Author: Soumyajit Pattnaik
Publication: The Times of India
Date: November 30, 2001
Bhubaneswar, November 29: Several
instances of religious conversions, which are in violation of Orissa Freedom
of Religion Act (OFRA), have been reported in the state in the last few
months. Reports of conversions were previously confined to the tribal dominated
districts in the state. But the problem is now spreading to coastal Orissa
after the super cyclone and the floods. Along with Sundargarh, Koraput,
Gajapati, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj districts, reports of conversions and OFRA
violations have now being reported from Jagatsinghpur, Kebdrapara, Jajpur
and Puri districts.
And the debate rages. Should an
individual be allowed to change his religion by observing certain laws
enacted by the state government or can he/she do so on his own volition
where the state should not meddle at all?
Leaders belonging to the Sangh Parivar
believe that the missionaries are carrying out religious conversion in
Orissa through allurements. Gouri Prasad Rath, State secretary of Viswa
Hindu Parishad, says there is no change of religion of one's own free will.
Conversion in the state, according
to Rath, is taking place mostly in those pockets where people are illiterate
and economically vulnerable. "Can you cite instances where educated and
economically well-off people are embracing Christianity. They (missionaries)
are doing it through misguiding people, allurement, and even through threats,"
Rath asserts. Thus a law like OFRA is not only needed, but its provisions
should be made more stringent, Rath says.
Rt. Rev Ruben Senapati, Bishop of
Diocese of Cuttack, Church of North India on the other hand believes that
religion is a personal matter and it should be best left to the individuals
themselves.
Under OFRA, the collector has to
be intimated 15 days in advance before any incident of conversion takes
place and if the district administration after conducting an inquiry certifies
that the proposed conversion is purely voluntary and free from allurements,
then it can take place.
Binay Kumar Muduli, president of
Bhubaneswar Christian Association, however feels the provision of inquiry
by a police official is not a fair provision.
Orissa, A Communal Tinderbox
January 1999: Australian missionary
Graham Stewart Staines and his two sons are brutally killed at Manoharpur
in Keonjhar district.
July 1999: Father Arul Doss was
murdered in Jamabani village.
Mid-2000: Shankaracharya of Gobardhanpeeth,
Puri, visits Manoharpur to re-convert nearly 80 Christians into the Hindu
fold, which was criticised severely by Christian leaders.
July 2001: 19 people in Korua village
in Kendrapara district embrace Christianity and later were forced to be
back into the Hindu fold again.
August 2001: Two members of the
Missionaries of Charity attacked in Kandhamal district.
November 2001: Six persons belonging
to scheduled caste community at Chapalli village in Kendrapara district
embrace Christianity violating law and cases lodged.
November 18, 2001: A Christian youth
was murdered at Sikabeda village in Keonjhar district.