Sangh Parivar takes 93 Christian tribals back into the Hindu fold

Author: Rakshit Sonawane
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: September 5, 2000

NASHIK, SEPT 4: Ninety-three Christian tribals from the Kosvan region of Kalwan tehsil of Nashik district were reconverted to the Hindu-fold by the Sangh Parivar. A functionary of the Sangh Parivar, Swami Aseemanandji, who visited Kosvan on Wednesday to welcome the reconverted tribals said that conversions of tribals by Christian missionaries in Daangs had stopped completely. Talking to The Indian Express, Swamiji said that over the past 18 months, about 20,000 Christian tribals from the Daang region had returned to Hinduism. He said that even in Christian pockets like Navapur, where the Dharma Jagran Samiti had started its work only two months ago, 309 tribals had reconverted.

He, however, claimed that the reconversions were all voluntary as the tribals had ultimately realised the futility of remaining in an alien religion. However, he said that the spread of Christianity among tribals was because the missionaries had managed to reach the tribals in remote hilly regions before their Hindu counterparts could do so Inviting 93 tribals of Kosvan, Bagulhuda, Jambhulpada and Molkhundpada villages back to the Hindu religion, Swamiji urged them to stop anyone of them from converting to any other religion. The tribals had visited the hot spring in Unnai in Gujarat for a holy dip, about a fortnight ago. He said that Hinduism originated in the forests and that Hindus and the tribals were one. He said that efforts were being made by some elements to segregate the two by stating that tribals were not Hindus, describing it as a campaign to divide the Hindus. Popatrao Gangurde from Kosvan, a member of the Dharma Jagran Samiti, who was instrumental in taking the 93 tribals to Unnai for a holy dip said that the conversions had taken place over the past seven years. He said that most of the tribals had done so for curing their ailments. He said that he had told Swamiji and other senior functionaries of the Sangh Parivar that better health-care facilities should be provided to the tribals to prevent conversions. He said he had been promised that it would be done soon. A reconverted tribal, Tukaram Jadhav, said that he was suffering from some ailments and the Christians had promised to heal him. He said that they had not given him any money but offered medical help and holy water. He said that he had gone with the others for a darshan of Unnai Mata and a holy dip and was now a confirmed Hindu. Another tribal, Dattu Narsu Wagh, had a different story to tell. He said that he had become a Christian to cure his sickness (recurring fever and weakness), but despite Christian prayers and holy water, his sickness had continued. He said that since he could not get rid of the disease, he had decided to reconvert. He, too, said that the missionaries had not given him any money. Janibai Bhutya Wagh said that she was administered holy water and declared a Christian. After visiting Unnai, she had reconverted. She said that she had merely followed the footsteps of her husband on both the occasions. Incidentally, Swamiji had played a crucial role in reconverting Christian tribals of the Daangs region in Gujarat back into the Hindu fold by administering a holy bath at Unnai.
 

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