Attack on Christians: Two sides of the coin

M. Gautham Machaiah

Historically, communal tensions in India were confined to Hindus and Muslims, with the exception of the anti-Sikh riots in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination. The last few years, however, have witnessed a new phenomenon with Hindus and Christians being pitted against each other.

Christians have generally been regarded as docile, peace loving people who mind their own business. Why then is this community being targeted and their places of worship torched in Orissa and Karnataka?

There is no doubt that the complexion of Christians has changed over the years. While the average Christian continues to remain harmless, there is a spurt of foreign funded rabid fundamentalists within this community who have made religious conversion their main avocation.

Though armchair pseudo secularists may see a deep rooted conspiracy where none exists, it is apparent that the Hindus are retaliating against forced conversions. Cornered by Islamic terrorism and now the Christian assault on their religion, it appears that the Hindus are giving vent to their pent-up feelings.

In Karnataka for instance, there seems to be direct correlation between the simultaneous attacks on churches in three districts and the rampant conversions taking place of late. It goes to the credit of the Hindus that though they are the majority community, there is virtually no case of forced conversion of Christians or Muslims to Hinduism.

Hindus have every right to feel agitated, but resorting to violence deserves condemnation. The governments in Orissa and Karnataka need to take immediate steps instead of remaining mere spectators, to ensure that these incidents do not escalate into a major law and order problem.

At the same time, Hindus too need to introspect on why their brethren are embracing other faiths.

Even to this day, Hindus discriminate against the backward classes who are treated as sub-humans. They are regarded as inferiors, denied access to the common village well, refused admissions to schools, humiliated and condemned to live a life of degradation. Why would one want to remain in a community or religion which does not treat them with dignity…which does not look at them as equals?

This is what attracts the pariahs of Hinduism to other religions which promise them dignity and honour—an environment where all humans are equal.

Let Hindus first ensure a class less society. Conversions will stop on their own.

(Picture sourced from: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/EOARC/kids/fire.html)

COMMENTS

The happenings in Karnataka can best be termed as the politics of conversion. While on the one hand, conversions are vitiating the atmosphere, on the other, it is being politicised. Both the ruling party and the opposition are unnecessarily adding fuel to fire, so that they remain in the limelight. Nobody cares for the innocent lives that are lost. The media too should share the blame for hyping news which has no relevance to the public. Television channels telecast the same fabricated news over and over again solely with the aim of increasing their TRPs. They are also equally responsible for instigating the people.
- K.S. Guru Raja, Mysore

From time immemorial religion has played a role in polity. What is new about it? It is all about power, power and power. Our focus should be on economics, not religion. The world is about economics today, not faith, worship, hatred or love.
-Manna Mandanna, Bangalore

The majority is under threat in India. Probably, this is the only place in the world where this unique phenomenon exists. Hindus are facing a double edged sword—Islamic terrorism on one side and Christian conversions on the other. No doubt, the Hindu society has many drawbacks but this will not end with the change of religion. The discrimination continues. It is time Hindu organisations and swamijis started thinking of reforming the society and bringing about drastic change in the religion to ensure that equality and dignity of one and all is respected.
-S. Prakash, BJP, Karnataka

Three cheers to prohibition

M. Gautham Machaiah

Gujarat, the land of Mahatma Gandhi, is the only State in India where prohibition is in force, but in reality liquor flows as freely as the Sabarmati.

This is not a recent trend. Bootlegging has always been a thriving industry in Gujarat, with the present annual turnover pegged at Rs 5,000 crore. Yet, the votaries of prohibition would prefer Gujarat to remain a dry State.

Prohibition works to everybody’s convenience. The revenue from the sale of liquor which would have otherwise filled the State’s coffers is now being pocketed by politicians and policemen.

Even the average Gujarati stands to gain. With prohibition in place, the Government is not in a position to impose excise duty on liquor, which ensures that the people actually pay less for their favourite brands. They fear that lifting of prohibition will render liquor expensive.

Another argument advanced is that prohibition helps to maintain law and order, with the government coming down heavily on illicit liquor making it inaccessible to the common man.

Not many are aware that despite prohibition, liquor is also legally available in Gujarat. The State has set up permit rooms where the local people can purchase liquor on production of a doctor’s prescription! But with the rates at these permit rooms being prohibitive; the people would rather rely on the bootlegger who supplies liquor right to the door step.

However, following demands from corporates and the tourism industry, Chief Minister Narendra Modi has announced that consumption of alcohol will be permitted at international conferences and special economic zones (SEZ). But the move has met with stiff opposition form various quarters. And predictably so. Who would like to kill a goose laying golden eggs?

Hey Ram!

(Picture sourced from: www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id...)