Sandesh Prabhudesai
4 November 1999
Goans in general do not think the same what the Sangh Parivar thinks about Pope's visit to India or the issue of conversions. Perhaps this is the reason the response for the rath yatra, which began from here, was limited to the usual audience of the Parivar.
Adv Joaquim Dias, who quit as the president of Sanskruti Raksha Manch in disgust, is just one example. But several other thinkers, who also belong to the Hindu community, do not subscribe to what the Manch says.
History has stated clearly that the Goa inquisition was not against Hindus but the converted Christians. But this fact was highlighted by the Manch only in Goa while the inquisition period has been projected as atrocities on Hindus.
"In fact initial revolts against the Portuguese regime were waged by Christians themselves. Hindus came much later into picture", observes Sitaram Tengse, a veteran journalist and thinker.
Recalling the history, he also points out at T B Cunha, who is called Father of Nationalism in Goa for his relentless struggle against the designs of the Church and the Portuguese rulers to denationalise Goan community, especially the Christians.
"It happened in Goa in such a manner because the all powerful state was with the Church. The conversions took place in a different manner in many other parts of India while Christians and Muslims still believe that conversion is their religious duty to spread religion all over the World", observes Tengse.
"Who should apologise for atrocities on Buddhists, Jains and Dalits in this country ? In that case, begin it with the Hindus and demand apology from Shankaracharya for reviving Hinduism by even drowning Buddhists in the river of Ganges and demolishing the Buddha Vihars", says Nagesh Karmali, a freedom fighter and writer.
While he also shares similar view that apology from the Pope is unproductive and meaningless rather than a rational demand, Datta Naik, working president of Samata Andolan, does not however believe that the Church is sacred and only the Sangh Parivar has ulterior motives. "Both are the same", he quips.
Recalling his recent visit to Rome, he says that many Romans talk bitterly about Pope, the way the Vatican has been ruling the state there. Providing basic necessities to the needy tribals and then converting them to Christianity is a cheap method, feels Naik while opining that the Church should rethink about its crude method.
"I however personally feel that Roman Catholic Church has a direct threat from Buddhism today rather than Hinduism, the way Christians are getting attracted towards Buddhist thought of school all over the World. Buddhism would be the religion of the 21st century", he feels.
"The yatra appears to be a very childish act on the part of the Sangh Parivar, that too in the name of sanskruti (culture)", comments Mr Tengse. Indian culture is not the Hindu culture alone. It is known for absorbing all kind of diversified religious philosophies and standing with its unique identity in the World, he adds.
Though the yatra started from Goa has become a nation-wide issue, neither local newspapers here debated over it so heatedly nor the people in general appear charged over the issue. "The Sangh has only succeeded in creating a kind of bitterness among the Hindus and Christians, who have been living here harmoniously", observes Karmali.
Your Comments Please
