SAR News Vol.22.No.24 Jun.17, 2002 Indian Christian Population is on a Decline: Study
Bangalore: SAR News The Hindutva revivalists and the militants belonging to the Sangh Parivar are waging a propaganda war against the Christians by accusing the latter of converting Hindus in large numbers and bringing out false data about the activities of the Christians. But contrary to the diehard bigots' claims, the Indian Christian population according to the Government of India Census of 2000-2001 is 22100000, i.e., around 22-odd million. Comparing these figures to the Census figures of 1991 reveals that the number of Christians in India is on a rapid decline. Here are the facts and figures: 1951 - 2.5 (in percent); 1961 - 2.44; 1971 - 2.60; 1981 - 2 .43; 1991 - 2.34; 2001 - 2.18. The Christians have lost nearly 4 million members. They have been either converted or reconverted by some Hindu outfits like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Vanavasi Kalayan Parishad and others. According to a recent study, another shocking revelation is that the Syrian Christians of Kerala are on the verge of decimation. The recent study by a Christian scholar (reported on vernacular TV channel also) says that the Syrian Christian community of Kerala would be decimated in a few decades due to various factors including migration, low fertility and extremely low growth rates. There are literally no conversions to the Syrian Christian Church of Kerala. The Hindu Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh has given a clean chit to the Orthodox and Mar Thoma Churches for obvious reasons. The Knanaya Church still believes in racial purity and its members are strictly endogamous. Like in the Hindu castes, one has to be born into the denomination. Incidentally, 30 percent of the Indian Christian population lives in Kerala. So one can anticipate the fate of the Church in India. To add to the woes, the Hindu revivalists are converting many Christian Adivasis and Dalits to Hinduism. A great lure and weapon is the denial of reservation to the Christians from the Adivasi and Dalit backgrounds. Another pocket of Christians - Goa - is also showing negative trends. There are reports of Christians being lured for reconversion. This is probably due to a grave mistake the Church had committed in the past. It also registered the caste identities of those who became Christians. The so-called upper castes want to preserve the caste supremacy and the Hindutva elements are cashing in on it. Evangelical activity is not reported to be anywhere near impressive. Like in Kerala, the anticipation is about a rapid decline in the Christian population. Here's a list of State-wise population of Christians in India Andhra Pradesh: 12,17,000 (1.83%); Arunachal Pradesh: 89,013 (10.3%); Assam: 7,44,000 (3.32%); Bihar: 8,44,000 (0.98%); Goa: 3,49,000 (29.86%); Gujarat: 1,81,753 (0.44%); Haryana: 15,700 (0.10%); Himachal Pradesh: 4,435 (0.09%); Karnataka: 8,60,000 (1.92%); Kerala: 56,22,000 (19.32%); Madhya Pradesh 4,27,000 (0.66%); Maharashtra: 8,85,000 (1.12%); Manipur: 6,27,000 (34.11%); Meghalaya: 11,64,000 (4.58%); Mizoram: 5,91,000 (85.73%); Nagaland: 10,58,000 (87.5%); Orissa: 6,66,000 (2.1%); Punjab: 2,25,000 (1.1%); Rajasthan: 48,000 (0.11%); Sikkim: 13,500 (3.3%); Tamil Nadu: 32,00,000 (5.7%); Tripura: 46,500 (1.68%); Uttar Pradesh: 2,00,000 (0.14%); West Bengal: 3,00,000 (0.56%); New Delhi: 83,000 (0.88%); Pondicherry: 63,000 (7.3%). (The figures are based on the official statistics. The figures for the three new States are included with the parent states). The statistics show that the talk of "aggressive evangelisation" and "mass conversion" is absolutely bogus. Technically and practically, the Indian Christians are on the losing side. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
