Monday 6 January 2020

On Coversions

 https://www.facebook.com/aparna.krishnan.902/posts/2846121365447149

I want to ask the Hindus on my friends list.
Who cry foul about proselytization. Who outrage about slights to Hinduism.
One question.
There is rampant malnourishment among the children in my district. And across the country. The majority of children are malnourished, underweight. As a country, we are ramked 100 out of 119 countries in the global hunger index by the International Food Policy Research Institute.
The is utter erosion of livlihoods. Women are waiting for work. To sustain their children, families. In my village, they have stepped out, trained themselves in tailoring wonderful cloth bags. And are seeking work.
I have reached out everywhere.
I have also reached to two well known huge and very popular Hindu Ashrams, well moneyed and well organized.
About livlihoods, #PaalaGuttaPalleBags. About nutrition #JeevaniMilk
One was indifferent.
The other sent me in circles. Told us our bags were below par, that our fabric was below par. We purchased the fabric they wanted, made samples they wanted. And then they told us that the bags were good, but the prices should be reduced to half. This hi profile religious organization has high end shops, high end prices, and this was their response to the women of PaalaGuttaPalle..
Guys, wake up. Outrageing is easy. Fun. Entertaining. But when people are hungry, needing support. What is needed is something else. Work on the ground, out of the radar, steady, long term.
Yes, I know there are a few religious places that do good work. And a few individuals who act with vast concern. But too little, too late, sorry.
So let us be ready when they move to others who offer more hope. Without outrageing.

  • Satish Verma You're implying that conversion solves the financial problems of the kind of people whom you mentioned.
    6
  • Aparna Krishnan No. But when we have proved hopeless, they will seek hope elsewhere. And maybe proceed further if they also fsil them.

    The point of this post is our failure. Abject and total failure. Towards the disadvantaged in our community. And the taking out flagmarches !
    8
  • Manohar Kamath This has baffled me for a long time... Poverty and starvation does not bother us, but conversion does.
    8
  • Aparna Krishnan It's fine to be concerned about it. But what about the bigger issue ? Sheer survival.

    It's also plain stupid to think think that without dealing with that vast violation of poverty and disparity, one can address others flying into that vaccum we create by our absence there.
    4
  • Srinivas Samudrala Poverty has No Religion or Region.
    If we can Convert people only due to Poverty what about many African Countries??


    Yes we should show Concern for fulfillment of Basic Necessities but cannot support Conversion in disguise of Helping the poor.
    2
  • Aparna Krishnan No one is supporting conversion.

    The post indicates that if we fail to address our poor, others will step into that space.


    The way to prevent that is by doing our duty to our community. As the first step. Not matches, slogans, passionate speeches.
    6
  • Murthy Kvln If anyone thinks that missionaries support poor, they are mistaken. Infact, they suck them like leeches.
    1
    Write a reply...

  • Murthy Kvln You may have to plan better business models
    • Aparna Krishnan Murthy Kvln I am not marketing poor children to Hindu organizations, or any other organizations, thank you. So your advice is meaningless.

      I am stateing the reality, and if anyone wants to help, I help on the process.
      2
    • Murthy Kvln Aparna Krishnan madam you seem to talk in frustration. Can you justify your statement "marketing poor children to Hindu organisation"
    • Aparna Krishnan There is no business model here, sorry.
    Write a reply...

  • Nikhini Varma Bodakunta Yes agreed and the change begins when one starts following Hindu Dharma rather than just portrayed Hinduism!!
    1
  • Aparna Krishnan Precisely. People stop following real Dharma. Service is forgotten. Poverty and disparity grow.

    And then they start shouting that vultures have descended.


    Vultures or angels in not our concern. Our concern is to see where we went wrong, and where our (huge) default is.

    It is glaring.

    Till that is addressed no raising ruckus will help.

    And still people wish to read this conveniently as a post defending conversions !
    5
  • Krishna Telikepalli Is there enough reason and research done that Hindus once converted can be given good quality of life and employment opportunities etc?
  • Aparna Krishnan Krishna Telikepalli sigh. I will repeat again.

    This is NOT about whether those who convert are vultures or angels. Whether they deliver or fail to deliver.


    It is about our community that has failed in showing responsibility to its most deprived. And then into that vaccum others come.

    What do you think the solution is ?
    1
  • Palanivelu Rangasamy Aparna Krishnan If I am really a Hindu, the pain of every suffering being should touch the core of my heart.

    In the absence of this empathy and compassion, everything else done in the name of this great tradition can only be orchestrated hypocrisy.
    5
  • Viswanath Lakshmanan Well, missionaries are on a mission. They're backed by organization and money. Hindus are incumbents, so at a disadvantage. Missionary activities are spreading like wildfire all over the country and I hear AP is particularly affected. Welfare is only a red herring; the real motive being land grab - temple lands, forest commons, etc. Encroaching land by planting crosses or chapels is now commonplace in KL and TN. Who do u think is orchestrating the repeated attacks on Sabarimala, since 1950s? There is no deprivation or any caste discrimination at Sabarimala, so what cause are missionaries serving there?

    If missionaries have set sights on ur village, then it's not a happy development at all.
    • Aparna Krishnan Viswanath Lakshmanan I agree. My point is different. Why are we do indifferent to the disadvantaged in our community ? Both individually and collectively ?

      We prepare the ground, and then we reap the harvest. Whoever wishes to descend will descend.


      My submission is that we examine ourselves. And act. On tne ground. In sustained ways.

      There is no other way in my understanding.
      1
    • Aparna Krishnan Yes, get your point on Sabarimala. And still my point stays. We need to get our act together. Not in 'Garv se kaho ...' slogans, but in action.
    Write a reply...

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