Two days back, I watched the movie PK and like almost every other movie by Aamir Khan, I kept on brooding about it for quite sometime. This movie illustrates purity and innocence in religion and relationships. Love without conditions and devotion without demands: all these thoughts were beautifully brought out through the tapestry of the story. They prove how your religion is a superficial external cover because every religion refers to similar ideals and values which constitutes its core. However, in reality our own leaders are enmeshed in this criss -crossed web of religious polarisation.
Recently,Dharam Jagaran Samiti and many other such institutions conducted religious conversions of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Gujarat. Now, the protest arose when the converts alleged that they were ‘forced’ into a new religion in return for ration cards in their name. So, eventually the DJS (which is a offshoot of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) went wrong at two steps. First, the converts weren't made fully aware of what the ceremony was about when they were told to participate in the event. Second, they were given false promises of identity or ration cards. Hence, when the ‘promised’ benefits were not appropriated, the agitation began. Such is the fire now that it has creeped into the parliament also(well, that is for every issue now; some of our leaders need excuses to disturb the parliamentary proceedings) putting a halt to the passing of legislations and other important bills.
These organisations wholeheartedly supporting these conversions feel that irrespective of a person being Christian or Muslim, his ancestors were Hindu so they are logically being re-converted to their original religion hence the name “ghar vapsi”. How false and illusory can that be? No religion is ever propagated this way. By carrying out such coerced mass conversions, they are eventually disrespecting the essence of Hinduism. When the motives, methods or message of a conversion is unworthy, it is called proselytism which is illegal. Article 25 of the Indian constitution states that every citizen of India has the freedom of conscience to adopt any religion. Thus, if a person is satisfied with his religion status, why must a different religion be imposed on him. There are some organisations that evangelise people by preaching the gospels of their religion but they can’t impose a conversion on them.
Worst still is that some propagandists of ‘hindu’ religion feel that conversion is a form of “shuddhi-karan”.Why exactly should that be true? In “Sum of all fears”, the author claims that he had just finished reading the Quran and there was nothing in it that he didn't here at the Sunday church lessons. That is how interconnected religions but unfortunately the mid-interpretation by some makes them poles apart. A leader in DJS claimed that India is Hindustan and thus all must adopt Hinduism but they fail to realise the unifying thread running through different sects. And, shouldn't we be spending more time in making our system and surroundings swacch and shuddh instead of mis-construing religion?
To make matters worse, the existing government is stirring the opposition to pass an anti-conversion law which in my opinion is not just. Some people have economic and cultural reasons to change their religion. I remember reading a story where a girl changed her religion to gain advantage of quota. Further, many inter-religion marriages lead to voluntary conversions for a peaceful life ahead.
These organisations must be allowed to evangelise but not impose conversions on the poor people by luring them with false incentives. As we all are aware, awareness leads to enlightenment. If people are told about different religions then they will know exactly which “ghar” to go to, for homecoming is always pleasant! Over and above that, the current government must take a stronger stand than just saying that RSS is responsible for it and they aren't. Being in proximity to the RSS, they must discuss and decide the future course of action.
In the end, I would like to conclude by saying that we must believe and propagate the unity of love and not unity of faith for God loves us all as if we were only one of us. As the Rig -Veda tells us that there is only one truth but men describe it in different ways! Sad it is, that the DJS leaders don't understand Hinduism which is why they are stooping so low! Its high time we think about what the father of our nation told us:“ The need of the moment is not one religion but mutual respect and tolerance of devotees of different religions.”
And just when I sign off, I remember what my Class I teacher would often repeat,
“Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Issai; hum sab hain bhai-bhai!” Jai Hind!
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