Editorial

“Forced Conversions”: Christian Response to the Allegations

Opinion | Editorial | John S. Shilshi | 05-Oct-2022

The onslaught on Christians and Christian institutions has been an ongoing affair in this country since long. In the North-East region however, the frequency of such aggressions were much less as compared to other parts of India. Except in some parts of Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and the valley districts of Manipur, blatant attacks on Christians and Christian interests were rather negligible. In fact, denomination rivalries were more frequently witnessed as compared to incidents of aggression by forces considered anti-Christian.

This however, is not to conclude that the RSS and other elements of the Sangh Parivar, who unfortunately perceive Christians as anti-nationals, do not have their presence in the region. Call it application of mind or whatever, they chose to remain circumspect over the years because they had rightly read the mood of the people - particularly the tribals, who are mostly Christians. Therefore, even though embedded in society, they carefully played the waiting game to perfection. That trend however, has changed in recent times. We now see unprecedented increase in number of direct and indirect indulgences – the most alarming one being fueling conflicts within tribal communities – pitting indigenous faith groups against Christians.

Understandably, the disquiet is being interpreted as one triggered by attempts to force-convert people. As sequel to this very calculated move, there is also increasing tendency to interpret every Christian activity, particularly the humanitarian kind, as activities carried out with the objective of ‘converting’. The obvious reason behind a sudden surge in such provocations and growing tendency to view services to the poor and needy through the prism of conversion is not far to seek. With the pro-Hindu political party calling the shots in almost all the states in India’s North-East, organisations owing allegiance to the BJP are now sufficiently emboldened to pick up the infamous project of igniting the inter and intra-tribal cauldron, so as to score a point and build a narrative on the issue of “forced conversions”. 

In comparison to this very meticulous move, the Christian response in the entire region has been not only lukewarm, but laidback. The attitude of taking things for granted with a sense of complacency, thinking that nothing can happen to Christians in the region, appears to be all prevalent. Even talks of certain organisations remote-controlling some of the tribal conflicts remains in the realm of speculation. There are no hard facts to substantiate such presumption, by way of data collected or compiled through systematic study, credible enough to withstand the scrutiny of any probe. It must be said that apart from nursing the old habit of victimhood - claiming and ruing that Christians have been targeted through various means, including the application of anti-conversion laws - no serious efforts seem to have been made to counter the false narrative with sound argument.

It must not be forgotten that the freedom to practice a religion of one’s choice is not a favour extended to citizens by a political party of a time. It is an unshakable Right guaranteed by the Constitution of India, under Article 25-28 - to exercise freedom of conscience, profess, practice, propagate, and even manage institutions to provide education, welfare and reform peoples’ life. Therefore, to trivialize even acts of charity and service to mankind in the fields of education, health and welfare as acts of “conversion” is despicable. Christian institutes are also accused of converting their own students, which is a preposterous allegation. The question therefore is, should Christians continue to swallow the bitter pill without standing up against it? Should the truth not be made known to people who do not subscribe to such wild allegations?

While people who question Christians on the issue of conversion keep changing tactics depending on situation and circumstances, the Christian response has always been one-dimensional and never from a position of strength. In the absence of convincing and credible fact presentation, the right quite easily morphs into a wrong. So much so that doubt creeps in the minds of Christians themselves, who begin suspecting some section of their fellow brethren of actually being guilty as alleged. The need to undertake an objective study on all of these has now become imperative. For example, a stagnated Christian population in the region, established through an impartial study will do Christians a world of good. Not only will allegations of massive conversion through allurement be beaten hollow, but help Christians to reflect why their population passes through a tardy growth path. Further, such studies will also help in identifying Christian groups treading the unethical path.

Baseless though it might be, on the allegation of institutes converting students, the best way to counter would be for institutes to profile their alumni and list out men and women who excel and have brought laurels to the country. That despite having spent years in Christian schools and colleges, they continue to belong to all religious groups - Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, etc. would be self-explanatory. In other words, the only way to beat salacious gossip and fake news is by countering them with hard facts. But the truth must be spoken - and in today’s India – spoken out loud.

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