Ranchi tribals file complaint against Cardinal Telesphore

A complaint has been filed against Archbishop of Ranchi, Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo, for allegedly hurting the sentiments of tribals in a translated version of the Bible.

Ajay Tirkey, president of Jharkhand Sarna Samittee (JSS), a tribal body, lodged the complaint on Monday in Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Ghanshayam Kumar Mallik's court.

According to sources, tribesmen belonging to the 'Sarna' sect alleged that some of the phrases in a Bible translated into their regional language 'Kuduk' were derogatory in nature.

They claimed that the 'Nemha Bible,' had phrases that urge people to destroy trees and their places of worship.

"We lodged a complaint after the Bible Society of India failed to withdraw the book from the market. It was a deliberate attempt to hurt the sentiments of tribal people. We have sought action against the writer and people involved in the translated Bible," Tirkey was quoted saying.

Earlier, the Bible Society of India had apologized for the errors and the government of Jharkhand even decided to invalidate all copies of the translated Bible from the market.