Proselytisation

Sir, - The article ``What leads to proselytisation'' by Mr. T. R. Anandan (The Hindu, May 9) was both inspiring and stimulating. While touching succinctly on the core tenets of the Hindu religion, it also throws up questions on various issues (other than those mentioned in the article) influencing conversions.

In this age when people are easily influenced by slick marketing efforts to immediately try out new products, it is not surprising to find the proselytisation efforts of other religions becoming so successful. While not demeaning the marketing-like efforts to propagate their religion, we need to look at two factors that contribute to the high conversion rates they achieve: 1) they take great pains to reach out to the masses and 2) they present their religion in a manner that promises to offer instant succour to those battered by the rigours of life.

Hinduism is like a precious gem well polished and locked inside layers and layers of iron caskets with holes. At this age, only a few layers have been removed and what we see is the faint sparkle that filters through so many layers of iron and holes. Those few who have had the vision to see the gem in its full sparkle need to open the locks for everyone to see. This is to say that upholders of the Hindu religion who realise its immense spiritual power need to market it - not as an offensive attack against competition, but as an effort to renew the faith that people are fast losing in Hinduism and to confirm the faith in people like me who are constantly shuttling between belief and non-belief.

We need to make people realise that Hinduism is a way of life that goes beyond rituals and caste divisions. A revolution in renewing Hinduism needs to take place, shorn of fanaticism, ritualism and orthodoxy. The manner in which steps are taken to make the religion reach out to people should befit its greatness.

M. Priya,

Coimbatore(TN)

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