Email 
Print 
MEDIAWATCH: What's behind anti-Christian violence in India?
Written by: Joanne Tomkinson
A Christian woman combs her hair at a shelter at Tikabali village in the eastern Indian state of Orissa.
REUTERS/Parth Sanyal (INDIA)
REUTERS/Parth Sanyal (INDIA)
"The fire is spreading," Indian newspaper The Times of India says, talking about the escalation in Hindu attacks on Christians in the east and south of the country. Hindu extremists have burned down churches, homes and schools belonging to Christians, and the spiralling communal violence has so far killed 22 people in the eastern state of Orissa. The mobs driving thousands into makeshift government camps are complaining that Christians in the area are forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity. But has this intensifying violence been solely sparked by conversions? Many commentators think not, pointing to the violence's social, economic and political roots. "The attacks on Christians are being sought to be justified on the ground that people are being forcibly converted from Hinduism or tribalism to Christianity," the The Times of India writes. "But on closer scrutiny, it appears the issue isn't merely of conversion." Instead the trigger seems to be in the rise in prosperity and status that accompanies this conversion to Christianity, the paper says. Some Hindu groups are saying that Christian converts are still claiming job benefits by stating their religion as Hinduism on official papers, but actually practising Christianity in order to get a jump up in social class, the paper says, though it adds that there is no independent verification of these claims. "Religious conversion is a social issue needing address by community leaders through dialogue," the paper writes. An article on news website Voice of America (VOA) picks up on this point about the social and economic triggers for the violence. For example, one of the groups that have come under attack in Orissa, the Panas, are among the poorest in India, Hemanth Naik, of grassroots civil rights group Forum for Peace, in Kandhamal, Orissa, told VOA. With "scheduled caste" status, they are one of the lowest ranks in India's caste system. By converting to Christianity, they have been able to access the schools and health clinics run by Christians that they've otherwise been unable to use. "Conservative Hindu groups bristled at the idea that Christian groups, largely funded by Western countries, were giving the lower-caste Panas an unfair advantage," Voice of America says, summarising Naik's take on the primary reasons behind the violence in the area. The All India Christian Council, a coalition of the country's Christian groups, meanwhile, says state neglect has also played a significant role in allowing the violence to escalate. "The State government must assume full responsibility. The Chief Minister of Karnataka has failed to live to his promise of communal harmony. The State Home Minister is guilty of conniving in the violence, as he disregarded ample warnings that had come in the wake of the Sangh violence in Orissa," the Council says in an article for the Daily Etalaat Srinagar newspaper. This view is echoed elsewhere. "State governments should realise the gravity of the situation and act accordingly," a separate editorial in the Times of India says, concluding: "Communal violence is primarily a law and order problem. A strong response from the state government should bring the situation under control in Karnataka." An editorial in Indian newspaper The Statesman, however, says that there is more than political neglect at play here, and blames hardline Hindu nationalists for stirring up trouble. "Since 1999, BJP (political party, Bharatiya Janata Party) affiliates like the Bajrang Dal, Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram, have systematically fomented communal hatred and engineered inter-religious clashes at different places in Orissa in a bid to expand their parent party's political support base," The Statesman says. "In the backdrop of all that happened in December 2007, the anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal last month was a tragedy foretold - a painful narrative of police and administrative indifference, of repeated official complicity and consistent incompetence," the editorial concludes. Local politics and power struggles have definitely inflamed the violence in areas like Orissa, agrees Jacob Ignatius in an article for current affairs website Open Democracy. Though Christians still only make up 2.3 percent of the Indian population, and are never likely to grow into the dominant religion, the fear of conversion is very real, Ignatius says. But this has been exploited. "Hindu extremist groups like the VHP are fixated on the issue of conversions to Christianity - in part from dogmatic opposition to people leaving their religious fold, in part from insecurity about members of the lower castes trying to break free from the caste system," he explains. That's why the majority of attacks on Christians are directed against the formerly low-caste converts such as the Dalit Panas of Orissa, Ignatius says. Attacks, he says, which are provoked by political manipulation and fear-mongering. "The political instigation of anti-Christian sentiment by the Hindu rightwing for electoral gain is another danger to Indian democracy. In the interests of a peaceful, progressive and just India, it must be opposed."
