Ever since the invasion of India by Muslims from across the Khyber Pass beginning about the 11th century AD, followed by the British who arrived in 1600 AD, the nationals, those born in this country, specially those who come under the generic term Hindu, have been under the threat of religious conversion by these foreign invaders and rulers. The proof is in the progressive increase in the number of Christians and Muslims unrelated to the natural increase due to natality. This has caused some concern amongst the Hindus who fear that their number may inversely get reduced over the years (According to the CIA World Fact book, as of July 2008, 13.261% out of the total world population of 6,677,563,921 are Hindus) and such conversions might have its adverse impact on the prevailing ancient culture of this country which is rooted in its Vedas, Upanishads, epics like Ramayana, Mahabharatha and Bhagavatam apart from what the Rishis have left behind by way of rituals and traditions.
After all, Hinduism is an evolved religion unlike those that have founders and holy books. No wonder Emperor Frederick II described these founders of the religions as the greatest imposters the mankind has ever seen. In fact, a study of the earliest religions that predate the Christian era like that of the ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and other Celtic, Nordic, also Chinese (Confucianism and Taoism) and Japanese (Shinto) religions tell us that they did not indulge in conversion in order to increase the number of followers for its founders, proponents or the priests. Those religions, like Hinduism, were of the soil of that particular country or region intended, originally, to serve the people of that country or region only. These religions of pre - Christian era did not have any imperial design to propagate or convert people of other countries by military conquest or by means fair or foul that we find today happening all over the world. In fact, there seems to be a competition among religions (including Hinduism) to get as many people belonging to other religions converted into their own religion claiming superiority over each other. In such a scenario, in this age of reason, a thinking person is left wondering if what these religions claim is really true or merely a bluff. No wonder Nietzsche the philosopher declared that "God is dead".
Other thinking persons are left wondering that if God has those attributes of mercy and compassion, why there should be so much of hatred and killing of innocent people by the followers of these religions. Why those wonderful virtues like mercy, compassion and love attributed to that God is not being practiced by those who swear by that God - no matter by what name you call Him. It is a travesty of reason to find God is not allowed to be addressed in the way the religion of a certain country addresses God by those belonging to other religions. Mercifully in our country, Hindus seem to have no problem in such matters at all. People belonging to any other religion can address God the way Hindus address - Eshwara, Bhagawan, Paramatma etc. After all, just as it is said all roads lead to Rome, Hindus believe that all religions take us to the same God in the manner all rivers finally flow into the same ocean.
Considered in this light Hinduism seems to be the most liberal religion, not being inhibited either by one single book or by one single Prophet. These later day religions destroyed the earlier religions that existed, for example, in Egypt, Greece, Rome, where it was known as Paganism and also their culture born out of their religion. With their religion gone, giving place to the new, their original culture too was gone. You can find them only in books. Hinduism has its own culture in the form of art, literature, music, dance etc., inspired from the religion. Minus the religion, the Hindu culture will become extinct or transmuted - instead of Bharatanatyam we may have Salsa, to wit! Karnatak music will give room to Pop music; Hindustani music will be replaced by Jazz. But the question is not whether the religions should be preserved in order to preserve the culture that is inherently born out of that religion. The question here is of the freedom of an individual to choose the religion he wants. After all, God is a matter between the Creator and the Created. But when it comes to the choice of religion to seek that God, the choice should be left to the individual himself. Unfortunately today we find such choice being denied or being objected or questioned. An individual is already born into a religion and he shall also die in that religion. Fine. No problem. But what happens when a person born in one religion is forced or made to die in another religion?
Hinduism being the most liberal among all other religions, its leaders are afraid of the Mission Conversion by other religions. Recently in our city, discussions were held by Hindu thinkers and writers about Religious Conversion staring Hindu society in the face. We have read about it in newspapers and also the controversy it generated unwittingly, among Hindus themselves on an issue unrelated to the question of conversion. It was a clear case of counting the trees and missing the wood. Missionaries of other religions must have had the last laugh. Last week a friend of mine handed me a book titled, "Conversion - An Assault on Truth" which is a collection of articles on the subject written by seven learned persons at the head of whom is Dr. S. L. Bhyrappa, the well - known Kannada novelist, thinker and acknowledged opponent of religious conversion of Hindus. Others whose articles appear in the book are Dr. Navaratna S. Rajaram who writes about Imperial Christianity, Dr. M. Chidananda Murthy who gives a brief history of conversion, Advocate Padma Prasad Hegde who writes about Anti - Conversion Law and Shatavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh tells you what can counter conversion. There is Swami Dayananda Saraswati who says conversion is violence and finally an interview with Dr. David Frawley, ironically, a Christian who became Vamadeva Shastry after his conversion to Hinduism. The epilogue, a summing up, is by Dr. S. L. Bhyrappa.
