MASSIVE RECONVERSION EVENT IN INDIA AIMED AT CHRISTIANS

November 11, 2009

APN Newsletter

Hundreds of tribal Christians were reportedly “reconverted” to Hinduism recently at a ceremony led by a Hindu nationalist cleric. Swami Narendra Maharaj’s goal was to “reconvert” 6,000 Christians in the so-called purification ceremony, but press reports put the number of “reconversions” at around 800. Hindu nationalists believe all Indians are born Hindu and therefore regard acceptance of Hinduism by those practicing other religions as “reconversion.”

Maharaj is known for opposing the proclamation of Christ, and has allegedly led anti-Christian attacks in tribal regions. Hindu nationalists attack Christians in tribal areas because they provide social and development services, regarded as competition by rightwing Hindus seeking to woo tribal voters. Sociologists maintain that India’s tribal peoples are not Hindus but practice their own ethnic faiths. Hindu nationalists run one-teacher schools in tribal regions to “Hinduize” local villagers and repel conversions to other faiths. These schools are operating in over 27,000 villages.   

A spokesman for Maharaj said he has a plan to “reconvert” 100,000 Christians in the next two years. He said that those who “reconverted” were not coerced. “We teach them the precepts of the Hindu religion, and they decide to convert to Hinduism on their own after repentance. They are not forced.”  The reconversion ceremonies include rituals involving cow’s milk, seeking forgiveness from ancestors, installation of idols of the Hindu gods Ganesh and Vishnu, and an offering ritual performed by priests. 

The basic philosophy of Hindu nationalism is that only those who have their ancestral roots in India and consider it as their holy land, should have full citizenship rights. It claims superiority of Hinduism over all other religions and cultures. “In this land, Hindus have been the owners, Parsis and Jews the guests, and Muslims and Christians the dacoits [bandits],” he said. Differences between the moderate and extremist sections within the Hindu nationalist movement have deepened to unprecedented levels in recent times. In frustration, the extremists have accelerated their activities.


Source: Intercessors Network