Communal disharmony in India that is Bharat

Communal disharmony in India that is Bharat ---- a white paper:

Gaurang R. Desai
Friends of India Society International (FISI)

Introduction:

Karl Marx may have said religion is opium of the masses but the truth is, religion plays an important role in keeping family together and supports community development. Religion also plays an important role in nation building. Some times, positively, as in the case of U.S., Israel or India and some times, negatively, as in the case of Pakistan and Afghanistan. So, when someone mentions religious persecution or discrimination, one tends to think of worst.

Issue:

Based on recent speech by Rep. Edolphus Towns and Dan Burton, and reports in some American newspapers, there were around 38 to 100 cases in last seven months in India where Christians have were victims. These might force one to believe that government of India has unleashed a pogrom of terror against minority religious communities. For that reason, it is important to clear set the record straight and few misconceptions in this regard.

Reports and Facts:

One may be tempted to believe that the BJP-led regime headed by Mr. A.B. Vajpayee and his Hindu Nationalist party is responsible for the increased violence against Christians, and that by bringing this government down, minorities can be made safer.

Investigations by local police and district authorities and by the minority commission established at the center, it is clear that overwhelming majority of these incidents was the handiwork of Muslim terrorists. Some of the other cases of violence were ordinary crimes committed by habitual criminals, where a Christian happened to be a victim. Note that many of these attacks on Christian priests and/or their premises were motivated by the fact that these priests are better off and enjoy a much more comfortable lifestyle than the people they are supposed to serve. Almost all of these attacks involved the robbing of money and/or valuables. A number of these attacks were also motivated by personal and or political motivations that were intra-religious (Note especially the case in Andhra Pradesh).

Recently (July 2000), police discovered a Muslim terrorist gang that was involved in a bombing spree in which ten Churches, one temple and one mosque were attacked in south India. Most of the gang members were caught in state of Karnataka (ruled by opposition Congress party headed by Catholic). The secular fabric of India is now a major irritant to most ISI (Pakistan’s secret service) backed Islamic groups, who having consolidated all gains as minorities privileged in secular society are now faced with erosion in Islamic values (which are antithetical to secular coexistence) with gain in numbers. This specter of diminishing returns prompts them to reinforce the religious divide, whatever the means.

Asian age reported in it’s April 27, 2000 edition that The National Commission for Minorities team, comprising of Justice Mohammed Shamim, chairman, Mr. Tarlochan Singh, vice-chairman, and two members, Mr. John Joseph and Lt. Gen. A.M. Sethna (Retired), a Muslim, a Sikh, a Christian and a Zoroastrian respectively, visited Kosi, Mathura and Agra in Uttar Pradesh and examined victims from Rewari in Haryana (all in North India), where incidents involving Christians (victims) were reported. The Commission came to the conclusion that the incidents were not communal in nature and that they did not merit intervention of the Minority Commission.

Looking further back, the unfortunate incident of the gang rape of four nuns in Jhabua in the state of Madhya Pradesh (which is also ruled by the Congress Party) was blamed on so-called zealot Hindus. Police investigations, however, found out that the rape was committed by newly converted Christians and local tribals who were sheltered by a congress politician were responsible for this ghastly act.

Yet another incident originated in a story put out by the Associated Press. An American doctor, Dr. John Sylvester, working in Allahabad attacked by Hindu fundamentalists, the agency reported, has had to seek shelter in a Baptist Church, his clinic broken up.... Sylvester is not a medical doctor; he has a Ph. D. in Economics. He is not an American, his wife is. He has no clinic. Instead he runs two schools. Neither he nor his wife, nor their schools had ever been attacked. But the assault was the talk in atrocity-circles: in the papers, on Internet.

In an unfortunate incident, a missionary and his two sons were burned alive; according to Wadhwa commission, set up to probe that incident, an individual who had no connection to any political party committed this crime. Even though, this incident happened in a state governed by the Congress party, the person responsible for the crime was caught only after the Hindu Nationalist BJP party came to power in the state.