Reuters AlertNet is not responsible for the content of external websites.
We welcome argument but AlertNet will not publish comments that are racist, abusive or libellous.
16 responses to “MEDIAWATCH: What's behind anti-Christian violence in India?”
Please note that comments should not be regarded as the views of Reuters.
Leave a Reply
When you submit a comment to us we request your name, e-mail address and optionally a link to a website. Please note where you submit a website address, we may link to it via your name. By sending us a comment, you accept that we have the right to show the comment and your name to users. Although we require your email address, this will not be published on the site, and is only required to enable us to check facts with you, e.g. if you are making a claim we can not confirm easily. Additionally, if you would like your comment removed at anytime, you'll have to use this e-mail address when you contact us. To remove a comment at any time please e-mail us at blogs-(at)-reuters-(dot)-com (address obscured to avoid spam) specifying who you are and what you would like removed. We moderate all comments and will publish everything that advances the post directly or with relevant tangential information. We reserve the right to edit comments in order to maintain the quality of the comments, and may not include links to irrelevant material. We try not to publish comments that we think are offensive or appear to pass you off as another person, and we will be conservative if comments may be considered libelous. Reuters will use your data in accordance with Reuters privacy policy. Reuters Group is primarily responsible for managing your data. As Reuters is a global company your data will be transferred and available internationally, including in countries which do not have privacy laws but Reuters seeks to comply with its privacy policy.
Unlike some other content on this website, the written content in this article may be republished or redistributed by any means free of charge. Any use of photographs and graphics on this website is expressly prohibited. You must check whether written content contained in other articles on this website may be republished or redistributed without the express permission of Reuters or the relevant third party provider.
18 Sep 2008 02:21:40 GMT
They is no doubt all communal voilence is perpetuated by religious hardliners with political motive but the christian missionaries' attempts to convert society's most vulnerable to their religion is what brings support to these hardliners from the common man. Without some support from the general population the violence will die down very fast. Christian missionaries" professed aim to convert everyone to christianity will only make the world a more violent place. I remember the news a few years ago about Southern Baptist Convention asking its members to pray for the souls of all hindus and muslims who are "living in darkness" that they may see "light". How is such a blatant antihindu/muslim message going to help the common non-christian man in India or anywhere else in the world feel love for their fellow citizens who happen to be Christians. Muslim hardliners are saying essentially the same thing too. If the world is to be a safer place we have to stop this message that is being spread by the fanatics in all religions that "my god is the only true god". Until then this inter-religious strife will continue.
18 Sep 2008 02:23:59 GMT
While there is significant credence to support the assertion that anti-Christian violence has been fomented by the Hindu right-wing and there are economic factors too. However, that is NOT the whole story. There is an underlying feeling of injustice in the Hindu communities from the role of aggressive Missionary work in rural India that has helped create this entire situation.
From the rural Hindu community point-of-view, Missionaries an the Christian Church are seen as mega-wealthy enterprises employing deft hucksterism to entice and seduce people into Christianity promising "free health care", "free education" and "interest free loans" etc which are "Christian ONLY" facilities funded and bankrolled by Western charities. Those who are seduced are economically and socially propelled to a point where it splits the pre-existing rural society into two groups. These new "haves" are indoctrinated into "not associating with the heathens around them" (rather than "love thy neighbor") and finally these societies are left divided within a matter of months. More over, these newly "saved" individuals are taught to reject all Indian values and practices that play an essential part in rural societies, as "lowly heathen practices" causing initially wonder and finally resentment from the remaining Hindu populace of a particular community. Their resentment is understandable, the political right-wing knows this and has capitalized on this real resentment and turned it violent with as a path to some misguided form of justice. This is the reality of things, not some maniacal Hindu's on a rampage. I hope this gives people a more objective understanding18 Sep 2008 11:48:10 GMT
Stop blaming Hindus for fighting. Christians from western countries are pumping money to convert Hindus. This is nothing but a supremacist and imperialist attitude. Hinduism by its very nature is tolerant and believes in multiple paths to reach God. That is an anathema to these Christian fundamentalists.
