On Thursday 30th June 2011, I attended an Audio-visual Presentation and talk on Conversions and Liminality given by Fr. Rudolph Heredia S. J., at the Xavier Centre of Historical Research at Porvorim , Goa. This subject was earlier discussed by Fr Heredia at the Gregarioum in Rome. Fr Heredia is a renowned sociologist who has done extensive work with denotified tribes ,especially in Maharashtra, notably the "Phaase Paardi" tribes whom the then British administration had labelled as a criminal tribe. . The main thrust of the subject lay in Fr. Heredia asserting that Conversions take place at the margins/borders of societies in transition and that it is imperative that the protagonists, antagonists and the prospective convertee adopt an open enquiring approach as conversion is not only a change of religion but also a change in tradition, language and an embedded way of life. He emphasised Conversion as PROCESS and not as an EVENT. A process through which a prospective convertee tries out new beliefs and a change of world view. He also observed that any prospective conversion to any faith whatsoever has entrenched interests up-in-arms to "protect" the embedded beliefs and religions. An interesting observation he made in passing related to the indigenous Jain religion and Jain monuments being over-run in India by Hinduism in Central India during the past centuries. Fr. Heredia also referred to Gandhi ,in his later days ,agreeing to solemnise ONLY INTER-CASTE MARRIAGES. He was of the opinion that this posture of Gandhi was "too little ,too late". It was interesting to learn that Gandhi recommended that Brahmin women marry Shudra men as a well thought out attempt to break the hold of Patriarcy and patriarchial system, though it was much easier for a Brahmin man to take on a Shudra woman.. A number of questions were raised by members of the audience who consisted of other Jesuits, Clergy, University academicians, housewifes, and others interested in the phenomenom called "CONVERSION" Two questions stood out. A University academician tried to recommend atheism as a preferred model vis-a-vis religion and therefore scope for conversion with its concomitant trail of effects. Fr .Heredia gently pointed out that in the last century the greatest crimes against individuals and humanity were committed by Atheists. He gently alluded to the Fascists in Germany, the Bolsheviks/ Communists in Russia, and various other godless regimes in the world including closer home in South East Asia and India. A priest on the Faculty of a Catholic Seminary in Goa sought clarification and guidance on the way forward on how to grapple with a societal problem in Goa where people whose ancestors had converted were treated as "impure"/ " denationalised" by the majority community in Goa. We found the response of Fr. Heredia most illuminating. He suggested an "'INTRA- RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE" prior to embarking on an "INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE" between religions. Making a concrete suggestion he suggested that inter-caste marriages be actively promoted within the Caste system , which still perniciously pervades and continues to exist within religions in Goa, nay India, and other parts of the world. Fr. Heredia ,who I am told, hails from Chorao in Goa, was at his humble, simple, illuminating best trying to shed light on an aspect of sociology, polity,statecraft and vote-bank politics which could have a great significance to the peace and future of a multi-faceted, multi-religious, multi-lingual , multi-hued society such as ours in India, as also other "open" societies in the world. Gerry.
