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Rampant reconversion in remote areas of Kandhamal district

BERHAMPUR: A mockery of faith and religion has started in remote areas of Kandhamal district in the form of reconversion in the midst of terror.

In remote areas of this communal violence hit district the Sangh Parivar activists have started organising rituals of reconversion of poor Christian families. Sudden rise in tonsured male heads in remote areas speaks of these clandestine religious transformations. Police is too busy with maintenance of law and order to interfere in these rituals held in remote villages. According to sources two days back around 450 members of 65 families including women from R.Padikia, Dadapada, Bhima Padkia villages of Ratingia panchayat of G.Udaygiri block got reconverted to Hinduism. A function was organised at Krushna Balram Mutt of the area for the purpose. It is for sure no permission was taken from the administration for this mass reconversion.

Reports of reconversion have also come from villages like Dakedi and Magarkuda of the area. Several reconversion meets have also been reported from remote areas of K.Nuagaon block.

The persons of remote villages who are getting reconverted are just trying to pay this price to bargain future safety of their family and belongings. They are also being provided a guarantee of peaceful coexistence with the tribals supporting Sangh Parivar, who are playing a major role in this religious reconversion process. It may be noted that Christians in Kandhamal district are mostly members of ‘Pana’ community who are Scheduled Castes.

The tribals are their traditional rivals as tribal groups allege these non-tribals are using fake tribal certificates to grab tribal land and to enjoy benefits for tribals including getting elected to posts reserved for tribals.

Tribals use their traditional mode of communication to stop police from reaching a spot at the time of reconversion process. They post persons especially women at strategic locations to inform about arrival of police through sounds of conch or cymbals.

It is not change of heart. A mere change of locket can change one’s identity in Kandhamal district. The neo-reconverts are told to replace their old locket of ‘cross’ with that of an ‘Om’ locket. A small yagna is performed and drinking of cow dung water is a must before a person is accepted into the new fold. The males are tonsured and the females have to wear ‘sindur’ and glass bangles. But according to social activists these poor fellows may not be able to gain much after reconversion.

These dalits would not be accepted into the social fold in real sense by the high caste Hindus who dictate the terms of Sangh Parivar. They would surely wait for another ritualistic conversion process to enter into Christianity in near future.

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