Dear Friends,
Please find what RSS describes about the Kandhamal Riot. I am pasting two articles one by Ram Madhav is a former spokesperson for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and another by Simanchal Khatua, Pranta Prachar Pramukh, Orissa.
Regards,
Dhirendra Panda
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Local factors led to Kandhamal violence Ram Madhav January 08, 2008http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jan/08guest.htm
For days, one TV Channel ran visuals of how Christians have been targeted for violence in Orissa's Kandhamal district. Several other so-called national channels too joined the chorus sufficient enough for Mombattiwalas (candlelight activists) to plunge into the ring and declare that 'entire Orissa', if not 'entire India', is in the grip of violence unleashed against 'innocent minorities' by 'Hindu nationalists'.
As a senior leader pointed out to me after a heated TV debate, we have created a funny nomenclature in our country: if you are a Hindu and defend your faith, you are a 'Hindu nationalist' a pejorative reminiscent of Nazi Nationalism.
But if you are a Hindu and use your lung power to loudly attack Hinduism and Hindus for crimes they never committed, then you are a great 'secularist'.
Both these stereotypes are a creation of our perverted political discourse. Thus every incident of the nature of the Kandhamal one will immediately be dragged into this Hindu Nationalist Secularist arena and the endless blame-game continues.
We don't realise that in the process we are not only destroying the image of our nation but actually perpetrating such violence by not looking dispassionately into the real reasons behind each and every single incident.
Violence in the name of religion in any form should be opposed by all. It is unfortunate that we had to end 2007 with one such violent situation in a district of Orissa. But we must not ignore the fact that Kandhamal is for that matter many such incidents have been a localised incident; not a phenomenon as the Candlelight-walas would want us to believe.
It is neither pan-Orissa nor pan-Indian. 'Many feel conversion is not the church's business'The trouble in Kandhamal started on December 23 when some Christians at Brahmanigoan village wanted to erect a Christmas gate in front of a Hindu place of worship.
This was resented by the local Hindus who questioned the motive of the Christians in insisting on building a second gate near a Hindu place of worship while one gate was already erected at a place where it is done every year on the eve of Christmas. This led to the initial clashes. Since Christians were more in number in the said village the Hindus were at the receiving end. As the news of clashes reached Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a selfless Hindu seer working for the socio-economic development of the local people for over four decades -- he set out for Brahmanigoan on December 24. His car was attacked by a violent Christian mob in which the seer himself and two of his followers sustained serious injuries. Swamiji, 82 years old, has been relentlessly working for the uplift of the people in the district -- more than 75 per cent of whom are below the poverty line and illiterate -- since 1967. He has opened schools and hostels, hospitals and temples to serve mainly the tribals and the down-trodden.
It was this attack that led to further clashes in the district, as the seer is highly respected and has innumerable supporters in the district. Four days of clashes resulted in both sides suffering in various ways -- many houses were burnt, properties destroyed and physical attacks taking place.
What made things worse in Kandhamal was the open collaboration between the Christian groups and Naxals. Among those arrested in connection with the burning down of villages inhabited by Hindus (Brahmanigaon, Jhinjiriguda, Katingia, and Godapur) were 47 Maoists.
Some 20 guns have been recovered by the security forces from them. The Kandhamal violence is essentially a localised one, as many such incidents in the country have been. It is the local factors that play a predominant role. Animosities were brewing no doubt. But again the reasons were immediate. There has been a feud between the Kondh tribals and largely Christian Pana Scheduled Caste people. The Panas, under the leadership of the local Congress Rajya Sabha member Radhakanta Naik, who is said to be a convert, have been demanding inclusion of their caste in the Scheduled Tribe category as they too speak the same Kui language that the ST Kondhs speak. Christian group demands CBI probe into violenceThis argument was rejected by the state government as well as by the courts. But the agitation in favour of the demand continues under Naik's leadership, fuelling resentment among the Kondhs who remained largely unaffected by conversion activity of the Christian missionaries. However, if there is any one aspect that is pan-Indian in all the incidents related to Hindu-Christian clashes it is religious conversions. Even in Kandhamal district, one of the major factors fuelling tensions is the conversion campaign of the evangelical groups. It is noteworthy that in a state like Orissa which enacted anti-conversion laws as back as in 1967, the Christian population in Kandhamal district alone has grown from 6 per cent in 1970 to 27 per cent in 2001.
The 'aggression' shown by the new age evangelical groups mostly in predominantly tribal areas in states like Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat etc has become a major contributor of religious strife. We can't overlook the fact that in the entire country Christmas was celebrated with a lot of gaiety with millions -- a lot of Hindus included -- thronging churches. Hindus, at the core of their belief, are 'omnitheists'.
For a Christian or a Muslim there is 'one god', but for a Hindu there is 'only god'. For him god is omnipresent, the entire creation is divine manifestation only. Religious conversion is an anti-thesis to this belief.
