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Fresh reports of conversion in TN

Our Correspondent in Madurai

Nearly two decades after the Meenakshipuram conversions rocked the nation, there are fresh reports of religious conversion from southern Tamil Nadu. While conversions were mostly confined to Islam, now there are reports of Dalits turning to Christianity.

"Lately, there have been reports of such conversions," an intelligence source admitted. "We are keeping a close watch to ensure that they do not become a serious law and order problem." Otherwise, there is no way the police or administration can interfere with religious conversions, unless proved 'forced' or 'abetted'.

According to sources, the reports have been coming from Madurai and adjoining Dindigul, where 'atrocities' and 'third-grade status' conferred on Dalits has proved to an impetus. "Add to that brain-washing that goes into the conversions and inducements offered, and the picture is complete," said a Hindutva volunteer in the city.

Hindutva forces had attributed large-scale conversions in Meenakshipuram village in Tirunelveli district to employment opportunities in the Gulf that came the local Dalits' way. However, there was more of local animosity and aversion than promises of the jobs that prompted the conversions, the source said.

The Meenkashipuram and Mandaicaud incidents in Kanyakumari district in 1992 prompted a caste Hindu backlash, which took on a political twist with the Bharatiya Janata Party making inroads in southern Tamil Nadu, cutting across individual castes. "This may spread to adjoining Madurai and Dindigul if the conversions increase and end up as a socio-political issue," the source explained.

In this context, he draws a parallel between the spread of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-BJP in southern Tamil Nadu first and the expanse of the Dalit-strong Puthiya Thamizhagam of Dr K Krishnaswamy in recent years. "They are independent but have parallels," said the source.

According to him, "If the Hindu-Christian clash at Mandaicaud Devi Bhagawathi temple helped launch the RSS-BJP in the traditionally nationalist Kanyakumari district in a big way since the early eighties, the Meenakshipuram conversions a year later did that for the two organisations in and around neighbouring Tenkasi. Likewise, the Puthiya Thamizhagam has been spreading its influence up north, based on local issues and localised clashes, beginning with the Kodiyamkulam incident involving Dalits and the intermediary Thevar caste."

The RSS-BJP's expanding base, on the one hand, and of the Puthiya Thamizhagam, on the other, "only flowed from the clashes and not the other way round''.

The sources claimed that the current conversions may be influenced by foreign funding, through trusts and organisations that have social objectives. "They need to be checked, and their accounts verified. Then the beans may spill."

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