Forced conversions frowned

PUNE, Jan 31: Prominent Marathi writer and social worker Father Francis De Britto today emphasised that there was a definite connection b...

PUNE, Jan 31: Prominent Marathi writer and social worker Father Francis De Britto today emphasised that there was a definite connection between the recent attacks on churches, torching of a Christian missionary, agitations over the screening of the controversial film Fire and ransacking of the BCCI office.

Expressing serious concern over the definite link between these 8220;separate8221; incidents, Father De Britto called for an introspection. He was speaking at a seminar on 8220;Danger to secular nationalism: Indian context8221; organised by the All India Progressive Muslim Conference at the Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal on Sunday.

Lamenting the widening gap between communities, De Britto said, 8220;we were living in compartments. Several misconceptions prevail.8221; He bemoaned the apathy shown by a large section to the increasing incidences of violence and attacks on communities.

Referring to an opinion poll where 68 per cent of the people had said that the killing of a Christian missionary in Orissa was a matter of shame, De Britto pointed out that the insensitivity shown by the remaining 32 per cent was a matter of deep concern. While stating that conversions by inducement, coercion and force was not proper, De Britto however said that a society needs to accept people with different beliefs.

8220;There has been resistance to different thought processes and beliefs the world over. But there is a need to understand and introspect as to why Pandita Ramabai and Rev Tilak converted8221;.

De Britto who writes a column in a Marathi daily often faces queries regarding his command over the language despite being a Christian. De Britto told the audience that Marathi had been the language of communication as he was born a Maharashtrian. He said it would be one of the finest days when Lokmanya Tilak8217;s death anniversary was observed at the Bishop House and Rev Narayan Tilak 8211; the famous Marathi poet8217;s death anniversary was observed at Kesari Wada.

Dr S H Deshpande said he was a former Hindutvawadi but did not subscribe to the same now. He said that political parties should be banned from using religious symbols. The thinker however emphasised that conversions should not be brought about by fraudulent ways or by coercive means.