1,000 Dalit Christians reconvert to Hinduism in TN

At least thousand members of Dalit Christian community officially got reconverted into Hinduism on Monday in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu.

Speaking to TOI, Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK) president Arjun Sampath said: "Hundreds of Dalit Christian families will formally return to Hinduism. All of them hail from the interior villages of Tirunelveli district. This event is being organized on the occasion of Ambedkar’s birthday."

"We’ll purify all those who return to Hinduism by sprinkling ‘ganga theertha’ and ‘sethu theertha.’ We’ve specially brought waters from Rameshwaram sea and the Ganges for this purpose," he said and added all of them would receive new Hindu names.

Although the HMK wanted to conduct the event at Nellayappar temple in Tirunelveli, the HR & CE department governing the temple refused permission citing that the temple premises cannot be used for such purposes.

"So, we’re now holding the function at Nellai Sangeetha Sabha – which is a private hall", Arjun said.

On the occasion, several notaries in the city were called, so the members who return to Hindu fold will take an oath and sign affidavits under the supervision of the officials.

“Later, we’ll get the conversion certificates from Arya Samaj to get their names changed in the gazette," Arjun said.

HMK claims to initiate more successful re–conversion activities in future. Already plans are underway to re–convert 20,000 Christians in Villupuram district in the month of August.

Father S Lourdusamy, former executive secretary of the Catholic Bishop Conference of India for SC/ST/BC, said: "It is an unfortunate situation. I don't want to comment on it. I have requested Catholic Bishops to take remedial steps. But nothing is being done to stop the discrimination against dalit Christians. This is resulting in such conversions."

Of the 24 million Christians in the country, 15 million belong to the Dalit community. Tribal Christians account for 3 million.