Ghar Wapasi , Conversion and Freedom of Religion

An illuminating and compelling collection of essays by leading secular scholars, who forensically analyse the Hindu nationalist campaign of alleged 'home-coming' to reconvert persons of disadvantaged castes and tribes, whose ancestors had abandoned the Hindu failh in search of elusive social equality. Harsh Mander Writer, Activist I know I am home - in my identity as an India-born Indian citizen, as a Christian and professing the ideology that I do. Dr. Ram Puniyani's book explains in clinical but easy language the political motive behind the Hindutva 1'arivars malevolent and aggressive campaign which targets Muslims and Christians in various parts of India, and specially Tribals and Dalits, in the name of Char Wapsi. An important work, perhaps the first comprehensive look at this dangerous phenomenon. And a Must read. John Dayal Ghar Wapsi,Conversions andFreedom of Religion edited by Ram Puniyani is an absorbing and brilliant scholarly work on the Hindutva fraternity's polarizing agenda of religious conversions. Twelve scholars and activists discuss the issue in its historical perspective and help the reader to understand the politics of conversions which is made to be a religious issue by its Hindutva perpetrators. The book contains valuable historical material on the subject thus making it important book of reference and a complete book on the subject. Shamsul Islam Writer, Academic 'The autonomy of an individual to renounce the faith s/he was born in or accept any alternative have been found to be highly subversive and destabilising to the world view of Hindutva. It's anxities around this aspect have been visible since colonial times. If it was 'Shuddhikaran' then today it revolves around 'Ghar wapasi'. The present volume edited by Ram Puniyani comprising of contributions from leading scholars and activists is a timely intervention around the unfolding debate which deals with different dimensions of the subject' CONTENTS Acknowledgements Contributors Introduction. Section A Islam and Christianity in India 1 Ghar Wapsi, Christianity and Freedom of Religion Ram Pmiyani I Prelude II Christianity in India III Anti-Christian Violence: The pattern IV Hindutva and Anti-Christian Violence V Inquiry Committee Reports VI Odisha: The Boiling Cauldron VII Conversions VIII Gandhi on Conversions IX Legal Dilemmas: Constituent Assembly Debates on Conversions X Reconversions: Ghar Wapsi XI RSS and Ghar Wapsi: Forcible Conversions XII Conversions: Cultural Co-option XIII Conclusion Bibliography. 2 Conversion to Islam D. Gnaniah 3 Anti-Muslim Violence. Ram Punijani