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Goans unmoved by Sangh's rathyatra

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panjim

Goans in general do not seem to agree with the Sangh Parivar's thinking on Pope John Paul II's visit to India or conversions. Perhaps this is why the Sanskruti Raksha Manch's rathyatra, which began from Goa, drew a limited audience in this West Coast state.

Adv Joaquim Dias, who quit as president of the SRM in disgust, is just one example. But several other thinkers, even from the Hindu community, do not subscribe to the Manch's claims.

It is a historical fact that the Goa Inquisition targeted not Hindus but converted Christians. But the Manch admitted this only in Goa. Outside, it has preferred to portray the Inquisition as a period of atrocities on Hindus.

"In fact, initial revolts against the Portuguese were waged by Christians. Hindus came much later into the picture," says Sitaram Tengse, a veteran journalist and thinker.

Recalling the history of the Goan freedom struggle, he points to T B Cunha, who is known as the Father of Goan Nationalism for his relentless struggle against the designs of the Church and the Portuguese rulers to denationalise the community, especially the Christians.

"It happened in Goa in such a manner because the all-powerful State was with the Church. Conversions took place in a different manner in many other parts of India," observes Tengse.

"Who should apologise for atrocities on Buddhists, Jains and Dalits in this country? In that case, let's begin with the Hindus and demand an apology from the shankaracharyas for reviving Hinduism by even drowning Buddhists in the Ganges and demolishing Buddha vihars [shrines]," says Nagesh Karmali, a freedom-fighter and writer.

But while Datta Naik, working president of the Samata Andolan, shares the view that demanding a papal apology is meaningless, he does not believe the Church is any better than the Sangh Parivar. "Both are the same," he quips.

Recalling a recent visit to Rome, he says many Romans talk bitterly about the Pope, about the way the Vatican has been ruling the state there. Providing basic necessities to needy tribals and then converting them to Christianity is a cheap trick, he says.

"But I personally think the Roman Catholic Church faces a direct threat from Buddhism today rather than Hinduism, the way Christians are getting attracted to the Buddhist school of thought all over the world. Buddhism will be the religion of the 21st century," he says.

"The yatra was a childish act on the part of the Sangh Parivar, that too in the name of sanskruti [culture]," says the journalist Tengse. "Indian culture is not Hindu culture alone. It is known for absorbing all kinds of diversified religious philosophies and forging its own unique identity."

Thus, while the yatra became an issue nationwide, it wasn't much debated in Goan newspapers or by the people. "The Sangh has only succeeded in creating a bitterness among Hindus and Christians who have been living here harmoniously," observes Karmali.

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