddesses, but they dare not say a word about the beliefs and rituals of Islam or Christianity.

There has been a build-up of deeply felt emotions among the Hindus, about being maligned and pushed around in the one country (apart from Nepal) they can call theirs on this planet. To put the blame on the Sangh Parivar alone, would be to shut one's eyes to the widely prevalent resentment and anguish at the brazenness with which at least some of the more insensitive and overzealous sections of lower clergy have been ``propagating'' their religion.

Proselytisation by Christian padres to bring salvation and redemption to ``lesser breeds beneath the law'' in tribal areas and isolated villages, is no figment of imagination of fanatical Hindus roused to passion by the Sangh Parivar. Two eminent and aut hentic exponents of comparative religions, both holding positions of influence and authority, have testified to the objectionable methods adopted by Christian missionaries.

Archbishop Samineni Arulappa, till recently in charge of the diocese of Hyderabad, and Dr. David Frawley, head of the American Institute of Vedic Studies, have, from their respective standpoints, deplored the compulsive urge felt by Christians in general , and missionaries in particular, to rescue `heathens and pagans' and expand their religious base by fair means or foul.

Both trace the malady to the mistaken belief that the only true religion is Christianity and to the imperviousness of Christians to the incomparably sublime and superb vistas of Hinduism before which the sayings of latter-day religions seem simplistic. A nd both stress the need for humility and respect towards an ancient faith like Hinduism. Their voice deserves to be heard.