From: [email protected]
To:
Deflated: “Ghar Wapasi” Balloon of RSS: Open Letter to Shri Mohan Bhagwat;
February 6, 2015 at 12:00 am
(SILENT VOICE, VOICE MAIL)
I am citizen of this great country called India, also known
as Bharat, is a Union of States. It is a Sovereign Socialist Secular
Democratic Republic with a parliamentary system of government. The
Republic is governed in terms of the Constitution of India which was
adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November, 1949 and came into
force on 26th January, 1950.
This Constitution is Supreme and it has given me the right of
Equality and FREEDOM of CHOICE to choose my Religion. I am PROUD to be
an INDIAN. No one can prevent me from following my Religion.
GREG
AN OPEN LETTER TO SHRI MOHAN BHAGWAT, SARSANGHCHALAK OF RASHTRIYA SWAYAMSEVAK
SANGHA (RSS)
GREG R PEREIRA
A7 Rodrigues Compound, Malwani Village, Marve Rd.
Malad (W), Mumbai – 400095;
Contact: Cell: 9870719628; E Mail: [email protected]
To,
3rd, February, 2015;
Shri Mohan Bhagwat
Sarsanghachalak,
Rashtriya Swayansevak Sangha (RSS),
Reshimbaug, Nagpur;
Maharashtra;
Mananiya Mohan Bhagwatji; before I come to the matter; let
me introduce myself to you. I am an Indian Citizen following Christian
Religion of Roman Catholic denomination. I am Catholic because I was
born in a Catholic family and according to the rituals, was baptized to
be so; therefore, I am Catholic. I am proud to be an Indian as well as
to be a Catholic. And being Catholic does not make me a lesser Indian. INDIA
that is BHARAT is my JANMABHOOMI and KARMABHOOMI TOO.
You may wonder; why I am narrating my tale to you. Let me explain; this is in
the context of your speech in Kolkata on 21st of December, 2014; where you
staunchly defended Ghar Wapasi programmes by various fringe elements of your
organization. At Kolkata you said, ‘This
is our own country, our Hindu Rashtra. What we have lost in the past,
we will try to bring it back… if you don’t want to change into a Hindu,
then you should not convert Hindus”. This clearly implies that it is at your
behest these elements are active and running a so called Ghar Wapasi campaigns.
Whose Ghar Wapasi are you talking about and Where to, Mr. Sarsanghachalak?
Mr. Sarsanghachalak, if not me, my ancestors have certainly
converted to Christianity, which I do not deny and for that matter none
of the Indian Christian will do so. Why did they convert to
Christianity? And the answer to this question is; because they could be
Victims of Hindu Varna Vyavastha as it has been stated in two
examples below. They converted to Christianity, Because they could be of
lower cast and faced persecution at the hands of Upper Class Hindus to which
you and your organization, the RSS belong.
These persecutions still take place in remote areas of the country.
Lower cast citizens are prevented from entering temples as well as using
water from the wells belonging to Upper Class Hindus. Such stories do
appear in media, sparsely though.
The crux of the matter is,
though our ancestors adopted Christian Religion, they were not Hindus
but belonged to Communities of Tribes or Casts which the mainstream
Hindus did not accept as Hindus. This theory applies to all the converts to
various religions. Therefore, your logic of Ghar Wapsy is a flawed one. Your
intention of Ghar Wapasi has different connotation, I believe, which I shall
delve on, later in this write-up.
Persecution of lower cast by Upper Caste Hindus has been there since ancient
times. If one goes back to the period in Mahabharata; Eklavya was asked By Guru
Dronacharya to cut his thumb even though Guru Dronacharya did not teach him
personally. He only accepted students of Upper Class in his Gurukul and Eklavya
belonged to lower cast (Tribe). Eklavya therefore, created Dronacharya’s image
and took it as being his Guru, monitoring and inspiring him, and learnt the
skill on his own. Yet, Guru Dronacharya asked for his thumb as Gurudakshina.
Why did he do that? So that he would not compete with Arjun, who was favourite
student of his and Eklavya was more talented than Arjun.
In recent times, and you should not deny this; under the leadership
of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the entire Dalit community embraced Buddhism.
Would you ask your stooges to organize a campaign for their Ghar wapasi?
I am sure; you would not; because you are well aware that Babasaheb
Ambedkar had no choice but to take this drastic step. The reason for him
to do so was, because the Dalits were a persecuted lot by upper caste
Hindus; if this could happen to the person of Babasaheb’s stature; the
Chairman of Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution; what about
the others?
