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Bapu & Ghar-Vapasi

As the debate on conversion and re-conversion ( Ghar-Vapasi) continues, I looked back at the works of intellectuals who had analysed and commented on the issue at length. Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi have written extensively on the issue of conversions and re-conversions and have made some very interesting observations.

This blog attempts to put forth views of Bapu on the topic. Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sanghralaya have published a booklet called as "Gandhiji on Religion Conversion"and I plan to present a few of Bapu's quotes from the booklet and let the reader make their own conclusions ...

I present 5 quotes from Bapu  -

  1. "Christian missionaries have been doing valuable service for generations, but in my humble opinion, their work suffers because at the end of it they expect conversion of these simple people to Christianity ...How very nice it would be if the missionaries rendered humanitarian service without the ulterior aim of conversion."  
  2. "Conversion nowadays has become a matter of business like any other. I remember having read a missionary report saying how much it cost per head to convert and then present a budget for 'the next harvest'." 
  3. "Am certainly against the use of hospitals, schools and the like for purposes conversion.It is hardly healthy method and certainly gives rise to bitter resentment "
  4. "It would, however, be an outrage to take advantage of someone's poverty and tell him 'Come my friend. I shall give you so many rupees, pay off your debts; because your co- religionists are pestering you, you come over to us.' He does this not because of his love for Islam, but because of the sum that is offered to him." 
  5. "When, however, a person has changed his religion under compulsion or in ignorance, there should be no objection to such a person rectifying his error, that is returning to his original religion, on the contrary, he should be encouraged to do that. His action is not conversion."  
I just hope Obama had spent some time reading about Gandhi before rattling a sermon on tolerance.


 

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