There was a time when at the end of the British Raj the mainstream missionaries in India had decided to focus more on humanitarian and developmental activity than conversions. Many still adhere to that concept, confining themselves to running schools, hospitals etc and serving humanity at the time of need. However, for the growing breed of 'aggressive' evangelicals, numbers are very important. 'Harvesting souls' is god's work for them. Means don't matter. In a very interesting article in Christian Science Monitor (April 1, 2005) Ajai Sahni, executive director of the Institute of Conflict Management in New Delhi and a renowned intellectual was quoted as saying: 'Aggressive and unprincipled missionary work that exploits the distress and ignorance of marginalised groups ... can constitute a catalyst to localised violence, particularly when they are brought into confrontation with other creeds'. External link: A new breed of missionaryThese 'aggressive' activities of their fellow pastors and fathers have aggrieved many Christian leaders too. This is what the Christian Science Monitor article says on those activities:After the tsunami, the US National Council of Churches issued a statement warning against the practice by "New Missionaries" of mixing evangelism and aid. "Often lacking sophistication about the lure of gifts and money, and wanting to be generous with their resources, they easily fall prey to the charge of using unethical means to evangelize.
This creates a backlash," the February statement read. "You get this guy out of Texas who has no idea of the local culture, he is out to win souls, and he comes with a lot of money," says Bob Alter, former Presbyterian pastor born and raised in the Indian mountain town of Mussoorie, and former superintendent of a missionary institution, the Woodstock School. The problem with these newer churches, Mr. Alter says, is the tone of their message. "You have Baptists using the Diwali festival [the Hindu festival of lights], but they come to 'spread the light to those in darkness.' That is mighty offensive stuff, when you're out to tear down another religion." It even quoted one Bishop Chacko, head of the Roman Catholic diocese in Meghnagar in Jhabua district in Madhya Pradesh who said, 'Even the older Protestant churches are unhappy with the evangelicals. It is said that they are irresponsible. Consequences don't matter to them. They put the fire and then they leave it to burn.' Whether it is Kandhamal in Orissa or Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh or Dangs in Gujarat, the only pan-Indian question is the evangelical activities of 'aggressive conversion campaign'. If we argue that conversion is a right, then re-conversion too is a right. In this melee of conversions and re-conversions violence and strife will become the order of the day.Let every religion enjoy complete religious freedom to preach, practice and propagate. But as our apex court categorically stated, 'Propagate' does not and should not include 'Conversion'. Let us put an end to the institutionalised activity of conversions by church agents and instead allow citizens freedom of personal choice without fear or favour.
Ram Madhav is a former spokesperson for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Converted Christian's effort to grab ST status in Orissa's Kandhamal results in bloody clashes
Converted Christian's effort to grab ST status in Orissa's Kandhamal results in bloody clashes: Attack on Swami Laxmanananda aggravates the situation
Phulbani (Orissa): (visakeo)-Kandhamal district is once again in news. The district – which is very often proudly claimed as Orissa's Kashmir – witnessed clashes between two local communities – the tribal Kondh predominantly Hindus and Panas mostly converted to Christianity.
The Projection of the incident in Media
A section depicted it as communal clash and squarely blamed the Hindus for the three days of violence.
The clashes between the two groups which began on the Christmas eve, threw normal life out of gear at places like Brahmanigoan, Barkhama, Baliguda, Tikabali, Daringibadi, Phulbani and few other places and compelled the government to impose curfew at several towns in the district.
Many media, mostly the national and international, – without a reality check – went overdrive to paint a wrong picture about the entire sequence of events. Very few investigated the reasons of the violence put the blame squarely on the Hindus. Only burning of churches and prayer houses were reported, not the lethal attack on the Hindu seer Laxmananda Saraswati found due place in the newspapers. Nor the death of a Hindu – which was immediate provocation for the communal clash – was properly highlighted. Even Maoists joining hands with Christians in attacking tribals was ignored by the international and national media.
However the vernacular press predominantly reflected what actually happened on the ground and found Christians being the initiator of the latest hostility between the communities. The followers of Christ faith were in the forefront of attack and they attacked Hindu hamlets and attacked the police and even collaborated with Maoists in attacking the kondh tribals, they reported.
Starting of the trouble
The trouble started on the eve of the eve of Christsmas Day. On December 23, the converted Christians at Brahmanigoan wanted to erect a gate near the place of a Hindu deity to celebrate the Christmas. This was resented by the local Hindus. They asked the Christians why they were insisting to build the second gate near their place of worship when they had already erected one where they normally use to erect their Christmas gate. This led to heated exchange of words between members of the two communities. Two Hindu youths were severely beaten up and injured by the Christians.
