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Mad scramble for tribals' conversion in India state
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>From penumaka@imonics.com Sat Feb 3 10:16 EST 1996
From: nreddy@nitrogen.sbi.com (Narotham Reddy)
Subject: Mad scramble for tribals' conversion in India state
Date: 1 Feb 1996 23:23:30 -0700
Nntp-Posting-Host: nyx10.nyx.net
BANGALORE - Jan 22: In Karnataka's tribal areas names like Jaaji,
Sannaiah, Kundaiah and Mastamma may soon be replaced by Joseph, Samuel,
Ramesh and Suresh, courtesy conversions.
For the last one-and-half years, insidious attempts are on to
convert thousands of primitive, food, gathering tribals in Mysore and
Kodagu districts into either Christians or Hindus.
Spearheaded mainly by Christian missionary groups using the
front of developmental agencies and Hindu voluntary organizations, the
efforts are apparently aimed at converting the estimate three lakh
tribals(300,000), who dominate the dense forest areas and their
periphery in the region.
Until now however, the attempts at conversion have met with
limited success as the efforts have evoked hostile resistance from the
tribal leadership which has orally communicated to its people that
those converted must leave their hamlets and never return.
A senior tribal activist told this correspondent that the
efforts at conversion were systematic and well-planned with no moves to
roll back the attempts despite protests by the "yajamanaas"(tribal
heads).
Interestingly, the tribals consider themselves native
worshippers with their own gods and customs which fall outside the
purview of any religion, including Hinduism. In tribal lore, the
traditions and culture date back to 50,000 years with the present
generations in no mood to give up their spiritual autonomy.
Apparently, the first conversions were seen 18 months back in
Periyapatna village when a local development agency enticed Jenu Kuruba
tribal children into attending church services each morning.
In Virajpet taluk where Kerala based groups are active and the
church of South India has its presence, it is slowly becoming normal
for tribals to go to church, the activist said. In Hunsure when more
and more tribes started getting influenced by Christianity, the tribal
leadership protested and threw out the missionaries responsible.
In another village, Shettahalli of Hunsur, Pentacost groups
allegedly used the cover of the State Tribal Joint Action Committee to
lure tribals into Christianity.
In one case, Rukumamma became Rita.
The activist alleged that the missionaries promised the "good
things of life" and showed them images of the rich and beautiful around
the world with hidden messages that the tribals too would benefit along
similar lines if they are converted. A make shift church already exists
in Hanagoda Hobli which is regularly attended by some nine tribals.
The missionaries, it seems use arguments that exhibit the
tribal customs in poor light. For example, the Christians are
understood to have told the tribals that the primitive religion had
both "god and devil", but "only god in Christianity". Quoting the
tribals who were the targets conversion, the activist said the
Christians exhorted the tribals to keep the Bible under their head
while sleeping to ward off evil dreams.
When the tribal leadership got to know this, they summoned the
missionaries and questioned them over such statements. With the
situation hotting up in recent weeks, the district administration has
ordered an enquiry into the issue of conversions.
In H.D Kote Talk, the Cornerstone Church Medical Service
Center is said to be active travelling all over the area in a van,
distributing books, showing films on Jesus and giving away free food.
The church groups have taken the stand that "whoever comes
voluntarily, we will convert them".
Simultaneously, the Vanavasi Kalyana Sangha, an RSS-backed
organization, has been trying to woo the tribals into the Hindu fold.
But its attempts have been stymied following displeasure expressed by
the State BJP which has informally initiated an enquiry into the
complaints of conversion by the Vanavasi Sangha.
In BJP's view, the report said, the tribals anyway belong to
Hinduism and there is no need for any conversion. [Hindustan Times]
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Sent by Srinivas Penumaka - Imonics Corporation <srinivas.penumaka@imonics.com>.
