A recent article published by Kesari, a Kerala-based weekly known for its ideological synergy with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has ignited a serious debate about the conversion of Hindus in Kerala’s socio-political circles. Titled "The Pathways of Global Religious Conversion", the piece was highly critical of missionary activities and their impact on Hindu society. The article drew a response from the Church, also leading to sharp exchanges.
The significance of this episode lies in the fact that it has brought an issue to the centre stage that is often debated in hushed tones because of political compulsions. The RSS is at the centre of this debate because it had picked up the issue as early as the 1950s and flagged the potential threats emerging from the conversion of Hindus by missionaries. To counter their growing influence in tribal areas, the RSS volunteers had set up the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram in 1952. Today, it is the largest tribal welfare organisation in the country, countering 'religious conversions' in addition to its welfare projects.
Freedom of Religion Bill
In 1978, Janata Party Member OP Tyagi introduced the "Freedom of Religion Bill" in Parliament. This was a private member's bill that sought to regulate religious conversions in India. Interestingly, while private member’s bills hardly draw any attention in our parliamentary tradition, this particular bill introduced by Tyagi drew the ire of Christian groups while the RSS supported it, leading to a fiery debate in the public discourse on this issue.
Incidentally, this bill was based on similar anti-conversion laws enacted by state legislatures in Madhya Pradesh (1968) and Odisha (1967). Both bills were passed by non-Congress governments. The Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967, was India’s first anti-conversion law. India’s second anti-conversion law was the Madhya Pradesh Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam (Freedom of Religion Act), 1968.
RSS Resolutions on Conversions
In the wake of the public debate on religious conversions sparked by this bill in 1978, the RSS passed a resolution in its annual meeting of the national executive (Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha) in 1979.
The resolution clearly spells out the RSS’s stand on religious conversions by missionaries. It said: “The ABPS hereby expresses its appreciation of and support for the 'Freedom of Religion Bill 1978' proposed by Sri OP Tyagi... The ABPS is of the considered opinion that proselytisation and secularism are incompatible... It is most unfortunate that the Christian missionaries should have started a virulent campaign against such a welcome measure, which ensures the freedom of all religions equally. By their opposition, they are only laying themselves open to the charge that it is through unwholesome methods that they are carrying on conversions. Their attack against the Bill — that it strikes at the religious freedom of Christians, that it is against secularism, and is discriminatory — is such as to tarnish the fair image of Bharat in the eyes of the world.”
In 2008, the RSS passed a strongly worded resolution titled "The Kandhamal Incidents and Conversion". The resolution said: "The Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal (ABKM - a top executive body of the RSS) strongly condemns the brutal murder of Poojya (revered) Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswathi and four of his disciples, namely Sadhvi Bhaktimayee, Baba Amritan, Kishor Baba, and Puranjan Ganthi, at his ashram in Jaleshpatta of Kandhamal district in Orissa by a group of Christian zealots on the Janmashtami day, 23 August 2008. The Swamiji had devoted all his ascetic life to the all-round uplift of the poor and backward people of the region. His work and presence in the area was the most formidable check against cow slaughter and illegal conversion by the Christian missionaries who had masterminded eight previous attacks on his life between 1969 and 2007. The assassination of such a noble person is not only a great loss to the country, but has left a grievous wound on the Hindu psyche which is difficult to heal.”
The resolution demanded that central legislation be enacted to ban religious conversions. The resolution categorically said, “…Conversion militates against the core ethos of our nationhood as understood through the true meaning of secularism, i.e. Sarva Panth Samadar – equal respect for all religions. Conversion implies superiority of certain religions over others. It is nothing but 'Religious Imperialism'. Swami Vivekananda had ridiculed the missionary claims of superiority, while Mahatma Gandhi unequivocally declared that he would prohibit conversions if he had the power.”
In 1989, the RSS passed another resolution expressing “grave concern over the increasing pressure being mounted by the Christian Church for the extension of special concessions available to the Scheduled Castes to Christian converts also.” It further said, “It is an anomaly that the Church, which claims that conversion to Christianity eradicates social discrimination and economic backwardness, should now come forward to demand the same concessions based on caste. This also exposes the utter falsehood of the rosy promises held out to such innocent people by the Christian proselytisers of economic uplift and social equality after conversion to Christianity. Amply funded by foreign money and already armed with minority rights, it is obvious that the motive lying underneath this move is to further induce the weaker sections into the Christian fold.”
In 1981, after more than 800 Scheduled Caste Hindus converted to Islam in a mammoth public function at Meenakshipuram (Tamil Nadu) causing a national uproar, the RSS passed a resolution titled “Meenakshipuram Conversion”. Through this resolution, the RSS called upon “the Government to undertake follow-up measures and impose a legal ban on conversions and the flow of foreign money so as to put an end to all such nefarious attempts which are even now going on at several places all over the country.” The RSS also appealed to the political parties to realise the grave implications of this national problem and desist from trying to exploit it for party ends.
Conclusion
The current leadership of the RSS has also repeatedly flagged the issue of religious conversions as this has already started impacting India’s religious demography. The Church-backed insurgency in North-East India after independence is often cited by RSS functionaries to highlight the fact that 'religious conversions' of Hindus have grave implications for not only our socio-cultural fabric but also for national security. That is why it is important to have an open debate on 'religious conversions' and its implications for India.
(Arun Anand has authored two books on the RSS. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive.)
Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
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