MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

Malda, Aug. 22: Sakiruddin became Samlran and Michael became-Raja as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad
(VHP) and Bajrang Dal con verted one Muslim and five Christian famines in a yagna in Habibpur block
today. The district administration had no clue about the conversion ' even hours after it took place at the
Bharat Sevashram Sangha Ashram at Tajpur village, about 30 km from Malda. The Christ-' -ian families,
all of them tribal, were from Serampore and Kendua villages under the Habibpur police station, while the
Muslim fam ily was from Suryadighi in Gajol. "We have not received any information on any conversion.
But, we will take action if anyone has converted anybody against their will," district magistrate Ashok Bala
said. Superintendent of police Pankaj Dutta said he had not heard about it. "We got no prior information
that any conversion would take place in any village," he said. VHP district president Parameshwar
Mushaddi, who was pre sent at the ceremony, said 15 people from six famines were conver ted at the
ashram. "They converted on their own. We only helped them," he said. But the converted families told a
different tale. Sakiruddin Sabji, a labourer, who converted with his wife and - two children, said he had
been assured that his children would be given "free education" at the ashram school at Tajpur. Sakiruddin
said he had changed his and his family's first-and-last names in an affidavit on August 16. While the man
became Samiran Choudhury, his wife Barm Begam became Bandana. Raja Hansda, who gave up his
Christian name today, said VHP officials had told him his family would get "a lot of benefits" from "the
Indian government if we become Hindus". "They have al ready given us these new clothes," he said,
holding them out. At Tajpur, lying along the Malda-Habibpur state highway, the ceremony began around
11 am at the sprawling ashram, with puja and yagna. The 15 were converted separately, to the shouts of
jai Sri Ram. The puja ended around 3 pm, with all the families treated to a sumptuous vegetarian meal.
(Times of India, 23. 8. 2002)
24 th Aug
Family finds acceptance after embracing Islam…. (7)
Mewat (Gurgaon), Aug 23 : AFTER YEARS of dis crimination in his native Tadakpur village, Mohar Singh
and his family are now considered equals. The family is among the 40 Hindus who adopted Is lam in this
Muslim domi nated region in the last month. His new name is Jamalludin. Ever since, his family has been
the centre of a controversy with the VHP claiming the family was forced to convert. They however refute
the charge. "Where were these Hindu leaders when we were being discrimi nated against everyday? None
of them even thought of us when we were Hindus. Then, why so much hue and cry when we have chosen
Is lam," asks Javed, son of Jamulludin. (Hindustan Times, 24.8.2002)
25 th Aug
Church cries foul (7)
THE BHARATIYA Janata Party Government in Goa as well as at the Centre has once again come under a
clout of being anti-mi norities, this time over an issue of shifting of a five-century-old Christian church,
supposedly for national security purpose. The Christian community in Goa is agitated over the Defence
Ministry's directive to shift the Church of Our Lady of Brotas, built in 1500 AD on the Anjadiv island in
Goa-Karnataka border area, due to the Sea Bird — Asia's biggest naval project built by the Indian
Government. While Sea Bird, in a letter sent by its station commander Comdr BR Rao to the Catholic
Association of Goa, has already instructed to shift the Church bv May 2003, BJP Chief Minister Manohar
Parrikar and Opposition leader and former Congress CM, Pratapsing Rane, have also supported the
move, giving a nasty shock to the church and the Christian com munity there. Pioneer 25.8.02)
27 th Aug
Archbishop condemns reported conversions (7)
NEW DELHI, AUG. 26. l:aced with a letter of protest from the National (Commission for Minorities (MCM)
on reports of conversion of Sikhs to Christianity in Bhilai, the Delhi Archbishop, Vincent M. Concessao,
has responded with a condemnation of conversion by "force 1 e>r unworthy means" while reiterating dielundamental
Right of every Indian to propagate one's faith. Responding to the NCCY1 Vice-Chairman,
Tailochan Singh's letter to the Catholic Bishops' Conference' of India in his capacity as its vice-president,
Archbishop Concessao has pleaded ignorance of the cases brought to his notice'. However, he has
expressed willingness to make enquiries and inform the Commission accordingly. (Hindu 27.8.02)
28th Aug