Five, benefits to Scheduled Tribes continue even after conversion to Christianity.
Under the Constitution scheduled castes who convert to Christianity cannot avail of benefits available to SC. However, this was omitted or overlooked in the case of Scheduled Tribes. As a result ST’s are targeted by missionaries. The locals of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland personally expressed regret in this matter to the author.
During a recent visit to Kohima the author met with scheduled tribes, all Christian, who spoke English so well that the author got a complex. They do not pay any income-tax either. As there is no concept of Scheduled Tribes (or Scheduled Caste) in Christianity, all State benefits should be withdrawn post conversion.
The Church has used this lacuna to convert tribes on a large-scale in Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh and has now moved into the Hindi heartland. (Read 200 Mahadalits in Bodh Gaya convert to Christianity) http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/200-mahadalits-convert-to-christianity-in-bihar-chief-minister-seeks-probe/article6727579.ece
Six, introduction of Missionary Visas makes it easier for foreign missionaries, it is logical that conversions will follow.
“The UPA Government has quietly relaxed restrictions on the entry and stay of foreign missionaries coming to the country. These restrictions were enforced on the recommendations of the Niyogi Commission, appointed to investigate the activities of missionaries in Madhya Pradesh, which submitted its report to the Union Government in 1956. The missionary visa is issued to those going to India “for a religious purpose”. http://www.niticentral.com/?s=church+now&src=temp&auth=hide&referer=%2F2012%2F12%2F31%2Fchurch-now-has-visa-power-34230.html
During a visit to Manipur’s Senapati district the author saw a banner of the Mao Baptist Church Association program 16-18/1/2015 where one of the speakers was from West Virginia. Hindu Swamis visiting the US are not comparable as Hindus do not convert as an instrument of religious policy.
Needless to say this class of visa needs to be withdrawn immediately.
Seven, misuse of Hindu symbols by some Christians.
Hindu temples especially in the South have dwajastambha. On important occasions like temple festivals the temple flag is hoisted for the duration of the festival. During a visit to Sankara birthplace in Kalady, Kerala and in Jammu saw a dwajastambha with a cross. See pic no 8 http://www.esamskriti.com/photo-detail/Shankara-Birth-Place-Kalady.aspx
There are similar instances of missionaries wearing saffron clothing in south India (obviously to mislead locals). A Ramakrishna Mission Monk who had worked in Arunachal Pradesh told me of missionaries who wore saffron clothes to tell local tribes that they were like Hindu monks. In Kerala is a Christian Ashram called Kurisumala Ashram. http://www.vagamon.com/kurisumala/kurisumala.htm
Saffron clothes, words Ashram and Swami, have certain meaning for the followers of Dharma. One is against the misrepresentation and misuse of Hindu symbols by sections of the Church. A poor person will not know the difference and could convert assuming both religions are similar. Use of Hindu symbols should be restricted to HBJS.
Critics will argue that we must welcome Hinduization of the Church. The right to permit use of Hindu symbols must lie with the Hindu community and cannot be unilaterally appropriated by Followers of the Book.
Eight, Convent schools hardly teach about Indian greats such as Panini, Aryabhata, Brahmagupta, Bhaskara II, Narayan Guru or literary works of Thiruvalluvar Tagore, Kabir, Tulsidas; instead they teach Shakespeare, Keats etc. Should Indians revere Western figures but know little about our own?
No wonder, on Facebook, I see friends quoting Western scholars! This is one of the reasons why there is so much resentment among educated Westernised Hindus towards Hinduism. A secular approach allows Christian institutions to hang a cross all over their schools, how many Indian schools have you see with an image of Saraswati?
We have to revamp education and make it more Indian. Critics must know that Secularism means ‘equal respect for all religions’ and not discriminating against Hindus. http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-why-secularism-is-not-an-indian-concept/20130802.htm
Nine, the word Hindu came into existence to distinguish Muslim invaders from residents of India. With the Christian invasion Hindu became Hinduism.
“The word Hinduism is not representative of the original word ‘Sanatana Dharma’ which means ‘the Eternal or Universal Dharma’. Dharma means universal law, the fundamental principles behind this marvelous universe like the Law of Karma. Sanatana means perennial, referring to eternal truths that manifests in ever-new names and forms.” Thus the word Hinduism is properly the Sanatana Dharma. http://www.rediff.com/news/column/of-hindu-hindustan-hindi/20140911.htm
Post May 16, critics state that it is Majoritanism at work. During a recent visit to Shillong, the author got to know that all shops are closed on Sunday since the day is an Xtan holiday.
If President Obama could take his first oath of office by keeping one hand on the Bible and Sunday can be a holiday in Christian majority Shillong, can Hindus be faulted for demanding Equal Human Rights?
Will the NDA government ACT?
The author is an independent columnist, Chartered Accountant and Travel Photojournalist. https://twitter.com/sanjeev1927
Also see
1. Foreign Funding of NGOs by Prashant Reddy
2. On Freedom of Religion by Nitin Pai
3. Pictures of Churches in Arunachal Pradesh
4. Why Hinduism never developed a concept of blasphemy by TVR Shenoy
5. Pictures of Churches in Jammu Region
6. Terror in the name of Christ in Northeast by Kampana
7. Foreign Funding of Indian NGOs by Sanjeev Nayyar