7th Day Adventists Church were turned into a temple adorned with a portrait of Shiva after what some Hindu groups in Aligarh termed the “successful ghar wapasi” (reconversion) of 72 Valmikis who had become Christians in 1995.
A reconversion of 72 Valmikis (a Dalit sect of Hinduism) was completed at a village near the church belonging to the 7th Day Adventists was turned into a temple on Thursday.
According to the report, a detailed shuddhi karan (purification) ceremony on Tuesday was conducted on 72 Valmikis inside the church in Asroi, 30km from Aligarh. The report added that the cross was removed from the church and placed outside the gate and in its placed a portrait of Lord Shiva installed inside.
Khem Chandra, pramukh of Dharam Jagran Vivad and Sangh pracharak in Aligarh, said, “This is called ghar wapasi, not conversion. They left by choice and today they have realized their mistake and want to come back. We welcome them. We can’t let our samaj scatter; we have to hold it tight. I have told them that honour comes from within the community and not from outside.” Chandra added that in the years that followed their adoption of Christianity, he met heads of the eight Valmiki families numerous times to convince them to reconsider their decision.”
“As Hindus we had no status and were restricted to doing menial jobs, but even after remaining a Christian for 19 years, we saw that no one came to us from their community. There was no celebration of Bada Din (Christmas). The missionaries just built a church for us in the vicinity where some of the villagers got married. That was all,” said Anil Gaur, one of those who returned to the Hindu fold.
On the other hand, those from the Christian community smell a conspiracy. One Osmond Charles, a lawyer and community leader from Aligarh was cited as saying, “Ghar wapasi sounds like a conspiracy. Sometimes we hear ‘love jihad’ and now we have ‘ghar wapasi’. Is this the sign of a Hindu Rashtra in the making?”
Christian priests too make an objection to a havan (fire ritual) inside the church.Fearing an outbreak of aggression, the district administration locked the room on Thursday.
John Dayal, General Secretary of the All India Christian Council suggesting to file Right to Information application with district magistrate and with the Uttar Pradesh government as well the federal Home Minister.
“The issues are not of one or two conversions, which imply external pressure by an organized group. The desecration of a church even by its former members is a separate crime punishable by law. The police and administration silence needs be questioned,” he added.
“With the BJP in power, these groups have become aggressive, ”said Father Dominic Emmanuel, community leader and the editor of a Christian magazine in Delhi.