Conversion of Hindus : A National challenge

The conversion of Hindus in India is through fear, greed, harassment and force. We cannot afford to bear the consequent harm caused to Hindu Dharma. Hindus are being converted and it is definitely a crime. There is a need to enact a law to prevent this crime. It can be assumed that enacting and implementing it effectively will reduce conversions.

1. Illegal conversion of Hindus is a kind of war on National pride

Illegal conversion of Hindus is a national challenge. Islamic-Christian groups have long been involved in illegal conversion of Hindus. They are using all illegal means possible to convert the whole world to their sects. Every human has the right to live according to his own beliefs, conscience and spiritual experiences; however, in India many illegal methods including torture, force, fear and inducement are being adopted to convert people illegally.

Illegal conversion is a heinous crime against humanity and a form of war against India’s national pride. Conversion means – not only does the converted individual leaves his original religion, but also parts ways with his belief in God. His ancestors change. He no more feels proud of his Hindu culture. Due to the influence of a new sect and religion, he no longer feels proud of his Hindu ancestors. His original cultural allegiance to India as a Nation changes. Cultural loyalty to the country is the fundamental principle of the Indian Nation. Hence, religious conversion is like conversion of the Nation. Islam and Christianity wish to make the whole world Islamic-Christian.

2. Thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi about conversion of patients by Christians

Christian missionaries cheat the poor by providing public services like hospitals and schools. They teach them to insult only Hindu Gods and Goddesses. On 18.7.1936, Mahatma Gandhi wrote in his newspaper ‘Harijan’ – ‘You Christians want to build a hospital and convert your patients into Christians as a reward’. He wrote again in 1937 – ‘Missionaries do not perform any social service without expectations’. Running a school, hospital, is an excuse to convert people. Their main aim is to convert Hindus. Similarly, all Islamic organisations are also active for the illegal conversion of Hindus. India’s long history is full of brutal exploits of Muslims as well as Christians.

3. Alleged reliance on Article 25 of the Constitution by people involved in conversions

Business organisations promote their products or brands. They advertise the utility of their products as next to none; but religion, creed, sect are not items to be enjoyed. Similarly, sectarian groups are not political parties either. Political groups claim that their party is for the welfare of people, and that other political parties are corrupt. This is done by the propagators of religions and sects too. They call their sect as best and correct, and all other sects totally incorrect. The forces involved in conversions are using Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.
Opposition in the Constituent Assembly to ratify Article 25 : This provision of the Constitution states – ‘All persons shall have liberty of conscience and an equal right to believe, practice and propagate religion without prejudice’. This has been called freedom of religion and the right to preach. There is an internal conflict here. Preaching has become an obstacle to the freedom of the conscience. Article 25 was discussed a lot in the Constituent Assembly.

In the original draft of the Constitution, the word ‘Religion’ has been used in place of the word ‘Dharma’. Actually there is a lot of difference in the meaning of these two words. Dharma is a way of life of Indians. Tajmul Hussain had said in the Assembly, ‘Why should I urge you to attain Moksha (Final Liberation) in my way ? Similarly, why are you saying that I should attain Moksha your way ?’ This is quite right. The means and medium of attaining the goal of life or Moksha cannot be imposed by one sect on another. Attempting this would be a disgrace to that civilized society. Loknath Mishra had said that the right to propagate sects is the written form of slavery. He termed the Partition of India as a consequence of conversion.

4. It is necessary to think about Article 25 from a new perspective

In reality, conversion leads to a change in popu-lation. Nuclear scientist K Santhanam had said about conversion by missionaries – ‘The State has full power to take action against those who convert by undue influence’. Majority of the Constitution was against the statutory right to propagate a sect.

Seeing this, the former Governor of Uttar Pradesh, (Late) KM Munshi said, “The Christian community has put a lot of emphasis on retaining the word ‘preaching’. Whatever the outcome, we have to accept the treaties we have made”.

Who were the parties to the ‘treaties’ mentioned by Munshi in the Constituent Assembly ? Was the then Government a party ? In that case, who was the other party ? Was the other party more influential than the sovereign Nation, State ? Now is the time to lift the curtain from this mystery. Article 25 also needs to be considered from a new perspective. This has harmed the Nation. This is also a good opportunity to consider the pros and cons of right to propagate religion. In the name of propagating religion/sect, divisiveness cannot be permitted.

5. Comments on conversion by various Committees

Upset by the wave of Christian conversions in Madhya Pradesh, the then Chief Minister Ravi Shankar Shukla formed an Inquiry Committee under the Chairmanship of Justice Bhavani Shankar. This Committee recommended the expulsion of people of foreign origin who had come to India with the intention of conversion. In 1982, Justice MV Rege Commission of Inquiry cited that conversion to Christianity was one of the reasons for riots. The Venugopal Commission had even suggested forming laws to prevent conversion. The issue of conversion was first raised in the Lok Sabha itself.

6. A law to prevent illegal conversion is inevitable

Twelve States of our country have enacted laws to prevent conversion – Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, Haryana and Tamil Nadu. A petition against these laws has also been filed in the Supreme Court recently. The petition calls for the abolition of anti-conversion laws. It is approved by law.

Article 25 (2) of the Constitution needs to be amended to include – ‘Nothing in this Article shall affect any existing law and shall not prevent a State from making any law regulating or restricting any economic, financial, political or other day-to-day activities relating to religious practice’. State Assemblies have enacted anti-conversion laws based on the ability of their legislators. These are made to prevent illegal conversions resulting out of fear, greed and harassment. There is a need to act in an effective manner according to the current situation. The country cannot bear the harm of conversion based on fear, greed, harassment, force. It is the demand of time that the crime of religious conversion stops.

– Mr Hridaynarayan Dixit, Former Speaker of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Courtesy : Daily ‘Jagran’)

The country cannot bear the harm of conversion based on fear, greed, harassment, etc. It is time that the crime stops !