Hinduism
Globality of Hinduism - But Hinduism is Under Assault
Dt: 19/3/15
Globality of Hinduism - But Hinduism is Under Assault
Dr T.H.Chowdary*
In the article, “The Globality of Hinduism” by Sri Gautam Siddharth” (TOI 14/3/15) the author has brought out the magnificence of Hinduism, particularly its ides of tolerance , respect for differences of faith and worship, freedom to discuss any idea and its conduciveness for peaceful coexistence of different faiths, beliefs, cultures and modes of worship and living . After extolling all these qualities, he is indirectly saying that some groups professing Hinduism are showing intolerance to the minority religions namely, Islam & Christianity . I suspect that the author’s idea in writing this article is to excoriate the Hindutva people, and among others, their program of ghar vapasi and their resistance to the internationally funded missionary activity to gain Hindus to Christianity by means foul and fair, mostly the former.
2. The question is if Hinduism so extolled by Gautam Siddhartha is to survive and if those who born in it, are not enticed away by proselytisers of religions which are not only mutually intolerant but together, are intolerant of Hinduism , what should the intellectuals and firm believers in the nobleness of Hinduism do to preserve that philosophy and culture and belief an d heritage? Should they become sitting ducks to the hunt and snare of the proselytising religions? If it is the duty of Christians and Muslims to convert the rest of humanity to their own faith , can it not be the Hindus’ duty equally powerful and insistent to reclaim those who had been under various circumstances weaned away from Hinduism? Should they also not take the current duty of seeing that their less informed and less well -to -do people are not enticed to embrace any of these intolerant faiths? Submission to intolerant faiths by silence and inaction is a dereliction of duty. This is exactly the lesson that Lord Krishna gave to Arjuna in the battle field of Kurukshetra. In order to defend dharma, one has to perform his duty to defend it form aggression and conquest. That is what exactly Hindu activists are doing when they resist the missionary activity.
3. That the Christian missionary activity is largely is it funded by forekign organisations has been very well known to many. Only now is it getting exposed by the activation in the Home Ministry of the Government of India of those who have to oversee the implementation of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act. Of the about four million NGOs 75% are associated with Christian missionaries. For eg. in Andhra Pradesh, there are more than 1000 such NGOs all run by those who are part of the Christian missions engaged in marketing and selling Christianity. In the last 10 years, 50,000 Churches had been
planted in the undivided state of Andhra Pradesh. The Home Ministry had recently cancelled the registration of over 1000 NGOs who received foreign funds but are not accounting for them as required by law. It is also known that the opposition to the Kudamkulam nuclear power station in Tamilnadu was organised by an NGO which has been receiving funds from foreign source. The moment they were cut off, the opposition agitation has cooled down. The planting of Churches and recruiting converts would stop to the extent of 90% if the spigot for foreign funds is turned off.
4. It is well to recall that Christian missionaries from several countries tried to gain the approval of Mahatma Gandhi for their activities, to convert Hindus camouflaging their activity as one of compassion and care of the poor. Gandhijis interviews and his condemnation and his disapproval of the Christian missionaries’ activities in India have been recorded repeatedly in his journal , The Harijan. These are all included in the book “The History of Hindu Christian Encounters” (AD304 to 1996) by late Sri Sitaram Goel, published by Voice of India, New Delhi. Just one quote will bring out with what conviction and vehemence Gandhiji disapproved of the Christian missionaries’ activities in India . Asked what he would do to Christian missionaries after India gained Independence , Gandhiji responded as follows as recorded in the Harijan dated May 11, 1935. In the interview given by Gandhji to a missionary Nurse before that date, “the Nurse asked him, “ would you prevent missionaries coming to India in order to Baptise? “ Gandhiji replied, “ if I had power and could legislate , I should certainly stop all proselytising . It is the cause of the much avoidable conflict between classes and unnecessary heart burning among the missioners..... in Hindu house -holds the advent of a missionary has meant the disruption of the family coming in the wake of change of dress manners, language, food and drink. ...” ....... vilification of Hindu religion is there ....” (Page 171: History of Hindu-Christian Encounters)
5.That the missionaries and the conversion gangs are indulging in fraud is evident from the following information about the proportion of Christians in the population of Andhra Pradesh according to successive censuses.
Christian Population in Andhra Pradesh
|
|
Year |
|||
|
1971 |
1981 |
1991 |
2001 |
|
|
Total population in mln |
43.5 |
53.6 |
66.5 |
76.2 |
|
Christians mln |
1.8 |
1.43 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
|
% of Christian population |
4.19 |
2.68 |
1.83 |
1.44 |
The converters are advising the converted SC people NOT to disclose for any government record that they are Christians but that they should write Hindu SC. The ubiquitous church buildings, more than one in almost every village of Andhra Pradesh and the furious, strident persons recently converted and incited Christians indulging in intensive campaigns go ill with what is revealed by the census. When the S.C converts to Christianity, are confronted which they are campaigning resort to file cases under “Prevention of Atrocities on SCs &STs Act! Observing these developments about six years ago I wrote the article , “The Danger of Hindu Christian Riots in Andhra Pradesh”. I did not think that I was a prophet when I wrote that but now it appears that my prophecy is coming true in some districts of Andhra Pradesh where militant Christians evangelists are encountering, strident opposition by insulted and so inspired Hindus .
6. I request Sri Gautam Siddharth to show his intellectual honesty to respond to the questions I raise in para (2) and the facts mentioned in paras 3 and 5. (1008 words)
END