New Delhi, India - Hindu extremists have launched a mass campaign to “reconvert” Christians from Dalit backgrounds in the north-central Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
The term Dalit is reserved for the so-called “untouchables” of India, who occupy the lowest place on the caste ladder of Hinduism. Many Dalits convert out of Hinduism to escape the social ostracism and discrimination imposed on them by the caste system.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council) says it plans to convert at least 80,000 Dalit Christians to Hinduism in the Agra division of Uttar Pradesh by the end of this year, according to local newspaper reports.
Agra division is composed of seven districts, including the tourist town of Agra where the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is located.
The division is also home to 638,000 Dalits.
The announcement of the VHP’s new ghar vapsi or “homecoming” program comes in the wake of a survey conducted by Hindu organizations in Agra division. The survey claimed that over 200,000 Dalits in the region had converted to Christianity.
“Almost 90 percent of Dalits from the Valmiki community have come under the sway of baptization [sic] drives,” the daily Pioneer reported in mid July.
Indrajit Arya, regional co-coordinator of the Hindu Jagran Vibhag, an arm of the VHP, said a large number of Christian converts still followed Hindu customs even after their conversion.
“The women still observe the karwachauth fast [an annual fast carried out by wives for their husbands], the cross on their neck notwithstanding,” he said.
Christian Leader Questions Claims
The Pioneer report claimed that the VHP had already “reconverted” more than 18,000 Dalit Christians in the region over the past year.
John Dayal, a member of India’s National Integration Council and president of the All India Christian Council, told Compass that he was “amused” by the VHP’s goals.
“Which caste will [these Dalits] profess after they become Hindus?” Dayal asked. “Will the VHP make them all Brahmins [the highest caste in Hinduism] so they can live with dignity ... Or will they be forced to live with other Dalits in filthy ghettos?”
Contrary to the allegations of Hindu groups, Dayal said Agra had a Christian population of fewer than 100,000. “However, it does have a 400-year-old Christian tradition,” he acknowledged.
"Reconversion" a Misnomer
He also objected to the term reconversion, a phrase that “has no legal or theological meaning in India.” According to Dayal, most Dalits are traditionally animists or follow tribal religions and therefore cannot be “reconverted” back to Hinduism.
“These homecoming ceremonies are a strategy of Hindu fundamentalist groups ... based on deceit and force, and often done under the supervision of armed thugs,” he continued.
“I hope some day the state and federal governments will wake up to this danger, and instead of harassing Indian-born evangelists and priests, take due action against this political brigandry.”
Oppressed by higher caste Hindus for hundreds of years, Dalits generally have been responsive to the gospel. They account for approximately 60 percent of India’s Christian population of 24 million, according to 2001 census figures.