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Second Lakshmanrao Bhide Memorial Lecture in Mumbai
CONVERSION IS A THREAT TO HUMAN PROGRESS

By Swami Aksharananda of Guyana - Posted January 23rd. 2008

"Over the last two generations, organizations inspired by Sangh have succeeded in uniting the Hindu society in many countries in different organisational names and kindled in them pride for Hindu culture and given them a sense of proper identity and security"-Mohanji. "ALL over the world, the one single most destructive threat to human peace and prosperity is the quest of conversion. The Pope on his visit to Bharat a few years ago had mentioned that after having conquered Europe and Americas in the First and Second Millennium it was Asia that was to be conquered in the Third Millennium. What the Pope meant by Asia? Was it Japan, Korea, Burma, Pakistan, Indonesia or Malaysia? No the target is Bharat obviously. Eighty-five per cent of all conversion-dollars are being spent in Bharat. There is a need for a global security system for the Bharatvanshis. Bharat has to become strong and powerful and that alone will be a security to the global PIO community. No group or organisation civic or governmental has understood and addressed the problems of the PIOs as best as Sangh," said Swami Aksharananda of Guyana while delivering the second Lakshmanrao Bhide Memorial Lecture in Mumbai on January 4. The Lecture was jointly organised by Vishwa Adhyayan Kendra, Mumbai, and Keshav Srishti, at Alkesh Mody Auditorium, Kalina Campus.

He recalled some memorable anecdotes from his association with Chamanlalji and Bhideji. Speaking on "Challenges before Global PIO Community" he cited the recent Malaysia crisis and said that the Hindus there are conducting a vigorous effort for self-preservation and dignity. He also reminded about the severe security threat faced by Hindus of Kenya. He reasoned that though Person of Indian Origin and Bharatvanshi refer to the large population of people whose roots are from Bharat they are Indians no matter how long they have left because Chinese settled world over are called just Chinese. He also thanked the VAK for selecting him for the award but said he considered it was given not for his personal achievements at all but his collective achievements along with others. Speaking on the occasion RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Mohanrao

Bhagwat said the overseas activities of Sangh were not started by some national debate and resolutions but by swayamsevaks who went abroad out of the need they personally felt in organising the Hindu society there. "Over the last two generations, organizations inspired by Sangh have succeeded in uniting the Hindu society in many countries in different organisational names and kindled in them pride for Hindu culture and given them a sense of proper identity and security," he said. He recalled the message given by Bhideji at the First Training Camp held for swayamsevaks of Vishwa Vibhag in 1990 at Bangalore. The message was, "The first phase work is mainly aimed to make overseas Indians know their identity. The second phase is oriented towards organising them and making them known as a cultured and potential society.

The thrust of the third phase is to have RSS of various countries that wil transform the whole society as per the ancient call of vasudhaiva kutumbakam and krunvanto vishwamaryam for the good of all". Shri Bhagwat further said he agreed with Swamiji's point that the PIO community of the whole world would feel a sense of pride and security only when the Hindus of Bharat will get organised. The only guarantee for a harmonious and peaceful world lies in the message of rishis of Bharat, vasundhara parivar hamara. Earlier, Dr Shankarrao Tatwawadi, Vishwa Vibhag convener, introduced the two books that were released by Shri Bhagwat, namely, Moving Spirit behind Global Hindu Cause and Memoirs of a Global Hindu. The former is an English translation of the book on Bhideji released a year ago, the latter memoirs of Shri Jagdish Shastry about the story of Sangh growth and expansion outside Bharat in the last six decades.

Later, Dr Satish Modh, president of VAK, briefly detailed the aims and objectives of VAK and explained the idea behind the Bharatvanshi Samaj Bhushan Puraskar, which is being instituted from this year. Shri Mohan Bhagwat later honoured Swami Aksharananda by presenting him a shawl, a coconut, a memento and a cheque of Rs 51000/-. The lecture commenced with a documentary film on the late Lakshmanrao Bhide portraying vividly his tireless efforts over four decades in uniting the Hindu society spread over various countries and continents. Shri Mukund Chitale, a leading chartered accountant and chairman of Keshav Srishti, presided over the function. In his presidential remarks he said the seed for Ram Ratna Vidya Mandir at Keshav Srishti was sown in the minds of Sangh karyakartas of Mumbai by the late Bhideji and the school has very recently completed 11 years of its successful existence.

He remarked that society faces more harm from inaction of good people than action of bad people and hence taking a cue from the life of Lakshmanrao Bhide we need to resolve to channelise the energies of good people to do good work for the society which was precisely what Lakshmanrao Bhide did all his life. Smt. Manjari Gokhale rendered a soul-stirring Hindi song vasundhara parivar hamara. Shri Surendra Sharda of Canada read a message for the occasion sent by Shri Jagdish Shastri.

