Curse of Conversions:

February 25/2015 : The top man of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mohan Bhagwat, has raised the hackles of some people, and not just of Christians. By making a  public remark that Mother Teresa’s epochal social service had a religious conversion angle to it, Bhagwat has once again raised a controversy that the nation could have done without. While one may not take umbrage on his statement against conversion attempts in general, which is a real issue, he could possibly have steered clear of a name like Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa was a much loved and unique figure who devoted her life to the service of humanity. The organization started by her, the Missionaries of Charity, was known to work for the cause of the destitute, the lepers and the terminally ill in highly appreciable ways. Her Sisters were a prominent sight mostly in the slums of Calcutta and elsewhere too. The Albanian-born nun chose India as her main field of activity, basing her home in Calcutta. Spreading out the Sisters near and far and giving care to the needy, she emerged as one of Christianity’s most prominent and respected women. Although the Vatican came forward to bestow on her sainthood posthumously, there were those within the Church itself who had questioned her greatness.

Unarguably, christianity was integral to her missionary pursuits. All those who were close to her were aware that her works for the poor were anchored in her belief in religion and its tenets. No one in India questioned that. There were times she was part of a church-inspired anti-abortion campaign. While it would be difficult to distance her from the image of a Christian nun, it must also be noted that no NGO in this country has surpassed her image of do-gooder. Her help went beyond the creeds of race, religion or caste. Under the circumstances, there is no obvious need for anyone to rake up the religious angle or see a ‘conversion agenda’ behind the Nobel Peace winning nun’s actions.

Christianity came to India in AD 52, starting with Kerala, and by now it has nearly 30 million followers, constituting over 2 per cent of the population. This mostly happened through missionary activities among the poor. It is no secret that several Christian institutions have combined social service with their goal of conversion. Church activism has increased lately, especially after the last visit of the Pope to India when he had announced that this country would be in focus for proselytization. By now, it is common knowledge that large sections of poor tribals have been converted to Christianity in regions like the North-Eastern states, and several other backward areas across the country. Mizoram and Nagaland have by now over 90 per cent of their population in Christian fold, while Meghalaya has 70 per cent. It was plain overzealousness with zero resistance. The loud mouths like Bhagwat were caught napping.

Fact is, Hinduism as a religion does not have a bulwark to face up to or resist such situations and there were those who took advantage. If those like the RSS remained mute spectators to such activities, it could be either out of complacence or out of other inherent weaknesses. A conversion issue led to an explosive situation in Kandhamal in Orissa during the past decade and normalcy was restored after painstaking efforts. Its bitter memories are still with us.

Fact is no society encourages conversions. It would be worth the while to remember what happened to Acharya Rajneesh, or Osho, when he won a following for his mystic cult in the US. He was hounded out, bag and baggage, caught as he was in a string of litigations in the mid-1980s. Allegations were also that America could not suffer a Hindu philosopher in its midst. India had in the past been liberal about conversions, and both Christianity and Islam benefited from this.

While the good work that Christian missionaries do in the fields of education and health care needs be appreciated and applauded, it would be expected that they do not strengthen a feeling that ‘conversions’ as such is their motive. Otherwise, to expect of a Mohan Bhagwat and his flock to keep their mouth shut is irrational too.