This is creating social tension. The conversion techniques involve insulting Hindu gods, their culture. Very obviously there is going to be a backlash against these fundamentalist missionaries.18 Sep 2008 11:49:14 GMT
This is merely a political game plan with clear vested interests to gain power in the coming general election and other assembly elections happening in India. Missionaries will support all the poor whoever it may irrespective of their religion. The hindu political parties utilizing the fanatic sentiments to develop hatreds in common hindu people by saying something big is happening against them.
If the conversion was happening as they said, the percentage of christian population would have increased drastically. There is no facts behind it. it is really sad to see people justifying the stone-hearted fanatics who had no goodness at their heart that killed Mr. Graham Stanes and his two young children by burning them alive. The hardship suffered by lot many others are not known to the public. Everyone clearly knows that one of the most peace-loving community in India is the Christian community. They are part of the mainsteam community and always like to live a peaceful life. It is the choice and freedom of any person that to believe in God or not. All have to give this freedom to everyone to choose his God also. Instead of doing all these damage to the poor and aparthied, let these fanatics start doing good things to bring the poor up in all ways. Let them also work to stop the cast descriminations. VHP and such fanatic orgnaizatios are allowed to work in Western and other countries and are free to preach their religion and attract followers for them. Their they have a different soft face. It is clear that Hindu fanatics are not doing all these for a good reason. They know that well this is the easy way to get sympathized and gain political interests.18 Sep 2008 11:57:18 GMT
Very biased news...
18 Sep 2008 14:37:17 GMT
The worst way to view any religion is from a distant, political perspective.
19 Sep 2008 03:18:22 GMT
The ultimate aim of the Hindu right is to make India an exclusively Hindu country. That means people of other religions, particularly 'foreign' ones such as Christianity and Islam, are regarded as impure and inferior in the motherland. In their quest to re-create India in their image, the revivalists imbue the feeling in their co-religionists that their religion and culture is under threat. Suddenly acts of extreme violence against minority religious communities become perfectly justifiable.
19 Sep 2008 03:19:39 GMT
I feel ashamed to be an Indian because this sort of violence should not be taking place. The hindus are making excuses just to cover up on the innocent killings of christians. I know this for a fact becasue i have lived there. I don't support either side but this has obvioulsy gotten out of hand and people need to be more accepting of others in india.
19 Sep 2008 11:24:25 GMT
There are best, very good, good, medium, bad, very bad, worst people from every religion, language, caste, race, nation etc like normal distribution. We through out the world including our country did not have education, hospital, social care etc for the past 5000 years. One group of bad Europeans came to capture, rule and colonise during mid of 18th century to mid of 20th century. During the same period and even before, the another good group called christian missionaries came from Europe to tell the love of God Jesus Christ and they pioneered and started the schools, colleges, hospitals, social care institutions etc, which has now been followed by us also and by virtue of which India is a super power now. Because of their hospital system our population increased from 300 millions to 1000 millions now in about 60 years, which alone shows the christian missionaries love and honour for our lives and nation. Our Indians ! about 40 million people are enjoying high life style in so called "christian" countries with the help of them, having dual citizenship benefiting them and our country.
Before the mid of 20th century all the countries throughout the world had small and big rulers, kings, dictators etc with kingdoms for every kilometers or hundreds of kilometers; having mass killings, sexual crimes, barbarism throughout the world irrespective of religion, language, caste, race, nation etc. Every ruler will erase the history of his crimes in the past. But after mid of 20th century, we have many countries with democratic governments. We have the Executive, Legislature and Supreme Court with good Press system to ensure democracy and dignity of the individual citizen. Thus we must not demonise any religion, language, caste, race, nation etc which are man made. We all people of the world and our country have common ancestor and we all are relatives irrespective of religion, language, caste, race, nation etc. The scientists have confirmed this fact medically. So we must not do violence/kill our own human relatives for sake of religion, language, caste, race, nation etc. We have a secular constitution and all are equal. The Indian âchristiansâ are also Indians who are sons of soil and original inhabitants of our Great Country India and have equal rights. Another option "no religion" has to be opted in all forms and census in India. In USA, China etc there is no recognition of religion in forms.19 Sep 2008 11:25:07 GMT
Missionaries are and have been the main cause of dissent for hundreds of years,if they stuck to treating the ill and infirm I doubt if that would be a problem but they dont they interfere with the culture and religious beliefs of the local populace they would be better of at home enforcing the principle religion to the peope where they come from.
