Hoo Haa about Conversion- Khuswant Singh http://cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=fromthepress&subsection=edit orials&xfile=June2006_malice_standard143&child=malice
Distressed people who convert to Christianity do so neither by force nor allurement; it’s only because of the setting of a good example of social service I am partly the product of a Christian Mission College: I did my intermediate for two years in St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. Every morning we had a half-hour class on the Bible. Attendance was optional. I was a regular because I wanted to know what Christianity was all about. Although earlier at Modern School both the Principle Kamla Bose and her niece Nilima who was our English teacher were Christians, I was not aware of it. Like most other Indians I looked down on Indian Christians as Karantas. I remain grateful to Christian missionary work for what I learnt about their work. The Bible opened my eyes – the riches of the English language. Though an avowed agnostic, I continue to read a passage or two every day, as I do of scriptures of other languages. They have a rich vocabulary and noble sentiments. What impressed me most was the Christian contribution to the development of our country. They run the best schools, colleges and hospitals. Whenever any catastrophe like an earthquake or flood occurs, they are the first to arrive on the scene to provide medical assistance, food, shelter and whatever else is needed. If people in distress are impressed with them, and some convert to their faith, it should not surprise anyone. It is neither force nor allurement which makes them do so; only setting of a good example of social service. I have learnt to admire and respect Christian endeavour to better the lot of the poor and the deprived. I spent some days with Mother Teresa in Calcutta. Although all the institutions she set up to help the poor and the needy were headed by Christian nuns, almost everyone of the men and women who were taken care of by them, belonged to other faiths. She never asked anyone to convert to Christianity. The only words I heard her utter to people who were dying were in Bengali Bhogoban aachhen — there is God. I concede that conversions cause tensions in the family. People either convert to another faith en masse when they think they will get a better deal or want to marry someone of another caste or faith. Seldom, if ever, do people change their faith to save their lives. A lie perpetuated over the centuries is that Islam was spread by the sword. If that was true, all Indians would have been Muslims as Muslims ruled the country for several centuries. Islam spread in India through the influence of Sufi saints who preached equality and harmony. No Muslim armies ever conquered Indonesia. Their forefathers accepted Islam on their own. Why did Baba Sahib Ambedkar ask his Dalit followers to convert to Buddhism? Did anyone force or bribe him to do so? No. He felt that upper caste Hindus had treated them like dirt for too long and it was time to break. So what is this hoo haa about conversion now? Six states, mostly governed by the Hindu fundamentalists -– BJP and/or its allies: Arunachal, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, have passed legislation forbidding conversion on pain of imprisonment from two to five years and a fine of Rs. 50,000. Attempt to “convert directly or otherwise” has been made a non-bailable offence. They call this draconian law “Freedom of Religion Bill”. It is exactly the opposite, as it deprives citizens of the right to choose their faith; it is against their freedom to choose their religions, enshrined in our Constitution. I hope if and when the matter comes up before the Supreme Court, it will be struck down.’ Meanwhile, the Sangh Parivar led by the RSS is busy with a re-conversion programme of its own brand. It is called ghar vaapsi (return home) to Hinduism. It is mostly aimed at Adivasis (to be known as Vanvasis – forest dwellers). The very nomenclature proves that they were not Hindus but animists with deities and rituals of their own. However, to be fair to the Parivar, there are positive aspects of this zeal to bring them back into the Hindu fold. They have opened schools – Shishu mandirs and Vidyalayas in tribal belts. If they really mean business, apart from persuading them to celebrate Hindu festivals, they might also do something to break the stranglehold of caste – panchayats which continue to ostracise people who break caste rules. They have no place in a modern society. Comment: This may not be related to Goa, but relating to the debates curently going on Conversions. Forwarded by Edward Verdes _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
