BJP came to power like slaves and now they want to be the masters of Indians who have not given their mandate to BJP to act like masters. Introducing legislations and moves which were not in their election manifesto is an act of Hitlerism and not of democratically elected government. The current move of BJP to bring back the converted people to Hinduism is an act of “Dadagiri”. People in India have not voted BJP to power to see this type of Dadagiri.
I am a Christian and proud to be so. My ancestors most probably were Hindus but I feel those who converted my ancestors to Christianity deserve appreciation. Most of the Hindus converted to Christianity were of lower strata of the Hindu society that treated them very shabbily. Caste wise their status was low because of this status they were denied many privileges in Hinduism. They were as Hindus not accepted as full fledged human beings in Hinduism but once in Christian fold they were allotted all the previlleges of egalitarian Christianity though in certain Christian pockets some of them on silly grounds against Christian doctrine were denied full Christian rights.
Because of the discriminatory Hindu system, Ambedkar revolted against caste oriented Hinduism and along with lakhs of his followers jumped into egalitarian Buddhism. Because of caste based discriminatory system in Hinduism a huge number of Nadar Christians got converted to Christianity from caste oriented Hinduism that treated them like slaves. Because of the equality and brotherhood principle, Christians are more homogenous entity while Hindus are more devided among them. Because of this equality in Christianity the converted Christians are treated as true human beings mainly in their religious places and in society as well. The tag of lowliness because of their low caste status is eradicated from their collar once the low caste Hindus are converted. In view of this, I don’t think any converted Christian especially the low caste will ever think to return spontaneously to his originality unless he is tricked with false promises or coerced into submission.
Those who are organizing “Ghar Wapsi” must tell what caste status they will allot to the returnees to originality or re-convertees. Ghar Wapsi system indicates the fear in fanatic Hindus, they are afraid that their brand of Hinduism is dwindling in India. Even Mahatma Gandhi indicated this fear in him when he said “If Christianity or Islam uprooted from Inndia, it will still flourish elsewhere but if Hinduism is uprooted from India, it will disappear from this planet”. But to protect it Gandhiji never prescribed the Ghar Wapsi solution as fanatic BJP men are prescribing. If centuries back my ancestors were converted to Christianity I am not to be blamed for this conversion but I am very comfortable in Christianity. And if I am allowed to say something more, Christianity is the only solution to end the religious discrimination existing in some religions.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.