The present day problems in Southern Africa is a prme example they should have left the locals to there own devices. At home the were religiouse fanatics who were in fact nonentities but by going to other lands, due to the simple ignorance of the people they were treated gods and eventually they buit up their own little fifedoms with thelocal populs doing their bibddin19 Sep 2008 12:50:20 GMT
For an unbeatable description of the caste system in practice, I can't recommend enough the novel "A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry.
30 Sep 2008 11:14:08 GMT
Hi, If you are running any social service or organisation why only particular community is allowed to access.if a christian missionary is running the hospital do u think only christians can use it.hospital and schools should be provided to the people irrespective of caste and religion.the media only exaggerate the things and since almost 90% of media is run by US based media companies they are very much biased abt these news.In india ,for show their sensation these news are blown out of proportion.
03 Oct 2008 08:05:10 GMT
Those who allege that Hindus are communal here are some historical facts:
i) Out of the 7- Major religions of the world 4 were born in India - ie Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism & Sikhism. ii) India is the only country in the world that has not persecuted the Jews; and has probably the oldest Jewish settlement in the World, in Kerala. iii) Christianity came to India with Saint Thomas in the 1st Century, much before it went to Europe. And those Christians have been peacefully living in India for nearly 2000 years without any problems. iv) Parsis percecuted in Iran came to India and made it their home and have been here for several centuries and have had no problem. They have also greatly contributed to the progress & development of the country. v) A small community of Armenians also came and took refuge in India and have been living in Mumbai without any problems. vi) The Islamic invasions of India since the time of Mahmood of Ghazni is well known. They came plundered India for centuries. During the Mughal rule Hindus had to pay 'Jazia' a tax levied on all non Muslims. How many temples were destroyed and how the Hindus were forcefully converted to Islam is a matter of recorded history. vii) After the Mughals came the Europeans and colonised India. How again Hindus were forcibly converted is again a matter of recorded history. Now may I ask a few questions? i)Why is it that we in India have problems only with Muslims and the Christians and with no other community? It is because these two are the only religions that believe that their religion is the only religion that can provide salvation and hence actively convert Hindus. ii) If Christianity is so attractive than why is it that one never hears of Hindus converting in Metros, big cities or even small towns? Why is it that it is only in the remote villages with poor & tribal population - mostly simple, poor and gullible people who are converted in droves?03 Oct 2008 14:10:24 GMT
All the violence by hindus in orissa and karnaka was provoked by christians after killing 83 year old swami lakshmanananda and 4 of his discliples including a women disciple in orrissa.But sadly no media has broght this out that even a women sansyasini(mother) was killed by the christians during the attack on swamiji on holy krishnashtami day.Swamiji was educating tribals and was against Conversions since long time.Christians have attempted several times to kill him but failed and ultimately they succeeded in killing compassionate OLD Hindu swamiji who is secular.Any hindu is SECILAR BECAUSE AS THE RIGVEDA PREOCLAIMS THE TRUTH TO THE WHOLE WORLD IN SANSKRIT WHICH IS THE MOTHER OF ALL LANGUAGES" EKAM SATH BAHUDHA VIPRA VADHANTHI" WHICH MEANS "TRUTH IS ONE BUT SAGES CALL IT BY VARIOUS NAMES" THIS HAS BEEN PROVED BY MANY GREAT SAGES AND AVATARAS(INCARNATION OF GODS) IN INDIA SEVERAL TIMES. BUT STILL OTHER RELIGIONS ESSPECIALLY CHRISTI! AN FANATICS DONT WANT TO