In the wake of controversial remarks by spiritual leader and narrator Ram Kathakar Morari Bapu, Gujarat’s Education Minister Praful Pansheriya has promised to investigate his claims that government school teachers are involved in religious conversions. The remarks, which were made during a recent katha in Tapi district’s Songadh, have sparked heated responses from political leaders, religious groups, and the local community.
For the uninitiated, Morari Bapu is a renowned exponent of the Ram Charit Manas. He has moved audiences with his recitation of Ram Kathas for over 50 years across the world. He had memorised the entire Ram Charit Manas by the age of 12 and began reciting and singing the Ram Katha at 14.
His views often polarise public opinion, as was evident from his statement allegedly sympathising with the accused involved in the Morbi bridge collapse. Earlier, he had spoken out against what he believed was the distortion of the Hindu Sanatan faith by the Swaminarayan sect sadhus.
During his katha on March 13-14, Morari Bapu claimed that 75% of government school teachers in Gujarat are Christians, alleging that they were actively involved in converting students to Christianity. He lauded the Gujarat government’s initiative to introduce the Bhagavad Gita in schools but felt people must be aware of conversion activities rampant in the system. “It is good that students are taught Bhagavad Gita. But the problem is that 75% of teachers are Christians who do not let this happen. They take salaries from the government and convert people. We need to be aware of this,” he was quoted as saying.
Morari Bapu also mentioned receiving a complaint letter from a government teacher regarding forced conversions in tribal areas, which he handed over to Minister Praful Pansheriya.
Pansheriya, who was present at the Katha, confirmed that he had received an anonymous, hand-written note from a teacher alleging forced conversions by Christian teachers in the tribal areas. He claimed that this issue had been discussed with local people, adding that in recent decades, many tribal areas in Tapi district had witnessed a rise in Christian conversions.
Minister Pansheriya said, “We are not against any religion but if religious conversions with malafide intentions are being done, this will be checked and stopped. We will collect such complaints, get them verified and appropriate action will be taken.”
The allegations have drawn sharp criticism from several local leaders. Mohan Kokni, BJP’s lone Christian MLA and a representative from Vyara in Tapi district, strongly refuted Bapu’s claims, calling them baseless.
Kokni told a national daily, “The claims made by Morari Bapu have no basis. We have not encountered allegations or complaints of any teacher of Christian faith being involved in religious conversion in the district. Bapu should come up with proof of his statements.”
He added, “Before 1970, our tribal district was lacking in health and education. The missionaries arrived with health care and education facilities, and people accepted them. These missionaries were helpful to the tribals in our district and have not lured them with any other thing.”
Congress MLA Dr Tushar Chaudhary from Khedbrahma also opposed Morari Bapu’s remarks. Chaudhary, a former Union Minister and native of Tapi district, said he hadn’t received any complaints of Christian teachers’ involvement in the religious conversion of tribal Hindus. He added that Morari Bapu’s statements were intended to “create unnecessary tension among Hindus and Christians who live peacefully in the district.”
Haresh Gamit, president of Samast Christi Samaj, said that the law would have taken its course had Morai Bapu’s claims of conversions been true. “If forced conversions were truly happening, there would have been at least one FIR filed. There is no evidence to support these accusations,” Gamit said, adding that the Christian community in Tapi district was well-established and had been present for centuries.
However, Bhikhabhai Patel, national vice-president of the Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh, a teachers’ body, said the matter shouldn’t be taken lightly. “Schools across the entire tribal belt from Danta to Umargam should be checked, and if teachers are found involved in religious conversions, appropriate action should be taken by the government,” Patel said.
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