Sir — The Puri Shankaracharya is only partially correct in saying that the conversion of Hindus to other faiths is due to poverty and illiteracy. An academic has written that the causes are primarily the following: Forcible conversion by Islamic invaders and Christian rulers; incentive in the form of money, land and job by Muslim rulers; ignorance towards the understanding of Vedic scriptures following the support to Persian language and the neglect of Sanskrit; child marriage and lack of support to widow re-marriage among Hindus; boycott of those Hindus who marry a Muslim woman, thus prompting them to leave the Hindu fold and join Islam; superstitions in the name of Dharma and untouchability leading to luring by Muslim as well as Christian missionaries; and, the predator mentality of Muslim and Christian proselytisers to lure Hindus into their folds.