Leave it to individuals

The Great Commission8217; that Jesus Christ gave to his followers was,quot;Go forth and teach all nations to observe all my commandments, and to baptise all who believequot;. And all his commands are summed up in one commandment 8212; love. quot;Love God, love your neighbour as yourselves, love your enemy, sheathe the sword.quot; Gandhi, universally acknowledged as the apostle of non-violence, was one who also had acknowledged what he owed to Christ and the Sermon on the Mount for his inspiration on non-violence. No wonder, reflecting on the crucified figure of Christ sculpted by Michaelangelo, Gandhi said, quot;I saw there at once, that nations, like individuals, can only be remade by the agony of the cross, and in no other way; I wish India has accepted this way.quot; By saying that conversion is violence, the Swamiji should be dubbing Jesus also as violent because he had enjoined his disciples to teach all nations, to practise his commandments and to baptise all who believe.

Gandhiji also was at first against conversion. It was his reaction against the mass conversion in some states in northernIndia most of which were not the outcome of real spiritual change of heart. He, however, was in favour of conversion within one8217;s own religion. He wrote an article in the Harijan weekly opposing conversion and called for a countrywide discussion on the subject. He invited the Federation of International Fellowships for its all-India Conference at Sevagram in 1935. The main subject of discussion was conversion. I was also a participant in it. Though he was the one who opened the conference, he was not present at the valedictory session where the resolution embodying its findings was passed.

Among the participants were Hindus, Mu-slims, Christians, Parsis, etc. The resolution, stating that every individual should have freedom to change his religion stated clearly, that such change, however, if it be merely for social betterment and not the outcome of a spiritual change of heart, cannot be termed as con- version, and should never be encouraged. Gandhiji published the resolution in Harijan with his viewsagainst it. Report Christavashram, 1935. Some Indian Christians, including me, wrote a reply to Gandhiji8217;s rejoinder. He published our letter with his comments, still upholding his stand against conversion Harijan April 3, 1937. Gandhiji who was pursuing his search after truth, and dialogue with some Christian friends like Dr Moses of St Stephen8217;s College, Delhi, and Dr Stanley Jones, changed his stand on this issue and said that, 8220;Even if his son should become a baptised member of the Christian church, he would have him continue as a member of his home without any disability, provided he would not change his dress or his name and would stand in the mainstream of India8217;s heritage.8221; Message of Jesus Christ, Christian Missions, Ahmedabad.

During the meeting of the Constituent Assembly, there was a countrywide discussion on conversion and basic rights. It was on that occasion that Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Chairman of the Constituent Assembly, accepted Buddhism along with 30,000 people. He set fire toManusmrithi8217;, declaring 8220;a crusade against the barbaric, uncivilised and Satanic slavery of caste system8221; embodied in that Hindu scriptural document. This must have reminded Gandhiji that his position against conversion from one religion to another would be condemning the Buddha himself and Ashoka for their change of religion. He might also have recalled a statement made by him earlier at Trichur on March 25, 1925, during the Vaikom Satyagraha, 8220;If Hinduism continued untouchability he would leave Hinduism.8221; T. Pellisery in the Malayala Manorama supplement, Oct. 2, 1969.

The Swamiji8217;s listing of Buddhism as a religion that 8220;does not convert8221; is unfounded. It is a fact of history that the Buddha started Buddhism as a missionary religion accepting converts to the Buddhist Sangha church. His followers, including Ashoka the Great, started missionary work enlisting converts in India and abroad. Ashoka himself, after his conversion, started propagating the faith through stupas, rock and pillar edicts,etc. in different parts of this country, and sending missionaries to countries like Tibet, China and Sri Lanka, accepting converts from the indigenous religions of those countries. But Buddhism was nearly exterminated from India through the hostility of fundamentalist Hindu revivalists. It however is finding a new life in the country following the conversion of Ambedkar.

Similarly, his statement that the Jewish religion does not permit conversion is also wrong. The presence in India of Black Jews8217; along with the normal White Jews8217; testifies the fact that the Jewish religion also was and is a missionary religion. As for Hinduism, which also is described by the Swamiji as one that does not permit conversion is functioning today as a missionary religion, admitting converts after the Shudhi ceremony,8217; in India as well as in countries like the USA, Britain, France, etc. No church or Christian groups there have opposed such missionary work or conversion to Hinduism. It is well known that permission to put upHindu temples, Muslim mosque, etc. is freely granted in such countries.

The right of conversion is for the individual and the right of propaganda is for believers of all faiths. The Gospel of Christ does not permit any forcible conversion or conversion through unrighteous means. The Pope, one feels, would not only be ready to express regret to God and man, on behalf of himself and the church for any misdeeds, but also to warn the church and missionaries against such unchristian activities. But at the same time should not the government, the Sangh Parivar and those involved in efforts to get legislation passed against conversion, also be ready to apologise for the atrocities perpetrated against Graham Staines, Fr Arul Das and such others as well as the burning down of places of worship and holy scriptures?

Acharya K K Chandy is President Emeritus of Fellowship of Reconciliation, India

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