BELIEVE IN SUCH A BROAD "UNIVERSAL TRUTH" PROCLAIMED BY RIGVEDA. ALL THE VIOLENCE IS PROVOKED BY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES BY DEGRADING HINDU GODS & GODDESSES AND BROAD&UNIVERSAL HINDU CULTURE WHICH EVERYONE IN THE WORLD IS STARTING TO LIKE. AS SRI RAMAKRISH NA PARAMAHAMSA PUT "AS MANY RELIGIONS,SO MANY PATHS" LET ALL THE RELIGIONS FOLLOW THIS UNIVERSAL TRUTH THE SPIRIT BEHIND RAMA,KRISHNA,JESUS,ALLAH IS SAME COSMIC ENERGY BUT DIFFRENT IN ITS MANIFESTATION...LET US ALL REALIZE THIS GREAT SCIENTIFIC TRUTH PROCLAIMED BY VEDAS 5000 YEARS BEFORE THE GREAT JESUS THE CHRIST WAS BORN. A HINDU PRAYS DAILY THIS SLOKA" OM SHANTHI SHANTHI SHANTHI" WHICH MEANS "OM PEACE PEACE PEACE" AND "SARVE JANA SUKHINOBHAVANTHU"WHICH MEANS" LET ALL LIVE IN PEACE AND HAPPINESS FOREVER THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE" IRRESPECTIVE OF RELIGION,CREED,SEX,ETC...HOW CAN A HINDU ATTACK A MAN OF OTHER RELIGION WITH NO SUFFICIENT CAUSE...INDIAN CULTURE IS VAST AND BROAD AND UNIVERSAL CULTURE AND! IT IS RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH AND EVERY HINDU TO PROTECT IT FROM ALL KINDS OF DANGERS. FINALLY I WOULD LIKE TO CONFORM THAT ALL THE ATTACKS WERE PROVOKED BY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY WHICH STARTED DEGRADING HINDU GODS & DISTRIBUTING PAMPHLETS & FOREMOST REASON IS KILLING OF GREAT SWAMI LAKSHMANANDA NAD HIS DISCIPLES ALON WITH A WOMEN DISCIPLE WHO HAD DONE MANY PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITIES IN KANDHAMAL AREA OF ORRISSA. AY HINDUS LET US PROTECT OUT RELIGION IN A PEACEFUL MANNER.LET US ONCE AGAIN PROCLAIM TO THE WORLD AS SWAMI VIVEKANANDA DID A CENTURY AGO ON CHICAGO,PARLIAMENT OF RELIGIONS THAT TRUTH IS ONE BUT SAGES CALL IT BY VARIOUS NAMES SOME CALL THAT TRUTH SHIVA,SOME CALL RAMA,SOME CALL KRISHNA,SOME CALL JESUS,SOME CALL ALLAH,SOME CALL BUDHA...BUT IT IS ONE AND THE SAME..WE IGNORANT PEOPLE WHO MAKE DIFFRENCES WITH OUR LITTLE INTELLECT. VEDAS AND UPANISHADS ARE TO BE READ BY EACH AND EVERYONE IRRESPECTIVE OF RELIGION HE IS BORN IN..THEY PROCLAIM THIS KIND OF GREAT TRUTH..AS THEY AR! E UNIVERSAL & MOST SCIENTIFIC EVERYONE CAN READ AND FOLLOW IT.
03 Oct 2008 18:23:46 GMT
In France, the European Union had falsely accused India with the "Massacre of Christians". This was a very serious charge. But the Indian Prime minister was quick to apologise and said that it was the "National shame". I think, the whole of India is ashamed of Dr Manmohan Singh.
Why did he not have courage to tell the truth? Why did he not speak of the surreptitious acts of massive conversions which Christian missionaries have been carrying on in remote parts of India for decades? Why did he not mention that the immediate provocation in Orissa was the murder of 84 year old Swami Laxamanand and four of his disciples - including a women - at the behest of these missionaries? He was killed because he was opposed to such conversions. Why did Dr Singh not tell them that the provocation in Karnataka was the distribution of hate-literature denigrating the Indian gods? May I ask if active conversion in it self is also not violence? You violate the whole culture. Why did Dr Singh not have the courage to explain all these things to his European counterparts? Afterall, the French President had bluntly rejected Dr Singh's plea re ban on turban for Sikhs in France by saying "they will have to follow the rules" I am not surprised that the media has also not highlighted these issues. After all, majority bashing is fashionable. The moment you criticise the minority you are labelled as communal.18 Oct 2008 17:49:43 GMT
@K Bahadur very well said! Actually the pseudo-seculars in India have all the control of Media and government (lead by Sonia) and they can twist any news as they want. Just see how media and congress, left and other (pseudo)'secular' parties have covered Orissa and Karnataka, but have forgotten to cover Assam, Dhule, Andhra violence! In fact Asam has seen twice number of deaths compared to Orissa in half the number of days!!!