Conversion activities in Bihar and Jharkhand reach alarming proportions

Reports reaching functionaries of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) state that conversion is taking place at alarming levels in the two states of Bihar and Jharkhand.As per the 2011 census, the Christian population in Bihar is stated to be 1.29 lakhs (0.12%) of the total 10.41 Crore.

However, this number, RSS functionaries claim, is likely to show a significant increase once the findings of the census, which will begin in some time, are released.As per the discussions that these Delhi-based functionaries had with their counterparts from Bihar, conversion in that state has become pronounced in the last few years, where people, who identify themselves as members of the tribal and backward communities, are accepting Christianity.

Social experts and studies have shown that poverty is one of the primary reasons that pushes people from one faith to convert into followers of another religion in lieu of promises of a better living condition and recognition.
As per the latest NITI Aayog data, Bihar, despite reducing its multi-dimensional poverty by 7% between 2019 and 2022, continues to top the list of states that have the highest number of multidimensional poor, followed by Meghalaya and Jharkhand.

Bihar has around 26.59% of its population multidimensionally poor in 2022-23, as per extrapolated value. From 2012 to 2023, 3.77 crore people staying in Bihar climbed out of poverty. The measure of multidimensional poverty assesses deficiencies in three key areas: health, education and standard of living, while the index uses 12 parameters.

It is pertinent to mention that at the end of the recently held three-day samanvay baithak (coordination meet in which all RSS affiliated organisations take part) at Palakkad in Kerala, the meeting had raised the issue of the RSS getting ground reports from Tamil Nadu that a “lot of conversion—missionary conversion activities” were taking place, while calling it “very worrisome”.

RSS sources stated that it has taken these reports seriously and will seek more details from the ground.However, no mention of either Bihar or Jharkhand was made at the time.In neighbouring Jharkhand, as per the 2011 census, 4.3% of the population identified themselves as Christian. The maximum conversion activities, as per the reports, were happening within the tribal community. As per the 2011 census, 86 lakh, or 36% of the total 3.2 crore population belong to the tribal community.

As per officials and journalists who are serving and have served in Jharkhand, tribal communities in Jharkhand face socio-economic challenges such as poverty and limited access to education, making them vulnerable to Christian missionary conversion efforts. Missionaries provide educational opportunities and healthcare services, attracting tribals seeking improved living standards and social mobility. The hope for a better life through education is a strong conversion motivator. Missionaries engage in community development like establishing schools and vocational centres. Tribal Christians are able to maintain indigenous practices while embracing Christianity, which is seen as another factor for converting.

The RSS, for a long time, has spoken out against religious conversion on the ground that missionaries exploit vulnerable communities, particularly tribal populations, by taking advantage of their socio-economic hardships, which undermine the cultural and religious identity of these communities that are rooted in Hindu traditions.

Missionary organizations are accused of using social services—such as education and healthcare—as tools for conversion. The RSS views this as a form of deceit that takes advantage of the poverty and lack of education prevalent in tribal areas to push people to convert from one religion to another.

Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, one of the most active organisations associated with the RSS, for decades has been focusing exclusively on the welfare of the tribal community members and as per its objectives, it is working in the “field of education, health, agriculture, economic development, to protect the constitutional rights, sports, spiritual and cultural congregations (Shraddha Jagaran) etc of the janjatis”.

This article was originally published on https://sundayguardianlive.com/news/conversion-activities-in-bihar-and-jharkhand-reach-alarming-proportions