The tribal population in India’s North-eastern States are fast becoming extinct, warn a group of leading experts in population studies (known as demography). A four-year-long study by JK Bajaj, MD Srinivas and JK Joshi of the Centre for Policy Studies in Chennai has brought out an alarming scenario happening in States like Assam, Tripura and Sikkim. The tribals in these States are undergoing massive conversion to Christianity and this has become widespread during the 1991 to 2011 period.
Bajaj, Srinivas and Joshi are PhD holders from Indian Institutes of Technology in theoretical physics and switched over to demography studies to understand the social and political transformation of the Sub-continent based on changes in religious demography.
“What we found is really shocking and disturbing and could pose threat to the integrity and sovereignty of the nation. Tribal culture in India dating back to thousands and thousands of years are being destroyed in the name of religious conversion,” Prof Bajaj told The Pioneer.
The religious demography of the north eastern states, specifically in Assam, Tripura and Sikkim studied by Prof Bajaj, Prof Srinivas and Prof Joshi reveals that tribals are the main targets of evangelists operating in these States. “Christianity grew by leaps and bounds in these regions through tribal communities while the scheduled tribes were not that much affected,” said the research paper released late Saturday night by CPS.
Prof Bajaj pointed out that one-fifth of tribal communities in tea gardens have been converted into Christianity. “The tribals , though economically, socially and educationally backward are yet to get the status of scheduled tribes. Though there has been a long standing demand from them to accord them the status of ST, various governments which ruled both Assam and the Centre did not heed to their requests and this resulted in massive conversion to Christianity from these communities,” explained Prof Bajaj.
The tribal communities studied by the CPS scientists were Tai Ahom, Moran, Matak, Chutia, Koch-Rajnongshi and the tea-tribes. As per the 2011 census, Christians constitute 12.8 per cent of the ST population in Assam. “In 1991 this figure was 7.6 per cent and in 2001 it was 8.8 per cent. The growth in Christian population in Assam as well as in Tripura are mind boggling,” said the CPS scientists in unison.
Prof Bajaj said in Assam tribes like Kuki, Khasi-Jaintia, Garo, Hmar, lushai (Mozo) , Naga have all become Christians. “More than 96 per cent of the Garo population have been converted,” he said.
The scientists wanted the Centre and State Governments to initiate steps to include the remaining tribes in Assam into the list of ST. “Once they get the status of ST, the evangelisation drive will come to an end,” said Prof Bajaj.
The extinction of tribes in north east is being rated as the main threat to environment by noted environmentalist Dr Nanditha Krishna. “The tribes always worship groves in their villages, forests and even wild animals. Once they get converted, the evangelists force them to destroy the sacred groves and kill wild animals to finish off the last remains of their culture and tradition. This is an environmental threat,” said Dr Krishna who had presented a research paper in the Indian Science Cogress 2011 held at Chennai.