A resolution on the current crises in Malaysia and Kenya was adopted, which appealed to the respective governments to provide security for life and property of PIOs there at all cost. Shri Sandeep Singh proposed a vote of thanks. (FOC)

Swami Aksharananda, January, 2008

Notes: 1. Sangh is the abbreviated version of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). It was founded in 1925 by Dr. K.B.Hedgewar. RSS is a concept that embraces cultural nationalism , alternatively conceived as integral humanism aimed at preserving the spiritual and moral traditions of India. RSS believes that Hinduism is not simply a religion but a way of life

2. Bharat is the Sanskrit name for India

Comments

1. Dear Moderator ,

I know that Swami Aksharananda is an articulate and dynamic speaker and writer . I was a bit intrigued with this comment in his presentation . I would like you or him to shed some light on this excerpt from his discourse please .
Sonah Nagassar

2. I disagree. People should be free to choose their religion. The recent attacks by Hindu fanatics on Christians during Christmas in India tells how far back these godless heathens are.Still in the black hole of Calcutta. Meanwhile, millions of Hindus are flocking to Christian nations and are welcomed.Can you talk about this instead.---
Caesar Agustus 3.

Dear Ceasar Augustus ,

'The PIOs are not allowed in the defence force of all the countries that have even a sizeable PIO population'.

Hmm? PIO means 'Person of Indian Origin' . Defence Force , to me , means the law enforcement agencies of the state ...The Police , The Army and Coast Guard to some extent. I am sorry that the excerpt was not presented in a more clearly defined way , Ceasar .

Nonetheless you have raised an important issue . I also think that people should be free to choose a religion WITHOUT COERSION. Many Evangelists use fear, the gift of the gab ,and a number of other devious strategies to woo and win souls to their Lord . Personally ,I think that the moderate manner of the average hindu promotes a timeless understanding of the concept that this world is peopled with many diverse ways to attain God realisation .

The christian concept that 'all have sinned ' , 'heaven and hell' , and Christ's Mandate to 'go forth and be fishers of men ' has created many zealots and fanatics among us . The Islamic principle that there shall be no other God , by no other name but Allah , to me is also a misinterpretation when translated in the wider context of our cultural diversity . Likewise Hindu extremism is a growing reality .

There are extremists and fundamentalists in all religions . And who among us has the moral responsibility to warn the religious fanatic of his impending fall when the rights of others are violated ? When Peter Pointer aims , three of the four fingers point back to the individual ...
Sonah Nagassar

4. From: khem37@...

Hindus in India are afraid of conversion because it means that upper caste Hindus will lose their pool of slave labour. Over 300 million Hindus are considered to be untouchables. In Christianity all are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights. There is no caste system in Christianity. Jesus loves all equally.

In Hinduism you are condemned at birth to a life of servitude. Lower caste Hindus on a daily basis has to clean the filth of the upper caste Hindu, when a lower caste Hindu shadow falls on an upper caste Hindu he must go and bathe because he has become unclean .

Conversion is a threat to devil and his many religious demons who desire to keep people in bondage. Basis rights have been denied lower caste Hindus such as owning land, work or other things we take for granted.

Into the true knowledge of God found only in Jesus Christ. As for swamis many of them are crooks parading in safron robes. Only an idiot will believe them.

5. Dear Khem ,

Whether schools ,churches orphanages and hospitals are built in the name of 'christian charity' and motive may appear sincere from your perspective, such institutions are ideal vehicles for promoting and indoctrinating others into their faith . Perhaps some hindu organisations in India , may be over zealous in protecting the adherents of their faith from conversion .

The very last thing I would do is to repeat from hearsay , the reality of conversion . I have lived with it , I grew up with it . I was surrounded by it ..and you know something ? I DON'T LIKE THE confused , guilt -ridden souls that result .
Sonah Nagassar

6. Khem Harrinarine khem37@... wrote: Democracy is about freedom of choice. People making their own choices. If you chose to continue being a Sai Baba devotee that is your choice, I respect that... but please don't tell me I must follow your choice...or seek to release the religious police on me....after all I am not accountable for you, ultimately I am accountable to my maker.

Bajrang Dal & the RSS has engage in blatant violation of people rights because they make different choices. To me that is morally and ethically wrong. If a poor Hindu who is abused by his own religion (likewise any other faith) choses not to follow it, he is making a choice and I don't think he should to told that you cannot make that choice....

7. Sonah Nagassar Nagassar1@... wrote:

Conversion is not a threat to human progress ...................It is mandate of the Church to bring Indians out of the religious bondage.

8. Go try telling that to any Muslim country Khem. Conversion is viewed as apostasy and punishable by imprisonment

Vik

- In CaribbeanTalk@yahoogroups.com, Khem Harrinarine wrote:

9. Intolerance and extremism is the real danger to human progress....not conversion.

10. So Khem, when are you converting?

BTW, I am not in the Excited States whee in the South, extremist religous views are the norm

Cheers, Vik