Uttar Pradesh set to become stage for VHP's ‘reconversion’ campaign

Lucknow – The right–wing Hindu outfit, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council) has declared that it will launch a mass ‘reconversion’ campaign and has chosen Uttar Pradesh as the base for its ‘homecoming’ programme, Christian Today has confirmed.

According to the local media, the VHP plans to ‘reconvert’ over 80,000 Dalit Christians back to Hinduism in Agra before the end of the year.

Dalits (untouchables or ‘casteless’) are those who occupy the lowest place in the caste system of the Hindus. Over the ages, many Dalits have converted out of Hinduism to escape the social ostracism and discrimination imposed on them by the caste system.

Dalit Christians comprise at least 70 per cent of the Christian population in India which is around 25 million.

According to a survey made by the VHP, out of 638,000 Dalits who are living in Agra, over 200,000 have already converted to Christianity.

VHP’s new ‘Ghar Vapsi’ or “homecoming” programme was prompted by news reported by the local daily newspapers that Dalits were being converted to Christianity in droves.

However, according to Indrajit Arya, regional co–coordinator of the Hindu Jagran Vibhag, an arm of the VHP, a large number of Christian converts still followed Hindu customs even after their conversion.

“The women still observe the karwachauth fast [an annual fast carried out by wives for their husbands], the cross on their neck notwithstanding,” he said.

According to news sources, the VHP has already “reconverted” more than 18,000 Dalit Christians in the region over the past year.

However, John Dayal, general secretary of the All India Christian Council and member, National Integration Council (NIC) has dismissed the VHP campaign, stating that he was “amused” by the VHP’s goals.

“Which caste will [these Dalits] profess after they become Hindus?” he asked. “Will the VHP make them all Brahmins [the highest caste in Hinduism] so they can live with dignity ... Or will they be forced to live with other Dalits in filthy ghettos?”

Dayal also pointed out that contrary to the survey made by VHP, Agra had a Christian population of fewer than 100,000. “However, it does have a 400–year–old Christian tradition,” he acknowledged.

“The term ‘reconversion’ has no legal or theological meaning in India,” Dayal said. “As most Dalits are traditionally animists or follow tribal religions…and therefore cannot be ‘reconverted’ back to Hinduism.”

“These homecoming ceremonies are a strategy of Hindu fundamentalist groups ... based on deceit and force, and often done under the supervision of armed thugs,” he explained. “I hope some day the state and federal governments will wake up to this danger, and instead of harassing Indian–born evangelists and priests, take due action against this political brigandry.”