THE INTERNATIONAL - International Indian

[ i BELiEVE ]
Who can stop conversion?
“I believe that wisdom lies in understanding the causes which escalate the processes of
hatred. So it becomes our responsibility to fathom the mystery of conversion.”
[ By Dr UDit raj ]
Unless the problems inherent to
Hinduism are addressed, conversion
can never be stopped
I believe that the right wing Hindus
never had any issue with Christians or
with conversion when it came to using, and
exploiting Christian institutions. They have
had no problem in availing Christian medical
facilities. No abhorrence has been evinced
toward convent schools, where the so-called
upper castes were taught the English that
got them jobs abroad and enabled them to
articulate their views at global forums.
That changed around 1998, when the BJP
came to power. Targeting Christians became
politically useful. A massive campaign was
launched against Sonia Gandhi, making an
issue of a person of foreign and Christian
origin wielding power over a Hindu majority
country. It culminated in the hatred for
Christians, who are now seen as villains
instead of the gentle community they had
hitherto been known as.
I believe that wisdom lies in understanding
the causes which escalate the processes of
hatred. So it becomes our responsibility to
fathom the mystery of conversion, usually
assigned as the basis for attacks on Christians.
The RSS, Bajrang Dal and VHP blame those
said to offer inducements to convert; they also
accuse the global Church of pumping money
into India to influence the country’s havenots.
In such a context, the word ‘conversion’
becomes synonymous with ‘terrorism’, a
connotation that could not be further from
the truth. What does conversion mean except
the choice of another faith or ideology?
Laws against conversion are in operation in
several states and, to date, not one case has
been reported where a conversion was made
in the greed for inducements.
“What worries
the Sangh Parivar
is not the welfare of
dalits but a possible
reduction in uppercaste
Hindu numbers.
i believe that their
prejudice is so
entrenched that they
are not in a position
to sense the agony
of those who suffer
under the caste-based
system.
”
What worries the Sangh Parivar is not the
welfare of dalits but a possible reduction in
upper-caste Hindu numbers. I believe that
their prejudice is so entrenched that they
are not in a position to sense the agony of
those who suffer under the caste-based
system. In general, Hindu believers treat the
disadvantaged as sinners reaping the fruits of
a past life. Thus, a leper is to be shunned;
the exploitation of dalits is justified. On the
contrary, I believe that a Christian finds
an opportunity for spiritual fulfilment in
serving the leper and healing the sick.
Before they build churches, Christians
normally build schools and hospitals. Why do
major Hindu religious establishments involve
themselves only in collecting donations and
not in performing such community services?
Let us examine the few hopes still left for
Hinduism. Are dalits, tribals and members of
backward groups allowed to become priests?
Tall claims are made of dalits being trained
to become priests or being welcomed to take
up Hindu rituals.
But, on the ground, I believe that the
traditional situation has not changed. Though
physical untouchability receded in the 20th
century, the mental block remains. The
Hindu Right and the so called upper castes
see ‘saving’ Hinduism as their mission. But,
in this competition with Islam, Christianity
and Buddhism, the superficial brotherhood
shown by right-wing Hindu organisations
toward tribals and dalits does not ultimately
win their hearts.
Unless the problems inherent to Hinduism
are addressed, conversion can never be
stopped. A Christian marries his or her coreligionist;
a Muslim does the same. Is that
possible for Hindus across caste? Are the
upper castes ready to welcome reservation for
their Hindu brothers? Is their society ready
for inter-dining and for inter-caste marriages?
Without these conditions being fulfilled,
no one on earth can stop the rejection of
Hinduism by the so-called lower castes.
I believe that the so-called upper castes
can only stop conversion if they introspect,
eradicate the evil in the caste system, and
visualise themselves in a situation where they
and their families are carrying human excreta
on their heads. Then, they will feel the suffering
of those condemned to do so for life.
Dr Udit Raj is the National Chairman of the All
Inda Confederation of SC/ST Organizations &
Indian Justice Party and is based in Delhi.
THE INTERNATIONAL INDIAN 43