Christians and the VHP

[A series of unbiased articles by Bernard Malik]

 What Karan Thapar and Hindus like him think of the VHP

In the previous article "Article 1: VHP is an anti-Christian-Islam-Communist organization", the words of S.S.Apte, General Secretary, VHP, were highlighted to display his thoughts.  However, there are many Hindus like Karan Thapar, who do not think as S.S.Apte does.  Karan Thapar is one of India's noted television commentators, interviewers and a prolific newspaper columnist.  He has interviewed the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, General Pervez Musharraf, Benazir Bhutto, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and The Dalai Lama among other dignitaries.  On August 30, 2008, a leading newspaper of India, Hindustan Times, published his article titled, "Who's the real Hindu?"¹

In this article, Karan Thapar argues that does the VHP have the right to represent Hindus?  Do the Hindus endorse the views and activities of the VHP?  Karan Thapar thinks there are millions of Hindus who are devoted to their faith and are extremely tolerant towards other religions.  They are happy to live along with Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Jews.  Thus, the majority of Hindus of India, who form the bulk of the population, neither agree with the ideology nor do they accept the activities of the VHP.  How then can the VHP represent the thoughts of the majority of Hindus who actually think otherwise? How then can the VHP act on behalf Hindus?

Karan Thapar also takes up the issue of conversion, which is one of the main issues on the agenda of the VHP.  According to him, if an individual wishes to change his/her faith out of his/her own free will, then how does it affect the next man or woman?  Every individual is entitled to exercise his/her own choice, be it in any domain including religion.  Nobody has the right to stop them from exercising their own choices.  Karan Thapar goes a step forward in this argument and says that even if the individual converts due to inducements, then it only proves that the individual found the forsaken faith having a shallow and tenuous hold on him/her.  If anybody wants to trade his/her soul, then he/she has full right to it, and in such situations how can anybody, including the VHP, have any objections?

He writes, "Let me put it bluntly, even crudely. If I want to sell my soul — and trade in my present gods for a new lot — why shouldn’t I? Even if the act diminishes me in your eyes, it’s my right to do so. So if thousands or even millions of Dalits, who have been despised and ostracised for generations, choose to become Christian, Buddhist or Muslim, either to escape the discrimination of their Hindu faith or because some other has lured them with food and cash, it’s their right.  Arguably you may believe you should ask them to reconsider, although I would call that interference, but you certainly have no duty or right to stop them. In fact, I doubt if you are morally correct in even seeking to place obstacles in their way. The so-called Freedom of Religion Acts, which aim to do just that, are, in fact, tantamount to obstruction of conversion laws and therefore, at the very least, questionable."

He deplores the actions of the VHP and says that they periodically resort to violence including outright murder.  The case of Graham Staines in Orissa is not the only case.  Such behaviour is "contemptible criminality" and portrays Hindus in a derogatory way.  Hindus do not want violence and do not want their faith to be defended by the ways and means adopted by the VHP.  Like a true human being who loves humanity, he says, "We cannot accept the desecration of churches, the burning to death of innocent caretakers of orphanages, the storming of Christian and Muslim hamlets even if these acts are allegedly done in defence of our faith. Indeed, they do not defend but shame Hinduism."  When he reads that the VHP has ransacked and killed, then he is not just embarrassed, but he is also ashamed.  He ends his highly emotional writings by appealing to his friend Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Orissa, to act on behalf of all the Hindus.  He concludes, "So let me end by saying: I’m waiting, Naveen. In fact, I want to say I’m not alone. There are hundreds of millions of Hindus, like you and me, waiting silently — but increasingly impatiently. Please act for all of us."

This article is unique in many respects.  Firstly, a seasoned journalist writes it.  Secondly, he is a Hindu who dares to speak against the arm-twisting tactics of the VHP.  Thirdly, he accepts that religious conversion is a matter of personal choice and as such, nobody has any right to interfere with it.  Fourthly, he states that even if the religious conversion does take place due to inducements, then it only proves that the forsaken faith has little hold on the individual.  Fifthly, he sympathizes with the Christians of Orissa and writes vehemently that he cannot see Churches being desecrated.  Sixthly, he says that when violence is perpetrated by VHP in defence of the Hindu faith, then he as a Hindu and many others like him, are not just embarrassed but are also ashamed.  Lastly, he pleads to Naveen Patnaik - Orissa's Chief Minister to restore normalcy and act on behalf of all the Hindus like him.

Christians of India and all around the world are proud of Karan Thapar, who has gathered the courage to stand up to the atrocities being perpetrated against Christians in Orissa, allegedly by Hindu radicals, Bajrang Dal activists, and the VHP.  It is only due to persons like Karan Thapar who boldly come forward and dare to speak for Christians and other minorities, that India remains a democratic and a secular country.  Congratulations!  Bravo!  Keep it up!  Your article has raised the hopes in the hearts of millions of Christians that the violence in Orissa shall be stopped and will not be repeated again.  To know how Christians are persecuted in Orissa please read the next article as well, "Article 3: The Role of the VHP in the Orissa Violence against Christians".   

References:

1. http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=de847806-8ec0-4ed2-aff5-e9317f5539d3