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ASSEMBLY POLL '98
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'Send all those who convert to Christianity to the countries that fund them'
Date sent: Fri, 01 Jan 1999 02:07:54 -0700 Anyone is free to profess his faith. There is no doubt about this. You will agree, I agree and everyone else will agree to this statement. But why would the conversionists (I am referring to people who use their religion, be it Christian, Muslim or Hindu as vehicle for advancing the population arithmetics or so to say the population statistics of their faith) not agree on this. Why do people professing their faith want others to sign on to their religion? Would it not be possible for individuals to follow their faith without having to officialise the act? Why, is the question. We are talking of violence against people from a tribal district in India. Now, I am sure tribals would know the least of their own religion, needless to say they will understand a new religion better. That is why they are known by the popular term 'tribals.' Elsewhere in Africa, they are called 'Animists.' Let people in urban, semi-urban and rural areas understand 'any' religion better. Then let us think about the tribals. So, on this count of argument, let us ask people operating with propensity (conversionists) in difficult to survive areas be called back from their duties. Let violence die. Let violence die in our Father-of-nation's birth state. Finally, I would be failing in my duties if I don't appreciate the content and depth of your article on this subject that has been occupying centre-stage these days. Please continue to come with such excellent material. With best wishes for the new year 1999. Mahal
Date sent: Sun, 03 Jan 1999 10:36:10 -0500 I too am furious over the inaccurate description of this incident the world over, and the inept way in which the press (including Rediff) has handled it. Very rarely has it been mentioned (it was in Rediff though) that the Hindus were just staging a rally and the Christians instigated the stone throwing. The Government of India should castigate any international/national body trying to take sides with the Christians or Hindus, and should threaten to sue the American government or any other international/national organisation for defaming India and the Indian people by baseless allegations of the Hindus committing atrocities on Christians. We request you to take this matter up with the Indian government, tell them about how angry and furious all the Indian people here and there are, and work to restore the image of India by bringing the facts to light and by forcefully reciprocating to the 'accusers.' We also request you to help bring the facts to light to the US government representatives/US citizens by going through our diplomats in the US. If Rediff doesn't take any concrete and immediate action, I'll lose faith in the power of the press and also in the power of our voice (as many of my other friends). I won't ever bother writing comments or reading Rediff if something isn't done about this. Believe me, every Indian feels too strongly about this for you to remain silent or inactive about this issue. While on this issue, please bring the illegal and gross facts about conversion in India. Subbu
Date sent: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 12:01:36 EST The last statement by Jayantibhai is so true. Send all those who convert to Christianity to the countries that fund them. There they will learn Christianity is not what the missionaries preach. They may eat a little better than they do now but they will be treated as dirt. They will be hated not loved, pitied not respected etc... There are no quotas for them there. Christians torch their own churches, so if the US and UK open their blasted mouths, just ask them to keep shut. The Christians follow a Bible that exhorts its followers to burn down the temples of other religions so as to remain uncorrupted. Double standards!! They could not hold onto India by military means now the white man wants to introduce religion. These morally bankrupt people want to impose on a decent race their pathetic religion. Sunder
Date sent: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 00:43:58 EST The Janata Dal has hit the target and should be congratulated for taking the lead with this idea. Just as the Nehru government felt necessary to ban the RSS, it is time to consider banning any and all anti-community, anti-social groups or parties. This time it may be the VHP. Tony D'Silva Kamath
Date sent: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 09:12:14 -0500 Kewat is an idiot. Let him research and get his facts straight and not go by heresy or what he thinks is right. The fact that he does not know that only Roman Catholics obey the pope and not the others is enough to prove that he does not know facts. In fact, most Christians in India are as Indian as anybody else and no, they are called 'Indian' outside and not 'Hindustani.' Let him get his facts straight and then open his big, blubbering mouth.
Date sent: Sat, 2 Jan 1999 12:11:31 +0300 It seems Kewat is an uneducated and uncivilised man. The way he has interpreted Mother Teresa's selfless service to the poor, it seems he has very little knowledge about Mother Teresa and his militant approach makes him bark. I feel you should not interview such people at all. Is Rediff communally biased or secular?
Date sent: Fri, 01 Jan 1999 10:30:22 +0530 It is very unfortunate that people who claim to belong to a tolerant culture have such a radical point of view. Instead of wasting his time on energy over an issue that has nothing positive to offer to the people, politicians should concentrate on issues that have more relevance to the lives of the people. I agree that tribals in most areas have embraced Christianity, but I don't think it is done under pressure. If providing food, education and other basic necessities of life are a crime, then it is committed by Christian missionaries. If Kewat thinks converting tribals "back" to Hinduism will help them live their lives any better, he is most welcome to do that. And actually, the question of converting "back" does not arise as the tribal culture in different parts of India is quite different from each other and is not "Hinduism." Also, if Hindu missionaries can help tribals in fulfilling the basic necessities of life, I don't think why they will convert to Christianity. In all, what I want to emphasise is that what matters most for the poor tribals is daily "dal-roti" and not religion. And since Kewat is a part of the ruling party, he can can channelise his energy to start a state initiative and come up with some concrete development policies for the upliftment of the tribals rather than attacking defenceless people and bringing down places of worship. Such actions really make our heads drop in shame. Finally, I want to add that I do not belong to any Christian organisation and there is no so-called "Christian and Western conspiracy" behind lodging this protest. I am a positive thinking Indian and could not stop myself after reading the interview. Hope some good sense will prevail upon these people who claim themselves to be guardian of Hinduism. On this first day of 1999, I wish for better days for our country, where development will be the main issue and not religion.
