The Washington Post, in its latest critique of India, has attempted to incite discord in Jharkhand by pitting Hindus against the tribal communities.
In an article published on Saturday, February 1, the American newspaper alleged that Hindu groups were conducting "evangelical campaigns" in Jharkhand to "convert" tribals to Hinduism.
It further claimed that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliated organizations were eroding tribal culture by persuading them of their connection to the broader Hindu identity.
This contentious article emerges at a time when Jharkhand is witnessing widespread proselytization and aggressive conversion efforts by Muslim and Christian groups.
“Even in dense jungles, India’s right-wing Hindu movement is pursuing its project of transforming this historically secular country into a Hindu nation, seeking to convince millions of tribal people who have long remained outside mainstream religion that they, too, are Hindu,” the article featured in The Washington Post stated.
The American newspaper sought to belittle the efforts of Hindu organizations in preventing the cultural practices and traditions of tribal communities from fading away.
The opposition these groups have put up on the frontlines against the evangelical activities of organized religions appears to have unsettled the interests of The Washington Post.
‘Hindu Outfits' Resistance to Predatory Conversion Misinterpreted as Evangelism
Jharkhand was created from Bihar to address the long-standing demands of the region's tribal communities. According to the 2011 Census, 67.8% of the state's population (the majority) identifies as Hindu.
In contrast to the claims made by The Washington Post, Hindu groups are not "desperate" to convert individuals, as Hinduism is already the predominant faith in Jharkhand.
Instead, the emphasis is on countering conversion efforts by Muslim and Christian evangelical groups, who are actively trying to gain a significant number of new adherents.
The Washington Post Focuses on Vikas Bharti and Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram
The American newspaper expressed frustration with Vikas Bharati, accusing the organization of "dividing tribal communities into Hindus, Christians, and nature-worshippers." It sought to cast the grassroots Hindu cultural organization in a negative light.
Kumkum Maitra, an education coordinator at Vikas Bharti, responded to The Washington Post, saying, "You can't force Hinduism. You need to live alongside them and respect them to build an extended Hindu family."
Her invitation to local tribals for the Shivratri celebration was deliberately misinterpreted as an attempt to proselytize 'nature worshippers.'
Another Jharkhand-based Hindu group, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, was similarly criticized by The Washington Post, which accused it of competing with Christian evangelists in nearby Chhattisgarh.
The newspaper also quoted the controversial Nandini Sundar, wife of The Wire's Founding Editor Siddharth Vardarajan, who made harsh claims about Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram.
Additionally, The Washington Post accused Vikas Bharti of carrying out 'ghar wapsi' for Adivasis who had been converted by Christian evangelists, restoring their original Hindu identity.
The Controversy Surrounding the Sarna Code
Currently, Indian law recognizes six religious communities: Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain. The Congress-HMM alliance, which dismisses concerns about infiltration, has vowed to implement the Sarna Tribal Religious Code.
In November 2020, the INDIA coalition government held a special one-day session of the Jharkhand Assembly, where a proposal to include ‘Sarna’ as a separate religion in the 2021 Census was passed unanimously.
Although the BJP questioned the government's motives, it supported the proposal. Chief Minister Hemant Soren later wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reaffirming the demand.
When the BJP released its manifesto for the Jharkhand elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the party would consider the Sarna Code and make decisions accordingly.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the BJP’s election in-charge for Jharkhand, echoed this position multiple times. Assam Chief Minister and election co-incharge Himanta Biswa Sarma took it further, assuring that the party would implement the Sarna Code if it formed the government.
The Sarna Code acknowledges tribal society as a distinct religious group. While the BJP has not publicly opposed it, its approach in this election seems more moderate compared to the RSS’s view, which sees tribal society as part of Hinduism.
The RSS, through organizations like the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, operates in tribal areas with this belief.
Sandeep Oraon, the regional coordinator (Bihar-Jharkhand) of the RSS-affiliated Tribal Security Forum, argues that implementing the Sarna Code would lead to numerous challenges at various levels.
Washington Post Revisits Sarna Code Controversy
The Washington Post revived the controversy surrounding the 'Sarna Code' to deepen the divide between Hindus and 'nature worshippers,' labeling it as a 'new flashpoint' and a 'challenge' for the RSS.
The newspaper claimed, “Across Jashpur and Bishunpur, a growing number of tribal people, including some of those who identify as Hindu or collaborate with Hindu missionaries, are advocating for a distinct religious identity.”
It mentioned the case of a tribal nurse, involved with the ‘Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram’, who practices 'nature worship,' claiming that Hindus are pressuring her to identify as one, even though her community (Sarna) is distinct.
The inflammatory article concluded by asserting that Hindus oppose the Sarna code, as it challenges the narrative that tribal communities require protection from foreign religions, a narrative grounded in truth.
Comments