Bharatiya Pragna - Dr. Th Chowdary
Bharatiya Pragna - Dr. Th Chowdary
Bharatiya Pragna - Dr. Th Chowdary
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
H as the time come for the Government<br />
to set up a National Commission to investigate<br />
religious conversions in India? Certainly. Let<br />
the Nation know how many conversions have<br />
taken place from—and into—Hinduism, Islam,<br />
Christianity, Sikhism and other faiths since 1947.<br />
Let the commission throw light on the districts<br />
where, and how, significant changes in religious<br />
demography have taken place, and whether conversions<br />
have created resentment and social disharmony<br />
in their wake.<br />
An unbiased commission would reveal<br />
three irrefutable facts: (1) Christianity accounts<br />
for the largest number of converts; (2) Christian<br />
organisations conduct service activities—schools,<br />
hospitals, poverty-alleviation programmes, relief<br />
during calamities, etc.—with exemplary dedication<br />
and professionalism. However, some of them,<br />
though not all, make the conversion agenda a part<br />
of their seva agenda; (3) Foreign funds supporting<br />
these charitable activities have greatly aided<br />
conversions.<br />
Take, for example, the following information,<br />
pertaining to the Foreign Contribution<br />
(Regulation) Act (FCRA), available on the<br />
website of the Union Home Ministry. During<br />
2005-06, Rs 7,877 crore was received by way of<br />
foreign donations to various NGOs, up from Rs<br />
26<br />
Conversions with foreign-funded charity<br />
Sudheendra Kulkarni<br />
While giving the statistical data on the conversion activities in India, the writer<br />
calls for rejection of unethical conversions.<br />
5,105 crore in 2003-04. Tamil Nadu (Rs 1,610<br />
crore) and Andhra Pradesh (Rs 1,011 crore) were<br />
among the highest recipients. <strong>Th</strong>e highest foreign<br />
donors were Gospel Fellowship Trust USA (Rs<br />
229 crore), Gospel for Asia (Rs 137 crore), Foundation<br />
Vincent E Ferrer, Spain (Rs 104.23 crores)<br />
and Christian Aid, UK (Rs 80.16 crores). <strong>Th</strong>e<br />
largest recipients were World Vision (Rs 256<br />
crore), Caritas India (Rs 193 crore), Rural Development<br />
Trust Andhra Pradesh (Rs 127 crore),<br />
Churches Auxiliary for Social Action (Rs. 95.88<br />
crores) and Gospel For Asia (Rs. 58.29 crore).<br />
<strong>Th</strong>e funds received by some of these organisations<br />
have trebled or quadrupled in just three years since<br />
the formation of the UPA Government.<br />
If the official Christian population in<br />
India is barely 3 per cent, why do Christian NGOs<br />
receive the largest share of foreign funds? From<br />
Christian organisations that are known to support<br />
evangelism in many Asian countries?<br />
In my travels in Karnataka, my home<br />
state, I have seen significant conversions to Christianity<br />
having taken place in recent years wherever<br />
World Vision and other foreign-funded<br />
NGOs started their charitable activities. Kannada<br />
newspapers in the past few weeks have carried<br />
graphic accounts of how proselytisation is packaged<br />
with charity, especially targeting vulnerable<br />
November & December 2008 <strong>Bharatiya</strong> <strong>Pragna</strong>