The Ghar Wapsi programme held at Pollachi, 538 km west of Chennai last week in which 65 persons were reconverted to Hinduism is being more seen as a Tamil comedy serial by the locals, according to a senior Intelligence officer in the State. “This kind of programme has been happening in Tamil Nadu on a regular basis for the last six or seven years. Some people leave Hinduism and get converted to Christianity or Islam while others from these religions reconvert to Hinduism,” the official told The Pioneer.
He said the Ghar Wapsi resembles the ‘Aaya Ram Gaya Ram’ politics which was in vogue in north Indian States in the 1960s and 1970s. The only difference in Tamil Nadu is that the political outfits have been replaced by religious outfits.
“If in North India Ghar Wapsi generates tension, here in Pollachi it create comic relief. People have started considering religions like political parties,” said MK Anantha Ganeshan, principal, Sri Krishna Vidyala, Pollachi.
Palani Goundar Natarajan (63) and his wife Muthulakshmi got converted to Christianity in 2011. “My wife was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. The priest of the local church told us to get converted to Christianity so that my wife would get the healing touch of Jesus Christ,” said Natarajan. Both were baptised and Natarajan and Muthulakshmi became Nehemia and lilly Pushpam respectively.
“Initially the priest used to visit our house once a fortnight and prayed for us. But he made us part with one-tenth of my earnings every month. When I could not pay that much because of the medical bills of my wife, he humiliated us,” said Natarajan, a staunch DMK activist. When lilly Pushpam died last year, Nehemia felt that his getting converted was of no use and he decided to switch back to his original religion.
Prakash (27) a driver, got converted to Christianity for the sake of his fiancée. But when she walked out of the relation and the church officials pressuring him for the monthly subscription, Prakash, who had changed his name to John Stephen switched back to Hinduism.
“The Sunday congregation was to educate us about the necessity to convert the entire country. The priest pointed out that India remains a poor country because people worship idols and animals. He told that Europe and the USA are rich because they are blessed by Jesus Christ,” he said.
But Jacob Rajan, the soft spoken priest of Assembly of God Church in Pollachi denied all allegations. “We never encouraged anyone to get converted into Christianity. Those who got converted did it on their own. We have prayer meetings everyday and we don’t charge money,” said Rajan.
Mubina, a Muslim girl who got converted into Hinduism said that she did it on her own. “My husband is a Hindu and he married me without taking any dowry. It is my duty to be with him ,” said Mubina whose new name is Mahalakshmi. Her mother Mymoona and siblings had come from Tirunelveli to bless her, Mubina, whose new name is Mahalakshmi said.
The reconversion affair is simpler than hopping from one party to another. “Every year we have been organising Ghar Wapsi programmes like this for the benefit of those who want to come back to Hinduism. There is no pressure on anybody,” said Sivakumar and Sreenivasan, leaders of Hindu Munnani which facilitates the home coming.
According to Rajan, more than thousand people attend the weekly congregation in his air-conditioned church. “Those who claim to have gone back are not real Christians. They are like party-hoppers,” he said.