How Hindu nationalists hunt down Christians for forced conversions in India | DW News

Key Concepts:

• Violence against Christians in India
• Hindu nationalism and the BJP
• Forced reconversion to Hinduism
• Adivasi community
• Anti-conversion laws
• Religious persecution and discrimination
• Erosion of religious freedom

Violence Against Christians in India

• Rise in Attacks: Since the Hindu nationalist party, the BJP, came to power in 2014, violence against Christians in India has increased. The United Christian Forum reports over 800 attacks on Christians last year, a nearly sevenfold increase in a decade.
• Victims: Members of India's Adivasi community, many of whom converted to Christianity decades ago, are among the victims.
• Geographic Concentration: Much of the violence is concentrated in the Buster region of Chhattisgarh State.

Forced Reconversion Efforts

• Hindu Nationalist Mission: Hindu nationalists are actively seeking to "undo" conversions to Christianity.
• Example of Duri: The video shows Hindu nationalists visiting Duri, a member of the Adiasi community who converted to Christianity after being treated by Christian missionaries. They pressure him to return to Hinduism.
• Rationale for Opposition to Conversion: A local politician states that conversions to Christianity will ruin their ancestral traditions, gods, goddesses, and land, leading to the destruction of their culture.
• Forced Reconversion Ceremony: Duri is subjected to a traditional reconversion ceremony, where a Hindu priest splashes him with sacred water to purify his soul. He is declared a Hindu whether he wants it or not.
• Claims of Success: The Hindu nationalist group claims to have converted a dozen Christian families to Hinduism in the past month.

Denial of Burial Rights

• Romesh Bagi's Case: Romesh Bagi, the son of a late Christian pastor, was prevented from burying his father in the village cemetery or even on his privately owned land.
• Legal Appeals: Romesh appealed to local authorities and went to court, but was unsuccessful.
• Forced Burial Elsewhere: Romesh's father was buried 25 kilometers away from his ancestral home.

Accusations Against the BJP Government

• Support for Hindu Nationalist Ideology: Romesh Bagi states that the BJP government supports those who promote the ideology of making India a Hindu nation.
• Calls to Close Churches: Hindu priests have openly urged the chief minister to close down churches.

Impact on Christian Community

• Fear and Loss of Rights: The pastor of the region's oldest church states that Christians are being made to feel that they don't have a right to live there and that their rights are being taken away. People live in fear.
• Forced Abandonment of Faith: Many Christians have been forced to give up their faith.

Reverend Vijay Lal's Perspective (Evangelical Fellowship of India)

• Uneven Religious Freedom: Religious freedom for Christians varies across India. Some states have absolute freedom, while others, particularly those with anti-conversion laws, do not.
• States with Restrictions: Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jarkand, Hana, and Karnataka are mentioned as states where Christians face restrictions.
• Frequency of Attacks: Attacks on Christians happen almost daily. The Evangelical Fellowship of India has been monitoring these attacks since 1998.
• Escalation of Violence: The violence has escalated to the point where Christians are no longer safe even in their homes. Birthday parties and casual visits to friends' houses are being attacked.
• Underlying Causes: The violence is symptomatic of a broader change in India, where religious minorities are treated as second-class citizens.
• Anti-Conversion Laws: Anti-conversion laws are being misused to target Christians.
• Social and Religious Polarization: Hatred has been normalized, leading to attacks not only on Christians but also on Muslims.
• "Conversion Bogey": Conversions are used as a convenient excuse by the Hindu right-wing to target Christians, despite statistics not showing an increase in the Christian population percentage.

Conclusion:

The video documents a concerning rise in violence and persecution against Christians in India, particularly in states with anti-conversion laws. Hindu nationalist groups, empowered by the BJP government, are actively engaged in forced reconversion efforts and creating a climate of fear and discrimination. The situation is described as a symptom of a broader trend of religious polarization and the treatment of religious minorities as second-class citizens.