NASHIK, Jan 9: Tribals in the Peth-Surgana belt in Nashik district have been undergoing a relentless and sustained saffronisation campaign by Hindu fundamentalist organisations since the last two months which culminated in last Tuesday's Vishal Hindu Sammelan in Peth taluka.The sammelan, organised by the Dharmaraksha Samiti set up following the burning of a church and related violence at Kayre Sadadpada village on October 16 last year, culminated in the re-conversion of 37 Christian tribals to Hinduism. However, tucked away in the tribal belt on the border of Maharashtra and Gujarat, frantic attempts are being made to brainwash the tribals into believing that the Christian missionaries are ``anti-national outsiders'' and must be driven away.The samiti's chief convenor, Gangaram Janu Awari Guruji, has now announced that the tribals will be organised in every taluka to protect their traditions. In a signed statement, he says the cries of tribals (against Christian missionaries) are not ``squeals of foxesbut roars of tigers''.The mountain has woken up and the Mountain God has possessed the tribals, who will not tolerate insults (to their traditions) anymore,'' the statement says.The samiti, which has already issued an ultimatum to missionaries to leave Peth before March 31, has cannily chosen the 80-year-old Awari Guruji to project the face of Hindutva to the tribals. Already interwoven into the lives of the tribals, Awari Guruji is also locally known for his intimate knowledge of herbs. He has also reportedly participated in the freedom struggle and was at one time associated with the Congress. The blend of patriotism and Hindutva, the samiti figures, will be a convincing bluff.Over the last two months, saffron flags have been hoisted atop houses in Peth and meetings were held at the house Gopal Mahadu Jadhav, who owns the only ration shop in the village. Jadhav, also the main accused in the October 16 attack, is now being projected as the saviour of tribal traditions.Volunteers had combed atleast 50 tribal villages in Peth and Surgana talukas to prepare for Tuesday's sammelan. A rath (a truck converted into a chariot) registered in West Bengal (Reg No WB 03 A 7880) also did the rounds accompanied by the group of `kirtan kara' as a colour television set screened the Ramayana serial.The samiti, a front for Hindu fundamentalist organisations, passed six resolutions at Tuesday's sammelan including: a ban on foreign funding of missionary activities, reservations and other facilities for converted tribals, ban on educational institutions allegedly ignoring the national flag and national anthem, and compulsory Bharatmata pooja on August 15 and January 26 in all educational institutions.The saffron offensive, aimed at returning converted Christian tribals back to the Hindu fold is also meant to widen the Hindu votebank in the region.