Koel Chakrabarty
Date sent: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 20:03:48 -0800 If Jayantibhai Kewat had traveled outside his tiny little world he would know that Indian Christians and Indian Muslims who live and work abroad are called Indians, not Hindustanis. Joachim Fernandes
Date sent: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 23:21:46 PST The fact remains that the Church always had an hidden agenda for India, not today but for centuries since Thomas set foot in today's Chennai. Tholkapiyan for rewriting Tamil Grammar (to prove the Church's theory of Aryan and Dravidians and that Tamil was distinct from other Indian languages -- what a shame the man with the yellow angavastram, follows it). Max Mueller for claiming Hinduism is a primitive religion that needs a higher expression through Christianity (What a joke!). The Aryan invasion theories, the false Indian history of Vincent Smith, Edwina, Sonia etc. The vehemence with all the cassocked priests now proclaim that India is multi-religious for even before the time of the first of the one man/one book religions. The sugar crisis before the general election of 1980 and the onion prices and 1998 assembly election. If Christians want to talk of democracy, freedom of religion etc, let them first permit it inside. Let them start by asking whether Jesus was really a son of God, or was merely a Jewish preacher as the Dead Sea Scrolls clearly say. Let them find out if he was really crucified or was buried in France (let them read "The Tomb of God"). Let them first critically examine the so-called holy Book, let them clear the cobwebs around the triangular relationships between Adam, Eve and Cain (implied, by deductive reasoning), of Lot and his daughters, of Noah and two of a kind etc. etc. They can then talk of external democracy, freedom to practice. How can anyone allow something that is patently false to be propagated. Do we allow advertising of false claims in our media? Then why allow these chaps to cheat the people? It is our bounden duty to stop them and expose what they are. It is a shame that the Congress party has allowed itself to be usurped by the Christians, how can they allow a surfeit of them to lead them? A K Antony, Oscar Fernandes, Rajasekhar Reddy, Ajit Jogi, Sangma, Sonia and other non Hindus like Salman Khurshid, Najma etc. And what is their idea? To stop the only popular man in the Congress -- the Maharatta. It is indeed heartening that Gujarat as usual shows the rest of India the way to a better tomorrow (be it the Nav Nirman agitation or the solid voting for BJP etc). After all Gujarat has always borne the brunt of inimical attacks from alien primitive, barbaric cultures bred on the banks of the blood thirsty Tigris and Euphrates civilisation right from the days of the Assyrians (Asuras?). Krishnan
Date sent: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 18:18:44 -0500 How true, hope Hindus wake up now. I salute the efforts of the "Hindu Jagran Manch." Vande Mataram.
Date sent: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 22:58:32 EST This and articles like it are quite informative. Please keep up the reportage on the situation between the Hindus and Christians, as it is of vital interest to people worldwide. You are providing a fine international service.
Steve Rusk
Date sent: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 22:57:00 EST By reading the interview, I thought let me give my interview to Syed Firdaus Ashraf, for the same questions:
Q: When was the HJM formed? What was its purpose?
Q: Have you achieved any success? Q: What is wrong if the Adivasis accepted Christianity of their own choice? A: Go and find out whether they have accepted of their own choice.
Q: According to the Christian missionaries the Adivasis are not Hindus but are
scheduled tribes with an animist tradition?
Q: Do you think such actions are being instigated by Christian missionaries?
What do you think?
Q: Can you give us an example where there has been a threat to our motherland
from Christian missionaries?
Q: But our Constitution gives people a right to practise one's religion?
Q: But Christian missionaries are doing a lot of good work, serving the poor
and downtrodden. Look at what Mother Teresa did?
Q: What are your future plans? Nagaraj
Date sent: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 15:19:06 -0500 What a stupid interview. Tell him instead of fighting with Christians, to learn something about humanity and ask him to fight against casteism in Hindu religion. Everybody has their own right to spread their religion. Not by force. By love and the way of living. If a fellow Hindu is hanging around his high caste and some other man created man dividing logic, then lower people will look for their own way. Hinduism may be the way of living for who ever says I am from Hindustan. But with all respect as a Tamilian, I never say that I am a Hindustani abroad. This man is making some political gain out of this. Ask him to clean his side before shouting at others. Ask him to shut his mouth as the entire world is going in a different direction. Instead of making this issues ask him to sacrifice his life and serve the poor as Mother did in India. Then only does he have the right to speak about her and her services.
