Victor J T
The ‘Conversion Bogey’ is raised repeatedly by the exploiting castes, orthodox hardliners, moneylenders and big business magnets. To dominate, to hold rule over the reins over their lives and destinies of people should never ever be questioned and that their grip on exploitative machinery never be challenged; is what they, the exploiting caste and anti-Christians all wants.
It is very ridiculous, and absurd, as well as unacceptable, that the accusations of “How could all the turmoil, troubles, disharmony, bigotry and the chasm created in the northeast, or for that matter, in India, derive from the machinations of the missionaries?”
Let’s take for an instance, “If rain’s fall in excess, if the Brahmaputra, the Ganges, the Godavari etc, overflows, or if the earth quakes……..should the consequences be bored by a particular section of religion, or the missionaries and the Christians be held accountable or responsible?
Every learned, sapient or well-versed person(s), very well knows that, “Historical, cultural, ethnic, political and economic grievances lie behind the tribal unrest in the Northeast. In fact there is abundant written literatures on this (Conversion bogey) matter / issue, hence, or so that no ignorance be needed to claim by educated and sane persons.
One pertinent question is “Why did the Hindu Assamese militants, the ULFA, and Hindu Manipuri’s undergrounds / separatist like PREPAK, the UNLF, the PLA / RPF, the NDFB, and horde of other insurgent outfits etc., take or for that matter of fact resorted to wield arms- armed to the teeth? Were or was it because of a threat of a particular religious community, leave alone their (the afore mentioned insurgent organizations) sole objective- to carve a niche of a separate ‘Homeland’ from India. The stark answer, certainly not, is a huge “NO!” Or, could this upheavals been inspired by the Christian Missionaries? Why, when they have their own massive share of problems, which are very much a need to be addressed, as every other group or organizations in the region, and in the country that is desperately claiming for political solution, attention and sovereignty.
One of the reason why the problems in the northeast, will not be easily be solved is that; ‘No problems seeking political solution is taken in hand on its own merit.’ National policy towards the region is shaped for the advantage of the party in the helm of power at any given time and the business interest of the “Commercial Community” that rampantly exploits its own people.
The Northeast region is stripped of consistency, coherence. There is no earnestness in wanting to identify the real issues nor is their any seriousness visible in taking them- the enormous, crippling problems churning in the very hands / palms of the entire region, literally speaking; and neither is there genuine commitment to the northeast and its populace and inhabitants.
To blurt out the brutal truth is that the commitment of the policy- makers is to themselves; to their own stake / vested interest, political mileage and personal gains etc. At the meantime, baseless, derogatory remarks, comments and hint less allegations keeps on pouring in incessantly – all unprovoked and unproved and unfounded. More, ironical, of all, is that, the rage and fury are all diverted against the Christian community and the missionaries.
The serious issue, here, now, is if at all the VHP has no quarrel with Christians or the Christian missionaries opening academic institutions, hospital’s and primary voluntary aid in the remotest of the remotest areas / villages as well as for town - dwellers, then, why not let them not do the same for the simple, deprived villagers of basic amenities, those, keeping in mind, living or should I say suffering and howling in abject poverty; those starving and disease riddled Indians- the fellowmen and women of the VHP’s.
“Why don’t the missionaries work in cities?” “Why not in the tribal belts or areas?” (Quoted / averred by Haren Pandya, the then Gujarat’s communal Minister of state for Home, Asian Age Jan. 12, 1999). However, the undeniable and the irrefutable truth is that, the missionaries are selflessly working (undaunted 24x7) in both cities and remote rural areas and belts.
There is hardly any city or township in the country – irrespective of any deterrence whether the specific areas are densely populated and flooded by Hindus or Moslems etc., - without some missionary work or activities.
Christians are welcome to labour for the upper castes. “Let them not cast a glance in the direction of unfortunate dalits or tribals!” The business castes who plant themselves on the fringe of the tribal belt and run on exploitative economy are doing a useful service; on the contrary, the Christian missionaries who is/ are educating the tribals to help, assist or enable them to offer intelligent service to the noble and dignified cause, is bracketed or say, engaged in an anti – national or anti – religion activity!
The politician, the bureaucrat and the businessman who defrauded the state of astronomical sums meant for the uplift and other development of the tribal people, are tagged “Patriots;” a Christian organization that is most conscientiously spending for tribal benefit, education, healthcare and other developmental infrastructures; the last ‘Pie’ gathered from charities is “ anti – national!”