Mr. Sarsanghachalak, ever since the BJP has come to power at
the center, you and your stooges, with your blessings, have become
active and have begun indulging in farce of Ghar Wapasi. You (RSS) talk about
converting India (Bharat)
into Hindu Rashtra but fail to accept that Indian Constitution is
Supreme; which offers “FREEDOM OF CHOICE” to every citizen to practice
their own religion. CONSTITUTION of INDIA is OUR SACRED BOOK guided by
the VALUES of JUSTICE, LIBERTY, EQUALITY & FRATERNITY. Therefore,
your call to convert the Country into HINDU RASHTRA certainly goes
against the tenets of Indian Constitution, which can be termed as ANTI
NATIONAL, in my opinion.
Mr. Sarsanghchalak, putting a tilak on forehead to
convert someone to Hinduism or pouring Holy water on the head, just to
convert to Christianity is meaningless. Religion without Spiritual Value
instilled in the minds of a person converting to any religion is of no
value. It will only increase numbers. And that seem to be the intention
of your stooges who make an offer of 2 and 5 lakh to convert to
Hinduism. Now is this not an inducement which you are so vocal about,
when talking in case of conversion to Christianity?
Since I am a Catholic, I wish to draw your attention to the
contribution the community has made to this great country called India
(Bharat), in the field of Education and Health. For that matter, other
denomination of mainstream Christians are also contributing equally.
Being a meager, just over two percent of the total population; what is
the percentage of Education Institutions run by this small community?
You find yourself.
To your discomfort, majority of the students studying in these
institutions are non Christians, including Hindus, who line up for
admissions at the beginning of every academic year. Many of the
stalwarts, who are serving this country, within and abroad, have passed
out from these institutions; have they been converted by force or by
inducement? Ask them. In comparison, what is the contribution of Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)? Ask yourself and also please let us know. Education is
the backbone of country’s progress, not the Religion. Religion is personal
belief of the person, individual.
Mr. Sarsanghachalak, this campaign started by these fringe
elements with blessings from the parent organization that is RSS is
nothing but a farce to create disturbance in the country and to stall
development process, taken up by Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of
India. To my mind, it seems that popularity of Shri Narendra Modi is
sulking in the eyes of bigwigs of the Sangha Parivar; and by
diverting the attention of the country towards communal disturbances it
is trying to derail Development process, for which he has been voted to
power.
Every community, across the board, voted for Good Governance and Development,
Mr. Modi promised to the nation. Christian community in Mumbai ignored BJP’s
communal policies and voted for its candidates in Mr. Narendra Modi’s name.
Mr. Gopal Shetty was elected to Parliament from North Mumbai
Constituency, with thumping majority. Ms Poonam Mahajan too defeated
congress candidate Ms Priya Dutt with a large margin. Both
constituencies have majority of Christian voters, who voted for BJP
candidates en masse, in the name of Narendra Modi. It would not have been
possible for them to win, otherwise.
Another reason for you to create communal disturbance within country by
organizing Ghar Wapasi
programmes could be to divert attention of the masses from failure of
Modi government to deliver on the promises it made to the nation. If
this is true, it certainly will be with connivance of Modi Government;
and it is for Mr. Narendra Modi to clarify. However, PM Modi’s
Silence on this disturbed situation in the country, caused by these
communal forces, compels us to believe his complicity in Ghar wapasi
programmes, clandestinely.
“Hindu women must produce Four/Five/ Ten Children”; a call that has been given
by some of the elements within Sangha Parivar, wanting to disrupt the country’s
sanctity, and is resonating all over. You know which elements I am talking
about. Mr. SarsanghaChalak,
How many Children a woman should bear is her personal choice. But
forcing a woman to produce as many children, just to increase number, is
sheer injustice to her. Besides, her husband could use her as a machine
without understanding the consequences; the poor and the illiterate
ones, I mean.
Mr. SarsanghaChalak, The Sikhs and Jains, whom you considered as Hindus, have
distanced themselves from Hinduism. A
Sikh Rights Group, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in US Court has filed a
petition to designate RSS as Terror Group; “A foreign Terrorist
Organisation”; which has been widely reported in media. What do you have
to say about it?
