Debate on conversions
Sir,
India is a secular and a
pluralistic society. It is not only because of its
constitution, which we have given to ourselves in 1950,
but because tolerance, mutual co-existence and composite
cultural ethos is in our very blood as we are the progeny
of a tolerant civilization, which dates back to 5000
years. Out constitution has at the most legalized this
communal amity and tolerance through secularism.
Constitution guarantees to all its citizens the right to
freedom of religion and belief. Besides educational and
cultural rights are also guaranteed. Thus every citizen
is free to profess, practise, propagate his/her religion.
Even a person is free to adopt the religion of his/her
choice. But it no way guarantees us the right of
conversion as such. Though conversion does not stand
banned. The problem of mass conversion has once again
come to limelight on the occasion of the visit of Pope
John Paul-II. The fact is that the conversions are going
on unabated and unchecked in our tolerant land. The
unjustified, uncalled for and unwarranted conversions are
resorted to, by the Christian missionaries, since a very
long time though in a different pretext and garb. One can
not deny that Christian schools and colleges have done a
yeoman's job in providing education to our people. But at
the same time one is pained to see how under the mask of
social and philanthropic work conversions of dalits,
backward classes, tribal, upper caste people are
engineered, funded and executed under well nit programme
by the so called Christian missionaries. Hindu
organisations are thus within their right to condemn such
conversions but they should not take law into their hands
as that will tarnish the image of our secular &
composite culture. It is ripe time that a genuine debacle
should be launched in the highest law making body
(Parliament). Government, social and voluntary
organisations, intellectuals, legal luminaries and
religious heads should adopt a positive and pragmatic
approach towards the problem of conversions. Otherwise
peace and communal harmony is bound to be disturbed.
Means and ways should be found out to curb mass
conversions as these are encouraged through inducements,
monetary considerations and other mundane
considerations.It all tantamounts to exploitation of
weak, poor and tribal sections of our population who are
more vulnerable to it. Enough damage has been caused due
to these illegal conversions and now these should be
stopped. Even constitutional amendment of the right to
freedom of religion and cultural & educational rights
should be resorted to while keeping the basic tenets of
secularism intact. A legislation to ban mass conversion
is the need of the hour. Government and the opposition
parties should behave in a responsible and responsive
manner to pass a bill to ban conversions. Political
parties, religious and fundamentalist zealots of Hindu,
Muslim and Christian faiths should shed their extremist
attitudes, conservationist and orthodox bent of mind and
work in national interest to pave way for peaceful and
prosperous India when we enters the new millennium. We
are the believers of Sarva Darma Sambava and let all
religions flourish in this culturally rich, vibrant,
dynamic and pluralistic society for which are world
famous. Let us pledge to uphold our unity in diversity.
It is the opportune time to kick a national debate on
conversions as after debate on genuine secularism,
foreign origin issue of people holding high offices, it
is the turn of debate on conversions which ultimately
should lead to its ban to save the situation from growing
volcanic.
Yours etc....
Omkar Dattatray
Bank Colony
Munshi Chack, Jammu.
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