Z. Lohe
[dropcap]O[/dropcap]f 1.3 billion Indians, Hindus composed of 80%. By the philosophy of majoritarianism the Hinduism fundamentalists under the commands of RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and Dharam Jagaram Samiti(DJS) are all determined to intensify the ‘ghar wapsi’ program in the country with the tacit support of BJP Govt. at the centre. As I analysed earlier, the ‘ghar wapsi’ in nothing but a ploy to trap the opposition parties to come to terms with BJP to literally bring amendment to Art 25 of the Constitution of India. One of the major cogent factors that urges the Hinduism organisations to expedite the passing of anti-conversion law is the anxiety of Hindus that it will lose its lower castes and the tribes to Christianity and Islam.To be succinct, once anti-conversion law is made by Parliament, the provision for freedom of religion kept under Art 25 is duly substituted by no more ‘Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.’ Propagation of faith by one to another will be barred. Under the law of anti-conversion, anyone found spreading one’s faith will become punishable under the given law of the country. Thus, conversion is banned in India. India will be no more secular but its governance will be according to Hinduism.
The subsequent inferences will be severe persecution of Christians by Hindu fundamentalists all across India and the worst will be in BJP ruled States. Whether there is a prima facie against a Christian violating anti-conversion law or not widespread persecution will follow once anti-conversion law comes into effect. Because the Hindu majority will have full of opportunities to have the liberty to falsely accuse those whom they want to accuse.
The Hindu fundamentalists are in full swing, under the protection of BJP ministry, to transform the secular and democratic India into theocratic state. There is no ambiguity both in their statements and actions that they are hell bent to install the principle of ‘one nation one religion’ as per BJP’s manifesto of ‘Uniform Civil Code’.
Even as it is, let us listen to what Mr. Satyabrata Pal, former Member of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India had to say.
Quote: “The poorest and the most vulnerable- women, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and Muslims- suffer because the social bias against them is rooted in Hindu belief and practice, and still so strong that the laws meant to protect them are impotent. Even under a secular government, public servants (Govt. officials) would plead with the NHRC that there would be law and order problems if they tried to implement these (Human Rights laws). The danger now is that under a government so overtly Hindu, these practices will flourish even more.
The hate speeches of Cabinet members signal(led) where this could lead us.” Unquote. India ranked at 135 serial among 187 countries in Human Development Index (HDI) for 2014. Our neighbour Sri Lanka fared better at serial 72 except those of Bangladesh, Bhutan and Pakistan.
Beside, despite of Hinduism activists trying with much effort to keep 80% intact from being eroded, certain inherent basics in Hindu religion are found repelling. Unlike Christianity, Hindu is a religion of hierarchical classifications. It is a religion of inequality. It is a religion which considers lower caste people as sub-human beings as learnt from untouchability. It is a religion of master and servant whereby discremination is inalienable part of it. It is a religion which bars permanently those people belonging to lower caste from life promotion to the level of higher castes no matter what calibre they possessed.
Let us see one or two solid instances. On 15.1.2015, local papers carried news about finding 104 dead bodies of human in a channel of Ganga river in Unnao district, UP. Mr. Ashutosh Pandey, IG(P) of Kanpur said that those bodies belonged to very poor Hindu families who could not afford to have decent cremation of their dead. We all know that by culture Hindus do not bury the mortal remain. Cremation of a single dead body is reportedly expensive, obvious. Lot of firewood and oil are required for proper burning it into ash. Over and above, rites have to be performed prior to burning. Those rites are reserved exclusively for higher caste who will not do the requisite rituals unless paid. How can the poor afford to cremate the dear and near one who died? What alternative these poor bereaved families have to dispose the dead bodies? Though painful, they had dumped it all in that channel of the river to let it decompose. A similar instance, a Buddhist turned Christian once told me that in order to bury a dead body, minimum Rs.10000/- has to be offered to a monk by the bereaved family. In this respect, Hinduism and Buddhism have similarities.
On one hand, the Hinduism organisations are trying to bring back the converts to its fold through coercion. On the other hand, the lower case people are never well treated by higher castes. The Shankaracharya of Puri who presided over a conversion session was asked by a journalist, “Now that you have welcomed them into Hindu faith, I am sure you will welcome them into your temples?” The Shankaracharya clarified that they would be allowed only to enter separate temples and marry within their case or tribe. Class system in Hindu is therefore sacrosanct.
The above cited reasons are the factors that force the discriminated, ill treated and suppressed lower castes to look for equality, love, compassion and humility. Who is not looking for peace and respectable life? What is better than just and equality in life? Had Christianity not come to India, where will these downtrodden millions go? Thank God that there is a place where there is no system of caste, class, master and slave and privileged and under privileged. That is Christianity.
The Christians bury their dead with honour and dignity with no iota of difference between the haves and the have-nots. In lieu of the bereaved family spending anything for burial, the fellow mourners contribute materially and physically. Yes, Christianity is the most superior faith despite of the shortcomings of Christians.
Therefore, the inherent discriminative tenets of Hindu religion will remain the spring board for ejecting the lower caste people naturally to join other faiths. The Hinduism activists therefore cannot blame conversion of Hindus to Christianity. Rather they should blame the system.