Reading the book, "Conversion - An Assault on Truth," I perceived an undercurrent of contradictions in the thought contents. Does one think conversion to Hinduism from other religion is good? If yes, then why conversion of a Hindu to other religion is bad? If an individual feels the religion which he is born into is good for him for whatever reason, I do not think he would ever contemplate to take the social risk of changing his religion. I also do not think, those who change the religion do so for reason of achieving Salvation or Nirvana and thus put an end to the cycle of birth and death. Well then, what are the expectations of those who take to religious conversion? Some may think going to heaven, where beautiful damsels (virgins) are waiting, is possible by converting into a particular religion. Some may think their unanswered prayers, pending like a file before a corrupt government official for too long, may be answered if they changed the religion and sought help from the new - found God. Some would seek conversion thinking their social status would be elevated, the stigma of caste and being treated as an untouchable under Hinduism, could be erased.
And some to seek better opportunities in the society and lead a quality life. Another may think his job may be secured and career opportunities widened if he converted into another religion just as it used to happen during the rule of Moguls and the English in India. And there are people who change their religion purely for the sake of carnal pleasure. Some call it love. There are instances of Hindu married men, who are restrained by their religion and the law of the land from taking another woman as second wife, who may circumvent the law as also the religious prohibition by converting himself to a new religion which allows taking a second woman as his wife. The law in India makes an exception in this regard to that religion which helps. This goes to show that man is all the time focused on his own salvation, whether spiritual or material. As such he will make his choice of religion, no matter what the Pundits say or who protests. And the question of patriotism has nothing to do with his choice contrary to the claims of the opponents of conversion.
There is a school of thought which condemns mass conversion of poor illiterate people promising them social status and material benefits which, according to this school, is not correct, not moral for the reason it amounts to enticing them through allurements. They are not changing their religion on their own volition after understanding the superiority of the religion which they are going to embrace. Now the question is: What's wrong if the conversion is going to benefit him one way or the other? Hence the right of an individual to choose his religion needs to be respected, just as in the case of universal adult franchise where too, the poor illiterate people give their vote to the candidate who gives them money, security or hope. Before I conclude, let me narrate my own experience about conversion of Hindus to Christianity or any other religion.
Recently, I had the opportunity to host a dinner at my house to one Dr. Moji Riba from Arunachal Pradesh. He is a highly educated and accomplished person. Yet, so simple and unassuming. Travelled extensively too. He was here to deliver a lecture at Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL). I asked him, not in a brazen manner but in the course of our conversation if he was a Christian. He smiled at this Hindu host with his house embellished with a massive Venkateshwara painting done in Tanjore style. "I am an animist," he said without a moment's hesitation. I smiled. I had heard about Christian priests defending conversion of tribals using this word "animist" on TV channels and newspapers. For a moment I thought here was a potential convert to Christianity or any other religion. Then our conversation veered into defining what exactly is "animism" and who is an "animist". At the end we felt comfortable discovering that culturally speaking we both belonged to the same religion - the original and authentic - "animism" where alcohol and animal sacrifice as a ritual play a dominant role.
However, I did not forget to tell him that no matter we are 'animists' but yet we come under that great, liberal religion of this soil, with a flavour of its national culture, Hinduism. I am happy to report that he agreed with this opinion of mine during his fourth whisky. And I was giving him company. Animists. Not animals! Another experience was at a Coffee Estate in Kodagu. It was at K. Badaga Village in Kutta. It is about Kurubas (not the old Mysore Kurubas). There were two families. Kala and Chami is one couple with one son with a modern Hindu name Vasanta. Another couple - Sannappa and Jaya (again modern Hindu names). We can see the social upgradation in the change in names - from the typical Kuruba names of their own culture to that of the mainstream Hindu names. Good. RSS may take note of this. They had become Christians and were going to Hunsur Church by bus once in a month for prayers. Their names remained same for fear of easy detection by other non-Christian majority who may mock at them. They stopped drinking alcohol to which these people are generally addicted. There was no change in their food habit or dress except they began to wear neat dress at least while going to the Church.
The second example is from Besagur, near Ponnampet. There were four men, Eravas, by name Annu, Karku, Mutha and Mani working as labourers in the Coffee Estate. One Sunday, the owner of the Estate in which they were working as labourers saw them getting into Ammathi - bound bus and on enquiry found that they had become Christians and were going to "Bendagost" Church (must be Pentecost) every Sunday for prayers. They prayed only to the Cross sans the images of Mother Mary or Jesus. They wore a cross round their neck, abstained from drinking alcohol and dressed better, cleaner than before. They also prayed daily at 7pm in Kannada to the sound of hand cymbals. For nearly four years their new - found faith was kept.
And then one day despite their being True Christians and daily prayers their one child died and other children fell sick. With this unexpected turn of events, their faith in this new religion also floundered. They reverted to their old faith! Goodbye Mary Amma, bless us Maari Amma!!!
Om Shanthi
