"Ghar Wapsi" [Homecoming] and the Not-so-veiled Threat of the Sangh Parivar (John Dayal)

[. . .]
I have had occasion to document Ghar Wapsi events in various villages of Orissa, and not just in Kandhamal, where the process has involved shaving off the head of men and women, their purification through a mixture of cowdung and cow urine, the chanting of mantras around the fire and, wherever possible, the burning of “alien” books such as the Bible. Colleagues, who have documented the Ghar Wapsi organised by former BJP Minister and strongman Dilip Singh Judeo, speak of how his armed cadres—armed with bows and arrows as much as with modern guns—would surround the place and keep watch while he “initiated” the Christians into the Hindu fold.

My own observations after field studies are of Ghar Wapsi as a movement that uses armed force and violence, certainly the threat of violence, towards a conversion of neo-Christians to Hinduism.

It cannot be called a homecoming because the tribals do not accept Hinduism as a default language, and over the past years, there has been a vigorous movement among those of them who are not Christians to assert their roots in the Sarna and other indigenous religions. The 2011 census was slightly better than the 2001 census in allowing some space for indigenous religions to have their voice heard as opposed to the past when they were all routinely lumped under the Hindu label. This lacuna still remains in law and the BJP ruled States list all so-called “Indic” religions as Hindus. The matter needs to be taken to one of the superior courts in the interests of constitutional provisions for freedom of faith and belief guaranteed to every Indian citizen.

The Ghar Wapsi activities also encourage lumpen elements and smaller organised village level groups to gather strength and demand homogenisation in the villages. This is not a simple matter and has in it the seeds of future violence in rural groups deeply divided on the basis of a new, militant version of Hinduism.

http://www.sacw.net/article4747.html

Fascist RSS, VHP Bajrang Dal escape CBI Scanner (Public Meet: Delhi, Aug 28)

Invitation to Public Meeting

Operation Cover UP by CBI

CBI Chargesheet on Nanded Blasts 2006 Exposed

Fascist RSS, VHP Bajrang Dal escape CBI Scanner

The CBI chargesheet into the Nanded Blasts of 2006 filed in 2008 completely covers up the role of the RSS/VHP/Bajrang Dal Maharashtrawide network that was training youth in the manufacture of explosives and bombs after indoctrinating them in hate propaganda against India's Muslims. Despite the fact that the Maharashtra ATS had chargesheeted accused persons involved in the blasts of 2006 for dressing 'like Muslims' and bursting bombs at the Mophammadiya Masjid in Parbhani (2003), Quadriya Masjid Jalna August 2004) and at the Meraj Ul Uloom Madrassa/Masjid in Purna in Parbhani (August 2004), the CBI's chargesheet exenorates accused and their organisations of any terror conspoiracy.

The Maharashtra ATS investigations into the Thane Panvel blasts shows that members of the Sanatan Sanstha, Hindu Jan Jagran Samiti and Gurukripa Pratishthan are involved and ironically,investigations reveal that Convenor of the Jammu Sangharsh Samiti and Swami Dharmesh are also members of the Sanathan Sanstha. investigations also reveal that the Sanathan Sanstha publishes Santhan Prabhat, whose editor has been indicted for fomenting communal violence. The publication is published from Goa, North Karnataka, Mumbai and Jammu.

The recent VHP/BD Violence against Christian Tribals and scheduled castes in Orissa shows that the outfits are violent terror outfits. In Kanpur bombs were found in a Bajrang Dal office bearers house.

Are Indian Investigating Agencies and the IB turning a blind eye to fascist right wing outfits like the RSS, Bajrang Dal, VHP etc who are also indulging in acts of violent terror??

To discuss these and related issues a Public Meeting is being held on Thursday 28th August, 2008 at 6. 30 p.m. at Dty. Speakers Hall ,Constitution Club, Rafi Marg

Date August 28, 2008

Timing 6.30 p.m. onwards

Speakers Justice BG Kolse Patil, RB Sreekumar (former DGP Gujarat), Mahesh Bhatt, Teesta Setalvad

(Speakers will be available to meet the press from 5 p.m. onwards)