Should we know the TRUTH or should we depend on lies to make our conclusions?

  1. On Sept.2nd.1999, Fr. Arul Doss was brutally attacked and killed in Jamubani village in Mayurbhanj District.
  2. On 26th August Sheikh Rahman, a cattle trader, was hacked to death and burnt in the crowded bazar by Dara Singh.
  3. On the night of 22nd January Pastor Graham Staines a leprosy worker, was torched to death along with his sons, Philip and Timothy (aged 9 and 7 years) when they were sleeping in their jeep.


Suddenly from 1997 attacks have begun against the Christians. During 1998 there have been more than 128 cases of violence against the Christian community, more so against priests and nuns working in remote areas for the social welfare activities in health and education. In Dumka Fr. Christudas was assaulted and paraded naked, Sr. Rani Maria was hacked to death in Indore, in Maram(Manipur) Fr.Jose Nedumthahil (Principal of Don Bosco School) was murdered, a health Camp run by Christian Health Association was attacked and similarly Yeshu festival was disrupted in Baroda.

Thus the last two years have witnessed a series of attacks against Christians in different parts of the country. The argument being given is that Christian priests are indulging in conversions, because of which local citizens are feeling insulted, which is resulting in "spontaneous" attacks by the local people on them. Is it True?

The Christian religion came to India in the year 52 AD. British rule was here for 192 years. The population of Christians is fairly stable. In 1971 it was 2.6%, in 1981 2.44% and in 1991 it was 2.32%, which means it has declined over these decades. (Source-Census of India 1991; and 1971)

The Christian population in Keonjhar where Graham Staines was burnt on the charge that he is indulging in conversions through allurement (by offering beef and wine to the Adivasis) has been fairly stable.

Composition of Population of Keonjhar (Religion wise) In Lakhs
  1981 (% of Total) 1991 (% of Total)
Hindus 13.05(95.10) 14.93(97.62)
Christians 00.41(0.299) 00.47 (0.307)

(Source Wadhva Commission Report, in Raju, pg.191).

Thus we see that over a period of centuries the population of Christians is fairly stable and does not show any mass conversion.

A perception is being spread that priests, nuns and others associated with churches are here to spread the religion. It is true that some Church people do spread the word and preach about their religion. The freedom to do this is quite rightly provided by the Constitution. But the majority are engaged in dedicated social and community work which is there for all to see, especially in the areas of health and education, two fields which are very much neglected in the remote areas. They also do substantial work in the cities, where the educational institutions run by them have the reputation of being of a very high quality, and for which there is a high demand.

Unfortunately, the last few decades have witnessed a very intense spread of communal violence. This violence is built on the hatred of the ëotherí community. For many decades Muslims were the target, on the grounds that they produce more children, have several wives, etc. In fact, the population of Muslims has changed only marginally. The occurrence of polygamy amongst them is no higher than amongst Hindus.

Most of the inquiry Commission Reports on communal violence ( Communalism Combat, March 1998, ëWho Casts the First Stoneí) have shown that it is the Sangh Parivar and other organisations associated with them who generally create the situation whereby the minorities feel threatened and are forced to retaliate, the culmination of which is violence in which, so far, 65% of victims have been Muslims.

Now we are pained to observe that another community is being targeted for attack. To take the example of Dara Singh, there are different reports which point out that Dara Singh was a member of the Bajrang Dal, which is an arm of the Sangh Parivar.

a. The National Human Rights Commission Report: ìThere are indications available that Dara Singh alias Rabindra Kumar Pal is a sympathiser of the Bajarang Dal. (From Wadhava Commission Report in Wadhava Commission Report: A Critique, Dr. Raju, Media House, Delhi; 1999 Page; 214)
b. National Commission for Minorities: ìThe activities of Dara SinghÖ. were linked to the campaign of Bajarang Dal for cow protection in different parts of the country." (From Wadhava Commission Report; same book Page: 215)

c. Report of the team appointed by the Commission:ìRabindra Kumar Pal alias Dara Singh is an activist/ supporter of Bajarang Dalî (same book Page; 218), ëDara Singh has been seen at RSS ralliesí (Same-page219)

d. CBI Orrissa Police Report: ìDuring his stay at Patna Turumanga, Champua and Ghatgaon Police station areas of Mayurbhanj district, he frequently visited Sisu Mandir schools run by RSS of those areas. In this process he came in contact with RSS leaders." (The Week-Sept.5th 1999)

e. A letter from Mayurbhanj Superintendent of Police to the Special Inspector General Cuttack, sent on Nov.21, 1998 states clearly that he was an active member of the Bajarang Dal (Meantime, Sept, 1999)



The Pope, who is the religious head of the Catholic Church, has also been under severe attack from fundamentalists of the Sangh Parivar. They assert that the Pope has to apologise for the ëforced conversionsí in India, he has to apologise for the inquisition in Goa a few centuries ago, and that he must state that all religions are equal.

As we have seen, there are conversions, but they are few and far between. Most conversions take place to improve oneís social situation and thatís what some of the Adivasis have done. We should remember what Swami Vivekananda said in the context of allegations against Muslims about Islam spreading through the sword. Says Swamiji ìWhy amongst the poor of India so many are Mohammadens? It is nonsense to say that they were converted by the sword, it was to gain liberty from Jamindars and the priestsî (Collected Works-Vol.VIII, Page 330). Most of the time people adopt a different religion to improve their social situation and thatís what some of the Adivasis have done.


This phenomenon of our society is being blown out of proportion to create hatred against the Christian community, and the same is being blamed on the Pope and attempts are being made to humiliate the Pope and Christians. After the hatred against Muslims, now the same is being done against the Christians. Is it not analogous to the poem of Martin Nimoeller Ö.

First they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew

Next they came for Communists
But I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for Trade Unionists
Ann I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade Unionist.
Then they came for Catholics
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a catholic

Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak for me.


Pastor Martin Nimoellor
A priest and Intellectual and a victim of the Nazi ascendency in Germany in the 1930s

Mahatma Gandhi an ardent Hindu, was the biggest champion of communal harmony, but alas, he was killed by somebody in the name of Hindutva.
The Mahatma said ìIn India, for whose fashioning I have worked for all my life, every man enjoys equality of status, whatever be his religion. The state is bound to be wholly secularî (Pg. 87.Gandhi and Communal Problem, CSSS). He also said that ìreligion is a personal matter and it should not be mixed with politics and National affairsî. (Same book, pg 90)


Friends, the time has come for us to stop listening to those who have been spreading hatred in the name of religion. Sangh Parivar has been spreading hatred against minorities in a well-planned manner. This ìHate Campaignî is part of their politics to grab power. In this process they are demolishing and destroying the age-old tradition of mutual love harmony and tolerance. It is a shame that in the land of Gandhi, Buddha, Kabir and Nanak, hatred is being spread in the name of religion. We need to respect all religions in equal measure, and not hate othersí religions.