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Here is what I faxed to Russia. However, I did not appeal in the
name of Hinduism or freedom of religion itself as such. Others
might have done this already. Instead, I appealed in the name of
Russia and its nascent democracy alone, linking it to Freedom of
Speech, Religion and Conscience as a pre-requite to a democratic
and modern society.
regards,
-Rajiv
P.S. - Incidentally, I faxed the letter on July 4, anniversary of
overthrow of another tyranny.
--------------- letter to Yeltsin attached -------------
July 4, 1997
His Excellency President Boris Yeltsin
The Kremlin
Moscow, Russia
Dear President Yeltsin:
I understand that the Russian Parliament has recently passed
legislation concerning religious practices that, if enacted,
would ban or considerably limit the activities of those religious
organizations that are comparatively fewer in number of their
adherents or younger than the ones traditionally existing in
Russia. For instance, the proposed law does not allow a religious
organization to get an all-Russia status unless it was registered
in Russia at least 50 years ago, or forbids registration of a
local religious organization until 15 years after the time of its
founding in a particular region of your country.
Respecting the solemn right of the Russian parliament to adopt
any laws thought to be conductive for the Russian society, we
nevertheless cannot help but express our deepest concern over the
later legislative initiative. Apart from being inhibitive to the
growth of a modern society, such legislation in Russia would turn
the clock back. Looking back at the history of your own great
country, you will find that such mentality existed in the Russian
Czarist Government, which extremely oppressed the Russian people,
with active participation of the organized Church. The extreme
conditions created by the Czarist administration exploded and
culminated into another form of extremist political upheaval, the
Bolshevik Revolution. Bolshevik Russia became the mirror image of
Czarist Russia, in its oppression of the Russian people. Fact of
the matter is that for building a democratic, humane and modern
society, Freedom of Speech, Religion and Conscience is essential,
nay a pre-requisite. If such freedom is curtailed in any form
whatsoever, the nascent Russian democracy itself would be killed.
I hope you do not want Russia to go back to the Czarist years.
Mr. President, Sir, under your able and inspiring leadership, the
Russian people overthrew the worst form of oppression the world
has ever known. I hope you continue your own glorious tradition,
and veto the proposed legislation.
Thank you very much for your kind consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Rajiv Varma
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