Author: Subodh Ghildiyal
Publication: The Deccan Herald
Date: April 18, 2001
Amid vedic chants and sprinkling
of Ganga jal, Father Anthony Fernandes was today rechristened Shankar Dev.
He returned to the Hindu fold after 12 years as Christian, becoming the
first priest to reconvert. The reconversion or 'shuddhikaran' (purification),
carried out by Hindu Sanskar Kendra, drew men and women to the Radhakrishna
temple in Varanasi. Those manning Hindu Sanskar Kendra have links with
the Sangh Parivar though they were vociferous in their claims to the contrary.
Clarifying that he was "returning
to the ancestral roots of his free will and without any coercion from any
person or organisation", Father Fernandes has not made things easier for
the Sangh Parivar or the Church either. His reconversion followed serious
allegations of irregularities and discrimination against the Church. However,
the Church was quick to disown him. "Fr Anthony Fernandes is not associated
with the Church anymore and we think his utterances are not worthy of any
reaction ," said a spokesman of Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Varanasi.
As per plans, eleven Vedic scholars
of Sankar Kendra performed the elaborate reconversion ceremony. A priest
with the Catholic church in Gujarat till two years ago, Fernandes took
bath in the holy Ganges and was escorted to the temple. The Mundan ceremony
had his head being shaved off and the priests presented him with a new
set of clothes. He was given his new name which had been chosen in advance.
After the ceremony, Fernandes nee Shankar Dev was welcomed to Hinduism.
In October, Fernandes, a Konkani,
had publicly criticised missionary activities. Not only did he come under
media glare but was picked by the Sangh Parivar. The Hindu Sanskar Kendra
accepts the motive behind reconverting people is the same as the Sangh
Parivar but denies any links with them. "We provide priests for birth and
death rituals to the poor who cannot afford to hire pandits. We have nothing
to do with politics," said Ram Prasad Singh.
Fernandes has not just left Christianity
but provided enough ammunition to those advocating the Indianisation of
the Church. Among his eight demands from the government, he has demanded
that Bishops appointed by Rome should be derecognised. Dubbing the diocese
as "Papal Mafia", he has urged an investigation into the property under
the Diocese and Bishops which, he said, was being misused. Further saying
that Christianity did not approve of conversions, Fernandes has further
asked the Christians for an in-depth study of the Bible and Tora. He has
also alleged rampant discrimination within the Church.