Coming back to religious conversion topic, I being a Catholic,
proudly state that anyone who is willing to understand Christian Values
and follow them is welcome. Christianity is known for its value of LOVE,
JUSTICE, PEACE, SERVICE, JOY, FORGIVENESS, HOPE, FAITH etc. Reproducing
herewith the statement of, one of the senior most patriarch of
Catholics, which has been reported in the media; “A person who
wishes to convert to the Catholic faith must undergo a rigorous two-year
training programme before doing so. After the programme, we need a
letter from a priest endorsing that the person has understood the
religion before he/she is allowed to convert,“ Cardinal Oswald Gracias;
Archbishop of Mumbai; Feb 01 2015 : The Times of India (Mumbai); Mr.
SarsanghChalak, would you then consider this a FORCED CONVERSION?
Mr. SarsanghaChalak, what is the ideology of RSS? And is it
meant for betterment of the Country? From the action seen on ground, I
don’t think that you are concerned with Development and Progress of the
Country, but are hell bent on taking the country back to Stone Age. Your
actions are aimed at disturbing the Peace and Harmony of the Country,
fragmenting it in different directions. It is needless to say that
Without Peace and Harmony, it is difficult for any country to
progress…There are external forces, trying to destabilize the country by
creating disturbance……Their actions, certainly are Anti Nationals. How
is RSS different from them Mr. SarsanghaChalak, if you too try and do the same?
Would you be kind enough to explain?
The wounds of KANDHAMAL in Odisha, are yet to be healed. Who is
responsible for that carnage, slaughter of adivasis and what was their
fault; just because they were the followers of Christian faith? Just
because they followed Christian faith, they are LESSER INDIANS?… “The
anti-Christian violence that took lives of total of 39 persons,
including 2 police personnel and 3 rioters while the Human Rights groups
estimate to over 100 persons
killed, including disabled and elderly persons, children, men and
women. The communal frenzy engulfed more than 600 villages at least 6500
houses were looted and burnt with 54000 were made homeless; 315
churches and worship places razed and gutted in fire; 35 schools,
philanthropic institutions including leprosy homes, tuberculosis
sanatoriums; and a dozen of non-profit organisations were looted,
damaged and burnt down. It was estimated that more than 10,000 children
dropped out of schools due to displacement and security while thousands
were pushed to unhygienic relief camps for nearly three years” (COUNTER
CURRENTS.ORG). Could you call this as your contribution to the progress of the
nation?
Recent spurt of attacks on the Churches in Capital, right under the nose of
Narendra Modi Government, does not surprise anyone.
Some elements have started glorifying Shri Nathuram Godse, the person
who was convicted for assassination of FATHER OF THE NATION, MAHATMA
GANDHI. Is this not an antinational act? RSS was banned by then home
minister, Sardar Patel for its complicity in the assassination of
Mahatma Gandhi. “In their resolution of February 2, 1948 the
Government of India declared their determination to root out the forces
of hate and violence that are at work in our country and imperil the
freedom of the Nation and darken her fair name. In pursuance of this
policy the Government of India have decided to declare unlawful the
RSS.” [Cited in Justice on Trial, RSS, Bangalore, 1962, p. 64.]….Can you
explain this Mr. SarsanghaChalak?
Aren’t your activities now, similar to what they were then? In one of
the media report from Nagpur, then, (FEB.5); stated that ‘R. S. S. Leader
Presented Godse with Revolver’. Would you deny this Mr. SarsanghaChalak?
Let me quote to you Mr. MJ Akbar’s reply to a Pakistani Journalist, ”Hindus did
not get India, Secular People got India, I don’t live in the Hindu Rashtra, the
day my country India becomes a Religious Rashtra
it will suffer the same fate as Pakistan. So Muslims and Hindus and
Sindhis and Christians and Jews and Sikhs and everyone got India; for
better or for worse”. How true it is Mr. Sarsanghckalak. I am sure; you will
understand the substance of it.
Mr. Sarsanghckalak, RSS is a large organization, having around 50,000 shakhas
with membership of around 5/6 Millions. Use this manpower to protect
the country from external forces, bent on destabilizing it, instead of
using them to create disturbances internally and destabilizing our
MOTHER INDIA.
I am a PROUD INDIAN AND PROUD CHRISTIAN too.
GREG R. PEREIRA,
Copy to : 1. Shri Pranab Mukharjee: Honourable President of India:
Shri Narendra Modi: Honourable Prime Minister of India; Shri Mohammed
Hamid Ansari: Honourable Chairman, Rajya Sabha; Ms. Sumitra Mahajan :
Honourable Speaker of Loksabha; Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad: Honourable Leader of
Opposition; Rajya Sabha
