Friday 10 October 2008

Cry my Beloved Country


WARNING: People of a sensitive and delicate nature kindly don 't watch this video.
A Nun 's Story





Worse Than Ever
Christians knew the attacks were coming, but no one knew they would be this deadly.
Susan Wunderink posted 10/09/2008 06:23AM
Related articles and links
Like many people in the eastern India state of Orissa, Nikhil Kumar Kanodia knew an attack on Christians was imminent. But unlike others, Kanodia was a police superintendent. When he declared that Hindu attacks on Christians in his district of Kandhamal would be prosecuted, he was immediately transferred. Soon afterward, Kandhamal became the epicenter of massive anti-Christian violence. Nationalist Hindus have killed, raped, and otherwise assaulted Christians, burned Christian schools, churches, and houses, and left tens of thousands homeless.
Nina Shea, vice chair for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said the attacks are essentially pogroms "to rid the state of the Christian minority." The World Christian Database says active Christians make up about 3.3 percent of the state's population.
Christians are often warned by fliers or friends when an attack is being staged, said Sam Paul, secretary of public affairs at All India Christian Council. Still, some are unable to get out of their homes or flee to the jungle for safety. Paul told CT he had the names of 36 people killed in the violence by mid-September. Since then, there have been several more fatalities throughout India. The Times of London called it "the worst anti-Christian violence in India since Independence [in 1947]."
Militant Hindus also attacked Christians in other states, particularly Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
Orissa made international headlines on Christmas Eve 2007 for a similar string of attacks on Christians, as well as 10 years ago, when Australian missionary Graham Staines and his children were burned to death in their car.
Anti-Christian violence "could happen anytime, anywhere" in India, said Stephen David of the Centre for Contemporary Issues in Bangalore. "There is increased opposition and increased hatred toward Christians because the messengers of hate with the Hindu community have become more articulate and better organized."
But in most areas of the country, the violence does not enjoy the level of support it has in Orissa. While mobs usually set up roadblocks to keep police and fire departments away, the local police and the state government are widely considered accomplices in the violence, said Paul Swarup, pastor of Christ Church in Noida, Delhi.
Shea said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that governs Orissa and the militant Hindutva groups have "a symbiotic relationship," though "there's a separation between the terror and the political rule." Both the party and the groups say that India is for Hindus, even though the secular democracy has a millennia-long legacy of religious pluralism.
Many Christians are participating in protests against the ongoing violence across India. Some groups, such as All India Christian Council, are calling for the state government to be ousted under an article of the Indian Constitution.
The latest violence began after the murder of Hindu leader Swami Lakshanananda Saraswati, who advocated anti-conversion laws, and of several of his disciples. While a militant Communist group known as the Naxalites took credit for the murder, the BJP and affiliates blamed Christians.
That claim is ridiculous, said Swarup. "Christian militant groups just don't exist. [Christians in Orissa] are the poorest of the poor. They probably struggle to put their meals together. It's impossible for them to purchase grenades and AK-47s" (the weapons used to kill Saraswati).
But while they are not as well funded as the Naxalites, "some of the Christians are violent, too," said David. News reports said Christians retaliated against police in Karnataka state after several weeks of anti-Christian violence. Hindutva groups attacked police as well.
Orissa's population is mostly Dalit, the lowest rung in traditional Hindu society. Christianity represents relative security for a convert, since India has many reputable Christian schools, hospitals, and charities. "Conversion is basically equal to development," said Sam Paul. For that reason, many Hindus claim that converts to Christianity were bribed or tricked into it.
The majority of conversions are for spiritual reasons, Paul said. But some are more motivated by the possibility of increased social standing.
The violence may get worse in the run-up to India's general elections in spring 2009. The BJP wants to replace the Congress Party, and Swarup said one of its main tactics will be to show that the current government cannot maintain order. Meanwhile, the mobs stoke nationalist Hindu sentiment as they scapegoat the Christian minority.
Although Orissa has had anti-conversion laws since the mid-20th century, Swarup and other Christians cite the national constitution and their spiritual obligation to preach their faith.
"If we believe the gospel is life eternal for a person, if it is Good News to the poor, why should that Good News be stopped? It's their choice whether to accept or not, but it is their basic human right to hear that news."
Copyright © 2008 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

11 Fertilize my soul:

Julia Dutta said...

Most apt title - shame on India! Only such damned hooligans like these Orange Orang Otangs can do such evil acts. I absolutely cannot imagine how they manage to do it. They must be satanic! Thanks for letting the world know, through this post, how ugly and uncivilised many of our countrymen are. Should we not ask for castration instead of ban on these janwars?

Julia

Julia Dutta said...

I could not mix my anger with my best wishes for you. Shubho Bijaya!
Julia

Mark said...

May God lead many people to read your copy of this post as well as the original on CT. Blessings, Mark

Janet Jeyapaul said...

I thought we were pretty safe here in Chennai,but the Tamil evening news reported vandalism in one of the CSI churches in Anna Nagar,Chennai. We must pray for safety of all christians in India. The Freedom of Religion Bill should get passed in India. Hope Bush does something about it.

Janet Jeyapaul said...

I thought we were pretty safe here in Chennai,but the Tamil evening news reported vandalism in one of the CSI churches in Anna Nagar,Chennai. We must pray for safety of all christians in India. The Freedom of Religion Bill should get passed in India. Hope Bush does something about it.

Janet Jeyapaul said...

oops amrita delete the previous comment..by mistake it got pressed twice

Amrita said...

Yesterday i watched the movie Missisippi Burning set in 1964 when the KKK was active in Southern USA.

There are many similarities beteen the Bajrang Dal and the KKK.

The carnage is going on. The international community should sit up and add its voice.

Pray the Lord keep you safe there in Chennai.What can Bush do? Its we Indians who have to take a stand against the injustices done in our own country.

I just cried when i saw the nun 's video. She is such a brave woman. i would have ended in a looney bin after an experience like this.

Felisol said...

Dear Amrita,
I am praying for you, your family, your church, for all the Christian Churches and for India, a nation created by Gandhi, the peace-lover.
May God bless, protect and comfort you.
From Felisol

Mrs. Mac said...

Dear Amrita, I have not heard of this violence and thank you for sharing this story with others so we can pray for your countrymen.

Rebecca said...

We do not even know here what a lot we have to be thankful for - a fitting thought for thanksgiving weekend. What courage this woman has and what faith to speak out and stand up for what she knows to be right

Julia Dutta said...

Hello Amrita,
DEspite it all, a time to celebrate my friend :))))

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/indias-pride-st-alphonsa--sister-to-saint--in-pics/75652-3.html

Julia