This is something that has moved me a lot and all I keep doing is think about how the Indian society which I though was so progressive suddenly seems backward to me. You surely cant say that a country is doing good just by ensuring a growth rate of 9% (hoping against all odds that the financial meltdown wont slow this down a lot).
First things first, I am really sad of how an article in IHT was labeled HINDUISM Vs CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA. Its very important for all of us to realize that its only a few retards who are propogating these forceful conversions and not all HINDU's are taking arms against Christians. I am not saying the situation is not grave. It is grave and should be condoned. But what is more important, we should realize that making it sound so severe and showing how one religion is completely against the other definitely escaltes the problem and will slow down any process to calm the situation down. All Hindu's are not the same as Bajrang Dal activists and not all Christians approve of "SatyaDarshini".
Its a real shame and disgrace what is happening in the Indian state of Orissa where some extremists (I dont hesitate even a bit in calling them so) are propogating conversion of Christians to Hindus. Not that banning them in India will make much diffrence, but still, why the hell is the government not doing that. What more proofs are they asking for when they have caught Bajrang Dal Activists making bombs, Burning Christians to death, Raping Nuns, Vandalizing Churches. There have also been links show of how they were the people responsible for some previous blasts in India!
Let us look at the the so called REASONS that the Bajrang Dal activists put forward to justify themselves:
1. On Aug. 23 of a charismatic Hindu preacher known as Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, who for 40 years had rallied the area's people to choose Hinduism over Christianity was killed. The police have blamed Maoist guerrillas for the swami's killing. But Hindu radicals continue to hold Christians responsible.
2. Satyadarshini, a book that bashes Hindu God's by calling some prostitutes and other devils has infurited these activists despite the bishops saying that they have no links with the book.
3. They blame the Churches for luring the poor Hindus in these poor parts of eastern-Orissa to Christianity by showing giving them social incentives. Hence, the Bajrang Dal says that all they are doing is "Re-Convesrion" and nothing more.
4. Some are even offended on
So, they go about threating people in these towns of Borepanga and Kandhamal to "Embrace Hinduism, else their house will be demolished and they will be killed or thrown out of the village."
Firstly, the blame defintiely lies on the Bajrang Dal and all the attrocities they have commited can not be justified ever. There was never a proof that the Christians killed the Hindu leader and even if there was, the response can never be tit for tat. There a reason why we prefer diplomacy over war as the repercussions are so hard to be bourne. (I know its hard for us to expect these irrational people to think about this, that is why the government should hit them back in the same way) What we see here is that in response for one death they go about killing and threating hundereds of men, women and kids and even RAPING nuns as if any of that would have given peace to the soul of the dead leader. This is horrendous. No religion preaches forceful convesions. And if someone choses one over the other, it has to be respected. There is much more work out there to be done to uplift Hinduism and promote it (the purpose of these organizations). There are many more people out there who can get inspired and take up your religion. Then why is there a need to go after people who who left your and try to forcefully get them back? Is it the number that is important to these radicals? Should their priority not be people who have their heart in the religion?
But over and above the government has to be blamed for all this, at the state as well as the central level.
1. The government has failed miserably in protecting the people in the society. They are running for their lives in the last 6 weeks. They feel threatened wherever they go and are always in hiding from the fear of these radicals. Even if we assume that the government in India is handicapped to be able to serve such a large population, why is it so tough to BAN BAJRANG DAL. It sends a really strong message and would be really appreciated by the people who currently feel estranged in the society. Having National Integration Conferences (NIC) and playing the blame game with the opposition wont help. It is high time some action is taken. What is the point of calling yourself a secular democracy when people of a race are craving for survival? Whose interests are being served when despite the capability, no offense is being taken against the offenders? Why is there a need to wait for a public uprising? Shouldnot be the policemen who just stood as puppets when a nun was being raped, be stoned to death?
2. Why could they not have banned SatyaDarshini in the first place? You talk about a society which is so diverse and it is not hard to digest that there will be differences existing. But wont this things only infuriate by publishing of such literature? Since when has the right to freedom of expression been so important, so much so that it can criticise the beliefs of others? All criticism and opinions are fine to the level at which they are not offensive to the majority (or even minority in that case). How unforseen is it that it can surely offend Hindu's. Why was it so tough to criticize and be harsh on the publishers and the authors?
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