Ghar Wapasi’ (Home Coming) programme of tribal Christians of Raigarh dt. in Madhya Pradesh has received a big coverage in our toilet papers. Some newspapers said over 3,000 Christians were converted to “Hinduism.” The Sunday (Apr.12.1992) put the number at 1,400. The India Today (May 15, 1992) put the figure at a mere 200. The organisers of the ceremony, however, had boasted of “converting” 4,000 Christians.
An eye-witness said of about 200 who underwent suddhikaran, 20% had already attended similar ceremonies before just for material benefits promised to them on those occasions. Over 60% “reconverted” Hindus had never been Christians at all (Dalit Voice, June 1, 1992, p. 19). In the above incident, Dilip Singh Judeo, the BJP State vice president, had been projected as the main actor in the drama. Incidentally, he is a graduate from St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi, of 1970 batch. He is a resident of Jashpurnagar, Raigarh dt., and hails from a feudal family.
Kick out Christians: On the whole, it was a cry in the wilderness. On March 24, 1992, a procession was taken out at 12-30 PM from Bandhanpur to reach Kumbhichuan at 2.20 p.m. Both these villages are in the far interior of the backward Raigarh dt. Dilip Singh was the VIP on the occasion. Some Korwa tribals with their bows and arrows walked with him accompanied by four elephants. Children were made to carry banners saying Go hatya band karo (stop cow slaughter).
Dilip spoke criticising the church and the Christian missionaries for ‘maligning the sanctity of the Hindu religion and culture”. “They were disintegrating the country and therefore should be kicked out of India by force” (ibid). But none takes him seriously. There are hardly any missionaries left in the district. The local church is run by the indigenous people.
To dramatise the ceremony, Dilip washed the feet of those undergoing suddhikaran in real tribal tradition. About 200 hired illiterates and poor people underwent suddhikaran. ‘Dhotis, sarees and banians’ were distributed to them after the ceremony. They were also given ‘liquor and food’ (ibid).
Service to tribals: This writer who belongs to this area watched the whole episode. Gone are the days when the tribals are pushed around by the zamindar-ancestors of Dilip Singh. Today, the same tribals are educated and conscious of their rights and duties and they are asserting their rights. They have their own leaders, The church with its efficient network of numerous educational institutions, has rendered a marvelous service to the tribals for their all round development particularly after independence. The above role of the church is hurting Dilip. He is getting increasingly isolated from the masses and rightly so.
He cannot contest any election in his home constituency because it is a ST reserved seat. He has contested once from Kharsia LS seat and lost to Arjun Singh. The suddhikaran, however stupid, is one of the strategies employed to achieve his cherished selfish goal.
The missionaries have given their best for the liberation of the tribals in the district at the cost of their sheer hard work, burning zeal, commitment and sacrifice. The tribal community owes to them immensely and will remain ever grateful to them for their lives of charity and self-sacrifice down the years to come.
Beef and liquor: Suddhikaran in Raigarh dt. means nothing to the tribals who enjoy occasionally good supply of beef, pork, mutton, chicken, fish and a refreshing drink of hanria (rice-beer) with or without suddhikaran. These are very good for their health and they love to drink and eat beef.
The damn caste of Hindus has never succeeded and will never succeed in enslaving the robust tribal ethos in the area. Let this be loud and clear to everyone.
Dilip has been exploiting and enslaving the Korwa tribals of Jashpur by taking undue advantage of their poverty, illiteracy, ignorance and simplicity. There is a Department of Korwa development at Jashpurnagar which in the name of Korwa development is wasting the funds.
The BJP Govt. of MP and even the Central Govt. are giving undue importance and protection to Dilip inspite This rabid anti-social and anti-national utterances and activities. A few of his gravely objectionable statements are as follows:
(1) The Christians used to sacrifice a calfon Christmas We declared that anyone who eats a cow will be in tum eaten up by us. (ii) We told the missionaries that for every ‘choti’ clipped, we shall clip two throats. (iii) I believe in tit for tat. We have prepared a hit-list of missionaries. (India Today, May 15, 1992, p.96).
The Christian Association has accused the BJP and RSS of violating the Madya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1968 which bars conversion by force, allurement or by fraudulent means. It demanded their prosecution. At the Kumbhichuan village, Dilip had hired the suddhikaran wallahs, and distributed dhotis, sarees, banians, food and liquor among the latter as mentioned above. If these violate the Freedom of Religion Act, why does the police do not book him? That means it is a party to Dilip and his activities.
