Why is church sponsored violence never talked about?

23rd August is the 13th martyrdom Day of Swami Lakshmananandji Saraswati of Kandhamal, Orissa. Swamiji and 4 others were brutally killed on a day of Janmashtami (23.08.2008) by church sponsored goons. Such acts of violence are being continued by church even today.

Let us go to the history of Christian missionaries and associated violence in India. Barring the advent of Syrian Christians in 3rd century A. D, rest of the missionaries were instrumental to European Colonialism. When the Pope settled the dispute and advised both Portuguese and Spanish to explore new heavens in the world, he advised them to carry CROSS along with them to win over continents in the name of Christ.

First thing the Portuguese had done after their arrival under the leadership of Vasco De Gama was to evengelise Syrian refugees who had become part and parcel of the culture of Kerala. They introduced New Testament and forced them to give up the local customs they had already adapted. Syrian Christians were also asked to maintain distance and keep a separate identity.

Atrocities committed to the people of Goa by Portuguese are well known to all. Though Pope had pleaded for apology in the continents of Africa and Australia for the genocide the church had done to them, he is yet to make an apology to people of India for the atrocities committed by church in Goa.

Later, in the eighteenth century, British, the most formidable Europeans, came here in the name of doing business. Slowly and gradually, they grabbed our princely states one after another and established their imperialism in India. Once they made their grip over India, they brought Christian missionaries, the forth wing of British army to ensure their everlasting rule in India by carrying out humanitarian services with a sole objective of converting the Indians to Christianity. Most astonishing fact is that the decision to send missionaries in India was taken basing on the discussion held in the house of commons of British Parliament.

Janjati people were the first of all who reacted to this nefarious design of British. In the later part of 19thcentury Birsa Munda fought against both British rulers as well as Christian Missionaries simultaneously. Seng Khasi movement was started to protect the indigenous faith and culture of the Khasi people of Meghalaya from aggressive campaign of Christian Missionaries. Government jobs in Meghalaya were secured to those who are product of Christian schools. Policy of Government and missionary work acted hand in glow to suit the agenda of religious conversion.

Struggles led by Tirot Sing of Khasi hills, Shambhudhan Phunglosa of North Cachar Hills and later by Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu of Naga Hills and state of Manipur were to stop the high handedness of the British officers and Missionaries.

After a rigorous imprisonment of long 15 years when Rani Gaidinliu came back to her native village, she found her people are being converted by insurgents of Naga National Council (NNC) at gun point. She was compelled to take up arms once again, but this time against the insurgents who were acting on the behest of Christian Missionaries. Ranima started Heraka movement to counter the Christian atrocities. All these struggles led by janajati leaders were semi political and semi religious in nature.

We could see similar movements in the then Bihar, Orissa and in the region of central Province and Berar. Crown colony plan and secession of Chhota Nagpur region were designed by the British when they found that their days in India are counted. They understood the undercurrent of revolutionary activities as well as the non-violent movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. Crown colony plan was to create a Christian land in Eastern part of India which would remain under the British crown even after British were forced to leave India.

However, British had no other option but to quit India. Though they left India they kept their fourth army, the missionaries in India to do further damage to the nation. Congress Government of Central Province and Berar was the first to react against the foreign missionaries and their antinational role.

Pandit Ravishankar Shukla ordered an inquiry into the activities of Christian Missionaries. Justice B.S. Niyogi was appointed as the chairman of the commission to study the matter. Niyogi Commission report brought in light, all the fraudulent means applied by Christian missionaries to convert the innocent, ignorant and simple hearted Janjatis. Many of its recommendations are still relevant.

Christian atrocities on Indigenous Faith followers were continued even after India got independence. It will be out of imagination for all that religious conversions are going on in northeastern part of India at gun point even today. Tribal belt of central India also were not spared from their conversion drive. Whosoever stood against them was eliminated to clear their path of aggression out of any hurdles.

Cold blooded murder of Swami Sada Premanand Saraswati was done on the direction of Christian missionaries in 1992 at Gumargunda Ashram, Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh. He was engaged himself in the Service activities of Ashram as well as spiritual discourses. Missionaries found him as a stumbling block to their proselytizing activities.

Similarly, militants engaged by Baptist Church in Tripura had killed a Prominent Swami Shanti Kali Maharaj of Tripura in 27 August 2000. He too was shot at his own Ashram by armed goons. He was killed for shielding the people of tribal communities in Tripura from missionary activities. Shri. Manik Sarkar, the then Chief Minister of Tripura also admitted the involvement of Baptist church with the militants in the killing.

Another case occurred in Meghalaya. Rijoysing Khongsha was a Seng Khasi leader of Meghalaya who was abducted and gunned down by the militants belonging to Hennytrep National Liberation Council (HNLC). Rijoysing was an enthusiastic social leader who led the people from the front. His increasing activity and popularity had become head ache to Christians in Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. Christian Missionaries engaged the militant outfit to silence him. It abducted and killed Rijoysing in the year 2001.

Provocative murder of 80 year old Swami Lakshmanandji Saraswati was the most heinous crime done by missionary sponsored goons on an auspicious day of Krishna Janmashtami in 2008. Killing swamiji itself is highly condemnable and when it was done on a most significant day of Hindus, the outrage is multiplied. He along with four of disciples were brutally killed when he was attending the evening prayer. It shows how intolerant are the Christians! Nation should stand united to raise voice against all such violence promoted by Church against Hindus.

Palghar incident was latest of all. It was very unfortunate that such an incident had taken place in a janjati village. The incident has shown what would happen to innocent tribals, once they are converted into Christianity. Missionaries and Communist have injucted venom of hatred into them. As a result of it, two Sadhus were lynched to death for no reason.

Church is still continuing such activities to break Hindu society to break India. Time has come to set up; once again, a commission to expose the amount of social ill-feelings and anti national feelings, church has created in the Janjati areas of India.

Article by

Ramesh Babu

Activist