Conversion threat or matter of faith?
Pastors deny allegations of activities encouraging conversion to Christianity in eastern UP villages, locals say they are still Hindus but pray to Christ
GHAZIPUR: “All brothers and sisters are hereby informed that religious conversion doesn’t take place here. We only offer prayers for our honour and safety,” reads a poster on the front wall of a house in Fauladpur village.
Another board just above the entrance gate reads, “Prarthana evam chhutkare ki sevain (prayers and service to God for liberation).” Over 100 people attend the prayers at the house every Sunday. Tribhuvan Prasad, who leads the prayers, reads the Bible and explains its verses. The prayers, Prasad claims, bring peace of mind to the people.
Recently, a group of Hindu Yuva Vahini activists and few locals created a ruckus over regular organisation of the prayers, alleging that activities related to religious conversion were being promoted in the name of prayers. They took the matter to the police. Police interrogated Prasad and carried out a probe. But nothing objectionable was found against Prasad. “I do not force or motivate anyone to convert to Christianity. I only organise prayers every Sunday wherein we read verses from the Bible. Several locals attend the prayers to get rid of their problems and ailments, while some come in search of peace. When they find peace here, the start coming regularly on Sundays,” says Prasad.
Sukumari, a local supports him. “Prayers not only gave me peace of mind, but also solved my problems. I attend the weekly prayers regularly. No one has ever asked me to embrace Christianity. If attending the prayers gives us peace of mind, what is the harm in attending,” she asks.
These prayers are also organised in a hut in Ukraon village, two kilometers from Fauladpur. Pastor Sanjay Ram leads the prayers. The prayers draw many locals suffering from chronic ailments like gastritis, appendix, headache as well as financial problems. They believe that the prayers can cure their ailments.
“I suffered from chronic gastritis two decades ago. I consulted several doctors and Vaidyas, but they failed to cure my ailments. Then I came to know about the prayers and attended the event in Ghazipur. The prayers cured my ailments miraculously,” says Ram
Later, his wife Girija Devi suffered from stomach ache. Doctors were unable to diagnose the problem, but when she started attending the prayers, she was diagnosed with appendix. Later, she underwent a surgery and was cured.
Pushpa Devi, another local said, “I get both peace of mind and relief from physical pain. The prayers show us a way to solve our everyday problems. Nobody invites us to the prayers. We go there out of choice. We are still Hindus and allegations that we have converted to Christianity are false.”
Ram accuses the Hindu Yuva Vahini activists of spreading lies against him as well as those who attend the prayers. “They have been spreading lies about the prayer centre functional in Fauladpur for the last few years. Around 100 people, including locals, and many from the adjoining villages, attend the prayers,” says Ram
“Besides a few locals, no one has ever raised objection over the prayers. The HYV members have a problem with the prayers. In fact, the HYV activists act as vigilante. A group of HYV activists recently created a furore over the matter,” Ram says.
Ranjeet Rajbhar, a resident of Madho Tanda, offers prayers at his house. Earlier, he used to walk several miles every Sunday to attend the prayers at Bhulandi in Jaunpur (around 20 kilometers). Now he offers prayers to Christ at his house. “I haven’t converted to Christianity but I do offer prayers to Prabhu Isa Maseeh. He answers my prayers. I started attending the prayers a few years ago. I felt peaceful and decided to continue with the prayers,” Rajbhar says.
He alleges that he feels threatened by the HYV members who want him to stop praying to Christ.
“Recently a few HYV workers forced me for ghar wapsi (to convert back to Hinduism). But I am still a Hindu. I haven’t converted, I only offer prayers to Christ,” says Rajbhar.
Sitting at a roadside paan shop, Ram Prasad Tyagi says that superstition leads locals attend prayers organised by pastors in many villages in Bahariyabad region of Jaunpur district.
“Those facing financial crisis, health problems or chronic diseases attend the prayers. They have a strong belief that the prayers will cure their ailments and bring in prosperity. They also believe that the pastors have magical power to drive away evil spirits and ghosts,” says Ramprasad aka RP, a local vaidya.
“The pastors, who lead the prayers, have made them believe so. Is it so? Can prayers really address a problem?” asks RP, a Kabirpanthi (a follower of Kabir). In the last few years, such activities have increased in the villages, housing a large number of poor.
Some feel the lack of education and basic amenities could be the reason behind people attending the prayers.
Hindu Yuva Vahini district unit vicepresident Rajesh Singh Bablu says, “Conversion activities in the name of conducting prayers are on the rise in many villages in Bahariabad area of the district. Prayers are organised regularly in Fauladpur, Barakh Tanda, Ukraon, Madho Tanda, Kaitholia, and Ibrahimpur.”
“Pastors, who organise these prayers, claim that prayers can be a solution to all the problems. Jesus Christ or Isa Masih helps those who attend the prayers. They offer a few drops of medicated water to those suffering from problems like stomach ache, headache and so on,” Singh claims.
District unit HYV president Amit Singh said, “Activities to promote conversion are on the rise in many rural pockets of Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Azamgarh and Mau. These pockets, home to large number of financially weaker section people, have have turned into a hub of conversion activities.”
The pastors entice poor locals and tell them stories about people whose problems were solved by attending the prayers.
CNI church secretary B Pople also calls the allegations baseless. “No conversion is being promoted, only prayers are organized. Anyone may attend the prayer,” she says, adding that she doesn’t believe in conversion activities.
The prayers are the talk of the town in Ghazipur city, around 30 kilometers from the villages. “Yes, I have heard that activities to attract innocent poor into Christianity are on the rise in the villages. Those involved in the activities are mostly poor,” says Angad Rai, a trader.
District magistrate K Balaji says, “We are keeping an eye on villages where such activities reportedly took place in the recent past. Strict action will be taken in case anyone is found forcing gullible locals to convert (to Christianity).”
Police have also been instructed to keep a vigil so that there is no law and order problem.