Date sent: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 11:25:58 -0600 I haven't seen any of my comments published on the net. Still, I want to air my views on the interview by Jayantibhai Kewat. If Jayantibhai or any other Hindu organisations want to help Hindus, then they have to really do a lot of homework. Attacking the Christians, or Muslims won't help. When the missionaries do a "selfless service" to the poor and downtrodden, why not these Hindu organisations? The poor and downtrodden are starving for the basic needs in many places. The missionaries fill the gap by providing what is needed. Those who received their services, want to show their gratitude -- by converting to their religion. When these people cry aloud about the conversions and plan yet another rally, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Hindu temples attend only to the spiritual needs of people. In my opinion, the temple authorities must formulate a system by which they should serve the community by providing education and medical services. It is a pity that the major religion in India does not have that many community services. This will eliminate the need for the adivasis and the poor to approach the churches and mosques. *And* there won't be any clashes with others. Rallies and yatras only makes a mockery of the religion. There are better ways to safeguard Hinduism without clashes. Parthi
Date sent: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 11:47:29 -0500 Jayantibhai has clearly shown his ignorance and arrogance in this interview. He should be insane to expect loyalty from Christians to his gods like Rama and Krishna. He says Adivasis converted into Christianity should not get government subsidies. The government also says if a ST becomes Christian s/he becomes a BC. Does it mean that the government of India accepts that all right thinking people or improved people are Christians? If India is so secular, they should not give reservations based on religions. At least they should not say when a Hindu becomes a Christian he should not be entitled to the benefits he enjoyed as a Hindu. Don't you think this law is pro-Hindu? That means the Government of India itself is encouraging Hindu religion. In no part of the world are Indians called Hindustani. They are called Indians, because they belong to India. It has nothing to do with culture. People of Russia are called Russian, people of China are called Chinese, people of Japan are called Japanese, people of America are called American, similarly people of India are called Indians. What is the need for Hindus to take a procession on Christmas day? To provoke Christians? Why don't they do it on the other 364 days of the year? Jayantibhai clearly showed his arrogance in that. Also he showed his ignorance in saying that Christians are reason for the North East problem. There should be some way to educate people like Jayantibhai, about humanity, history of India and co-existence. Presley
Date sent: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 11:11:52 -0500 Why are our politicians wasting time on irrelevant issues like who follows what religion?? What is more important in the day to day life of a human being, food, shelter and clothes or is it religion?? Why don't we think of improving the quality of life of the people than quarrel over religious issues?? Aren't we secular?? Are we so advanced a country that we can waste time this way, what about hospitals for the poor, education for all, are these not more important? Will Hindu or Muslim or Christian culture feed us?? Who cares whether we are called Hindutanis or whatever we'll be able to feed our population as well. Debabrata Sengupta
Date sent: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 13:20:22 PST Wow. It took 3 to 4 days for Rediff to come out with the story as to how the attack on Christian missionaries started. Anyway, I really appreciate you for bringing the true story out. The attack on the Hindu Jagaran Manch rally by two thousand tribals is nothing surprising. These kinds of things have happened many a times in the North-East regions of India. What surprises me is the audacity of the media and pseudo-secular parties in putting the blame for the whole incident on the VHP. The Christian missionaries by their anti-national work would put even Christ to shame. If Christian missionaries continue to behave like this by instigating converted Christians to attack Hindus, the retaliation by Hindu organisation will increase ten fold. Once again I appreciate you for bring the true story although late. Sunil
Date sent: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 13:58:05 -0700 I was very saddened to read about the attack on Christians in India. This intolerance is new, deliberate, and politically motivated -- the general public abhors such practices. The common man is very tolerant -- necessarily so, given the diversity of practices and beliefs in our country. I was angered, however, when I learned that the Vatican and the ambassadors of western nations, particularly the US, were lodging protests with our government. When did the US government become the protector of Christians around the world? Rapes of Christian missionaries happen routinely at the hands of the US's most favoured allies -- the brutal dictators of Latin America. You never hear the US government making such loud noises when that happens. Further, isn't the US government supposed to be equally horrified by heinous acts against people of any religion or creed? Why is it relatively silent regarding attacks on Muslims, Buddhists, and people of other faiths? While accusing India of being a theocracy -- which it most certainly is not, even while sometimes appearing to be one, the US acts like one, even though it supposedly is not. Murli Nagasundaram
Date sent: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 12:31:02 -0800 Who the hell is Richard Celeste to protest against internal problems of concern to India alone? Does Richard Celeste get paid by the Vatican to meet his annual targets of "milk powder" conversions? Why should Indian government assure Western nations of the safety of its own citizens, are we being seen in similar light as Saddam Hussain persecuting the Kurdish rebels? Srinivas Murthy
Date sent: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 15:25:16 -0500 Mr Vajpayee, it's time for you to go.
Date sent: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 20:12:37 PST I wonder how the US Constitution which completely provides a government divorced from religion allow the US ambassador to protest?
Krishna Desai
How Readers responded to Arvind Lavakare's earlier columns
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