"We are strangers to this sort of classification, animists, aboriginals etc., but we have learnt it from the English rulers. These tribes have from time immemorial been absorbed in Hinduism. They are like the indigenous medicine of the soil and their roots lie deep there."
- Gandhiji

I know Indian jungles are full of flora and fauna, prey and predator and nature has its own Natural Law that maintains the balance of their numbers (food chain). And that’s how the life of the denizens of the jungle goes on and sustains itself. If there is a carnivorous creature, say a tiger, it has its own hunting territory demarcated, rarely interfered with by another tiger. And the prey deer, sambar, buffaloes, for example is also found in large numbers in that territory to sustain the predator, the tiger. It is also the Law of Nature (which seems superior to the Law of Man!) that the tiger or any predator does not kill to hoard (like man) but only when it is hungry.

Since animals have no religion there is no problem in their habitat about religious conversion proselytisation. Hence, peace and order reign in the forest, occasionally disturbed by the report of gun - fire by a hunter, the man. He not only trespasses into the space of the animals but also kills them. The law that man himself has made to protect the animals of the forest is unable to serve its purpose, not because the law is porous but because the men who enforce the law are themselves (by nature) hunters and poachers or corrupt.

If this is the scenario of Indian forests, the scenario of Indian societies with multi - ethnic, multi - lingual and multi - religious people is unnaturally different. Since a hot debate is encompassing (Aavarana) our country, following attacks on Churches in Karnataka and Orissa, let us discuss the problems arising out of the multi - religious composition of our population and the causes thereof. Here it is also important, nay inevitable, we must include in our discussion the multi - ethnic composition of our population. The multi - linguistic composition is, however, not relevant as it is not the cause for the problem we are discussing. After all, people belonging to one particular religion may speak in any one or more languages of India or the world.

The problem relating to incidents of religious conversion was not there in the pre - Judaic or pre - Buddhist era. Here, let us consider these early religions as practised by different people in different parts of the world. It was simply nature worship. Sun, moon, stars, sky, rain, trees, thunder, lightning, water, fire and even animals. Which is why we find pre - Christian Romans worshipping Sun as God whom they called Titan. Similarly, pre - Christian Greeks worshipped Sun as God whom they called Helios. The Pharaohs of Egypt called their Sun God as Rah. The Persians called the Sun God as Mithra. Surprisingly, the Romans also called Sun God as Mithra along with the name Titan.

As we know, Hindus also worshipped Sun as God and called him Surya. Likewise, each of these civilizations had their own names for different elements of nature whom they worshipped.

Those who worshipped animals in the pre - Christian era are described as “animists” by the proselytizing Christians in India and said they are not Hindus. Gandhiji has answered this point as quoted above. In other words, people worshipped elements of nature as perceived, loved or feared by them in a manner that suited a particular geographical area or climate. Golden calf that was worshipped by the Jews went out, thanks to Moses. Jesus challenged the religious exploitation and violence of Jews (an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth) and that led to a new religion Christianity.

Then came Islam that got rid of idol worship in Saudi Arabia, united the Arab tribes engaged in endemic warfare and spread its religion through military conquest and conversion. Almost 500 years before Christ, Buddha founded a new religious path for those who sought liberation from suffering and Ananda (bliss) in life through meditation which became a challenge to the Sanathana Dharma or Vedic religion, which was the preserve of the upper caste Indians (read Hindus), specially Brahmins.

Since then, through the millenniums, a lot of religious miracles have taken place. Thanks to the proselytisation (conversion) by the followers of these religions, mainly Buddhist, Christian and Islam all over the world. Medieval history of the world is replete with wars (Holy Crusades, Jihad for example) fought in the name of religion and the zeal of the missionaries to increase the number of their flock. Incidentally, millennium, the 1000 years, is mentioned in the Old Testament, Revelations 20, as the period when holiness is to prevail and Christ is to reign on earth. From the master - plan of the Vatican, backed by other Christian denominations elsewhere in the world, especially America, it is possible that next millennium may really belong to Christ, if Christ is not already reigning the earth, going by the way Christian countries are holding sway over the world order as also the world economy. Look at the way America is waging a war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Asian countries, including India, are already toeing American way. And consider the impact of the present financial meltdown in America across the globe.

Let us also remember what Pope John Paul II said when he visited India on Nov.8, 1999 during the Papal High Mass, The first millennium saw the Cross planted in the soil of Europe and the second in America and Africa. May the third Christian millennium witness a great harvest of faith on this vast and vital continent?

There is no mincing of words about Pope’s (read Christian world’s) intention about conversion. Indeed he must have found India, the most fertile soil to plant his Cross and expect a rich harvest of converts to his religion. And why not? Whoever said you (Hindus) should not go to Europe or America or Africa for the same purpose? In fact a number of Hindu outfits are already all over the world with their yoga, meditation, temples and Hari - Keerthanas ISKCON, Ramakrishna Mission for example. Muslims too are on line for a similar harvest, not to forget other minor religions whose names and number are many. On hindsight, I have a suspicion that religion too is becoming a big business, if it is not already one.

And that is why there is a race for conversion and also a resistance to conversion. It is here that Hindus have a major stake following onslaught of conversion from Buddhists, Christians and Muslims on Hindus. Hinduism is a generic term which embraces animism, worship of idols of Gods and Goddesses from the Hindu pantheon and also the holy books of Veda, Upanishad and religious epics like Ramayana and Mahabharatha (which includes Bhagavadgita). And in this race among the religions who will be the winner?

We have heard of the possible clash of civilizations between Islam and Christianity and the present wars seem to be the precursor to the final clash to come “The Armageddon”. This is at the political level. But what about the clash of religions? Inevitably in the West it is going to be between Islam and Christianity. They have already had a trial - run of this in the ethnic cleansing of helpless Muslims of the Eastern Europe. Millions of Muslims in Bosnia (part of former Poland) were killed following the collapse of Soviet Union and disintegration of Poland into Bosnia and other smaller countries. This is an indication that in West it is going to be Christians who will win in the clash of religions, if we go by what happened in Bosnia.

Now let us come to India. A clash of religions between Hindusim on one side and other religions Christian, Islam and Buddhism on another are poised for more space in India. Hindus are the targets of conversion if we go by the recent happenings.

Since religion is believed to be a bridge between man and God and there are new bridges built by prophets, it is up to an individual to choose whatever bridge he wants to reach God. Generally, a new bridge is preferred because it is supposed to be qualitatively superior, strong and good compared to the old bridge!

This may be the reason why Christianity and Islam spread all over the world from the desert lands of Palestine and Saudi Arabia. So also Buddhism. “Old order changeth yielding place to new”. Read “old religion” where “old order” is. Who knows in the future millenniums, the present religions may disappear and new prophets will come up with new religions. Osho Rajneesh is a strong contender to be our prophet of the future.

In fact, earlier Hinduism was practised from Persia to South - East Asia. Military conquests, evangelical work by the Hindu priests, economic and employment advantages in embracing a new religion of a new Hindu King might also be a reason for those people to prefer Hinduism. However, with the advent of Buddhism, Christianity and Islam, in that order, the Hinduism suffered a set back and its geographical space too got shrunk. Enough for now but more to come.