Hindu leaders, including those from the Sindhi community in Ulhasnagar, have decided to convene a meeting after Holi to chalk out a strategy to deal with the neo-Christians a day after DNA reported about large-scale Sindhi conversions in the town. While the former believe the conversions are a result of monetary aid to failing businesses, the converts say they have crossed the fence solely due to spiritual reasons.
One of them, Ramesh Vaswani, was a devout Hindu and would have bhasm (ash) smeared all over his forehead and torso till a few months ago. However, he now wears a chain with a cross-shaped pendant around his neck. Vaswani’s attraction to Christianity grew when he saw his friend, Ram Budhwani, who was going through a bad patch, prosper in business after converting.
“I suffered heavy losses and had to shut my shop. But since I started visiting the Prarthana Ghar in Ulhasnagar, I am making progress. I have reopened my shop and it is doing well. I have changed my faith, not my religion,” said Vaswani.
The news of renewed business prosperity is spreading fast in the close-knit community in the township known for its entrepreneurial zeal. The Hindu leaders in the community allege that monetary aid has been doled out by missionaries to convert the Sindhis.
However, Budhwani denies this, saying, “I started visiting the chapel to get peace of mind. I lost my wife in an accident two years ago. I had become an alcoholic.”
Ratan Varsiyani, who organises the sermons, asserts there are no conversions. “No one can convert anybody by any means. It is only a change of faith. There are some misunderstandings among people over the issue,” he said.
The Sindhi leaders have decided to resolve the issue through dialogue. “We will hold a meeting of several Hindu leaders after Holi and decide upon the future action,” said Sai Balram, general secretary of All India Sindhi Samaj.
Meanwhile, some businessmen have shown interest in approaching the converts to convince them to keep their Hindu identity intact. “We want them. We feel that they are still a part of our society,” said Ashok Valechcha, president of Ulhasnagar Goldsmith Association.
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