Cases of over-zealous proselytizers who have tried to seduce and pressure unwitting students and tribal members to convert to Christianity have naturally generated anger among community members. There have been cases where priests in missionary schools have beaten students who refused to convert or have been forcefully asked to sign a pledge indicating they were converting. In the tribal area of Dangs, bordering my hometown of Surat, Hindu-Christian confrontation involved land disputes arising from enticed conversion. These aggressive tactics have exacerbated tensions in India, as in Israel, France and Russia.

Mr. Towns in his March 21st speech on the floor of the House claimed that the government of India was responsible for the massacre of 35 Sikhs in Chattisinghpora in Kashmir just before the visit of President Clinton to India. To blame the Indian government for this massacre, carried out by Muslim terrorists, is indicative of the lengths that some Congressmen are willing to go to undermine foreign governments.

Interestingly, the crime occurred on the night of March 20^th and police did not even have full details of the incident. Even CIA and CBI (Indian equivalent of FBI) had no details of the incident. I believe, Mr. Towns hasty in his conclusion to blame government of India.

Time and again, India has welcomed minorities from around the world in times of need. Jews have come to India, just as they came to US to escape persecution. Zoroastrian community has similarly found shelter in India for centuries. Christians too came to India centuries ago. Dalai Lama too, has found shelter in India. Today in India, there are 200 million Muslims, more then in Pakistan, the Islamic Republic carved out of India as a homeland for Muslims. Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism were founded in India and have thrived for centuries.

The BJP-led government (which is accused of religious fanaticism), appointed a Christian, George Fernandes as their Defense minister. A Muslim, Dr. Abdul Kalam is the chairman of the Defense and Research Development Organization of India, responsible for missile development. Soli J Sorabjee, a Zoroastrian is an Attorney General of India. The Chief of Staff of the Indian Navy, Admiral Sushil Kumar and his Vice Admiral P J Jacob are both Christian from South India. JFR Jacob, a Jew and Gen. Candeth, a Christian are members of the Hindu Nationalist BJP's National Executive committee. Mr. Sikandar Bakth, a Muslim too is a top official in BJP. Our President Mr. Narayanan is a dalit (lower caste). India has had Muslim presidents -- Zakir Hussain and Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed -- as well as a Sikh, Mr. Giani Zail Singh. Even the leader of the opposition party, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi is a Catholic Christian and an immigrant (naturalized citizen).

Conclusion:

If the logic being used to condemn India and Hindus of India are to be used for incidents in the U.S., we must say that Southern Baptists have attacked Jews, Hindus and Muslims in last year or two. President Clinton is a Southern Baptist. Therefore minorities (non-Southern Baptists) are unsafe in America. I know it does not make sense. Yet this aberrant logic is used to tar and feather India and Hindus.

Terrorists are trying to drive a wedge between Hindus and Christians who have lived in harmony for centuries. On their part, various Christian leaders of India have played into the hands of such people, and have tried to create an impression that the government headed by Mr. Vajpayee is aiding and abetting the perpetrators of attacks on Christians.

There are unfortunate incidents like Rodney King in every country. In India, this is an aberration (just as in U.S.). This number in itself, assuming all these were attacks committed by Hindus against Christians only on communal basis, in a country of one billion people. This can’t be considered an epidemic or Government sanction.

Finally, It must be noted that there is a great chance of further violence to create divide between Hindus and Christian to sabotage Mr. Vajpayee’s visit to US next month. Please take time to look beyond initial reports before making judgment against India because it appears that there is an effort underway to create an impression that the violence against minorities, especially Christians, has risen since Mr. Vajpayee has taken over as the prime minister of India.

US and India are democracies and have a bright future ahead of them individually. Together, they can become great examples of vibrant democracy. A great legacy to leave behind for our children.

References:

This paper and references available at following websites:

Friends of India Society International (FISI) at http://www.fisiusa.org
Save India at http://www.saveindia.org