As this news reached to Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a selfless Hindu seer – working for the socio-economic development of the local people for over four decades, he set out for Brahmanigoan on December 24. While he was on his way, he was surrounded by the Christians and attacked with sharp weapons. The seer and two of his fellow travelers sustained serious injuries. With Swamiji's drivers prompt action and fleding away with vehicle, life of Swamiji was saved.
The news of attack on the seer and his disciples spread like a wildfire and shocked his innumerable supporters in the district. What followed was the emotional outburst of Swamiji's followers created over a period of four decade long service to the people, their development and religious awakening.
Both the sides indulged in clashes at several places – damaging life and property on both the sides. Strangely, many national and international media presented one-sided story, - they did not see how the Hindus were dragged out of their houses, beaten up and hacked to death. They only saw churches and listened what the Christian leaders spoke. The world was fed with wrong information.
The social issues that affects peace very often in Phulbani
The problem that has often led to clashes in the district – in reality – is more of social character than religious. The Kondh, native tribal community constitute the overwhelming majority of the district. Pans originally a Scheduled Caste group in majority have been converted to Christianity.
Kui – the mother tongue of the Kondhs is the principal language of the district. The sizable Christian Panas speak Kui, the tribal dialect.
Christian Panas have been demanding scheduled tribe (ST) status. They contend that since they speak Kui and their lifestyle and socio-economic conditions are similar with the Kondhs, they should be considered as scheduled tribe.
The Panas claim they received a shot in the arm when the J.B. Patnaik government in 1982 recommended the Centre to recognize the Kuis as STs. But Kui is a language and not the name of any tribe. The state government recommendation got the President's assent in 2002. But it may be clarified that Presidential proclamation talked of Kui to be included in ST category. The Govt. of Orissa refused ST status to Kui speaking converted people as the Record of Rights of that section of Kui speaking people are named as Panas belonging to Schedule Caste category.
Court has intervened
This was challenged by the Christian Panas in Orissa High Court. They filed a writ petition in the HC seeking passing of an order in favour of their demand.
The HC in its directive asked the state government to take appropriate decision in the light of Presidential proclamation. The legal battle went on and finally the Court asked the Govt. to take a decision.
The Govt declines
However, the state government submitted that since the Record of Rights of the Panas did not mention the Panas belonging to Tribe category, their demand for the said status could not be met. "This demand is not based on historical and anthropological facts", Orissa Government time and again has maintained.
The dropped steel and mines minister Padmanabh Behera, who belongs to Pana community –was apparently sympathetic the demand ST status to his fellow people. The Kondhs say Mr Behera was utilizing the state machinery to repress them when the opposed to the Pana's ST status demand. Going by demand of Kondhas for removal of Mr. Behera from the ministry, it was apparently Chief Minister Naven Patnaik wanted Mr. Behera to resign to buy peace from angry Kondhs of the district.
Rangnath Mishra commission recommendations adds fuel to the fire
Justice Ranganth Commission, that recommended facility of reservation to be extended to the converted dalit people, the ST and SC people are apprehensive of their rights being curtailed and grabed by converted people who at the present law not eligible to get reservation facility.
R. K. Naik, the villain
Behind the social tension, conflict, disorder and bloody battle there is hand of a former bureaucrat a native of Kandhamal district Mr. Radhakant Naik now a Congress MP. He patronized missionary activities and conversion alienating sizable section of the society from their culture and tradition.
It may be noted that Mr. Naik a converted Christian had got into Indian Administrative service in Scheduled Caste quota, which he is not entitled to as per Indian constitution.
Now close to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who generously made him member of Rajya Sabha from Orissa, alleged Swami Laxmananda as man behind attack on him on Christmas eve. Attack on Swamiji had taken place in the native village of Mr. Naik in Dasingibadi, considered as stronghold of Christian's activity.
Founder of Phulbani Kui Jankalyan Sangh, he leads the movement for arranging ST status for Christian Panas, the group to which he himself belongs.
VHP demands ban on conversion
A VHP delegation which included retired Judge of Orissa Hiogh Court Justice M. Papanna, educationist Dr. Ratnakar Chaini, VHP state President Bipin Bihari Ratha wanted the Chief Minister to ban on conversion as they opined it as the root of all problems in tribal regions of the state. Atleast they demanded strict implementation of Orissa Freedom of Religion Act (OFRA) – 1967 that prescribes stringent provisions for conversion from one religion to another.
While the VHP delegation welcomed Judicial commission set up to enquire into the communal disturbances in Kandhamal wanted Z category security for Swami Laxmananda in view of threat on his life. It may be noted that Swamiji has been attacked 9 times so far lethally.
They also demanded setting up of a commission to scrutinize and enquire into flow of foreign funs to the Christian missionaries and their utilization.
Simanchal Khatua
Pranta Prachar Pramukh, Orissa
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