Dear Editor,

I was a participant in the Parliament of the World’s Religions last summer when I spoke with some of the Sikhs at their information booth, one of them sent me information on subscription to your newspaper because I had asked for any issues which pertain to the Parliament. If you did indeed publish any articles or an entire issue, I would be interested in purchasing a copy.

I have just completed an excellent book, published by Facts on File, about the Sikhs. It contains a great deal of information and strengthens my great respect for your beliefs and practices. If you have any information on local resources in North Carolina, I would be very interested.

Roberta Kraitsik Fayetteville, NC

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Hindu Nazis are working day and night to hinduise tribals and thereby enslave them. They have purchased some Christians to destroy the glorious work done by the church. A section of the Orissa Catholics is forcing the Hindu way of worship during prayers. Some Christian youths of Cuttack styling themselves as “Hindu Catholics” are insisting on a “Christian Jagna.” In the name of “Hindu-Catholic Literature Samiti, Cuttack,” the inaugural ceremony of the Cuttack Catholic church on Nov.18 last was disturbed by some Christian youths. The brahminical press gave them wide publicity in their toilet papers. Archbishop Raphael Seenath of Bhubaneshwar and Parish Priest Paul Machunuel of Cuttack were silent spectators.

Pope’s support: Pabitra Kumar Limma, “Adviser.” of the “Hindu- Catholic Literature Samiti,” made the false claim that the All-India Catholic Bishops Conference had sanctioned the “Hindu way of worship” in the church. He said the Pope during his recent visit to India had supported their demand, citing some quotations from the Upanishad. According to the Pope chanting of mantras from the Vedas and Upanishads during the church worship is not anti-Christian, said Limma The use of lamp. sandalpaste, kumkum, etc. and wearing of Kavi dress and use of Hindu musical instruments during bhajan and kirtan are permissible during Christian Jajna.

Priests renamed: Limma, Natham Mishal and Shyam Sundar Gupta etc. are the spirit behind this “Christian Jajna.” Abhayananda Swamy of Phulbani and Dharmachari Baba Kushananda of Jatni are behind this hinduisation of Indian churches. These Christians have deliberately taken Hindu names to please brahminical forces.

The parish priest of Phulbani, Dr.Satya Sundar, and the parish priest of Jatni, Father Kisian Parida, have also changed their names as Abhayananda and Kushananda re- spectively. Both the priests are keen on adopting Hindu traditions in wedding ceremonies.

Archbishop Raphael Seenath in- stead of putting his foot down is sitting pretty. He says Christians have the liberty to do whether they think fit. A Hindu Nazi leader of Cuttack. Sameer Dey (BJP), has urged the parish priest. Fr. Makunuel, of Cuttack to fall in line and adopt Hindu practices.

The Indian Church, held captive by the upper caste converts, is using the church properties and promoting upper caste interests. We have

said it many times. (DV edit June 16.1983 “Christians at the Cross- roads.”)

The Orissa bid to hinduise the church shows that Aryans/upper castes even after conversion to other egalitarian religious will never, ever severe their connections from their blood relatives. In this competition to hinduise the church, the Catholic church is worse than the Protestant one. In Bangalore, the CBCI (Catholic Bishops Conference of India). the apex organization of the Catholic church, has established an all-India center where brahminical customs, manners and rituals are taught. The Goan Catholics, Syrian Christians, Manglorean Catholics are mostly Brahmin converts and they continue to be close to brahminical forces.

This is the tragedy of Indian church though over 80% of Indian Christians are Dalits and tribals. They are oppressing the Dalit converts on one side and flirting with the Aryan upper castes on another side.

The CBCI is still half-hearted in demanding reservations to Dalit converts. When the Pope came to India he refused to meet a deputation of Dalit Christians. In Christian educational institutions Dalits get hardly any admission. Rather these institutions are beautifully serving the children of Aryans/upper castes. They are also trying hard to hinduise the tribals. (DV edit July 1,1983:”Tribal culture in danger.”) These Christian leaders maintain close contact with their European counterparts, get enormous foreign funds and use it for the welfare of upper castes only.

We have warned the foreign funding agencies and the World Council of Churches also but our voice is yet to reach these circles.

Courtesy: Dalit Voice.

Article extracted from this publication >> March 18, 1994