Conversion: The Buddhist Way

December 1998 witnessed a growing spate of atrocities against the Christians in several areas across India. The most gruesome were perhaps in the Dangs district of the Gujarat State. It is common knowledge that these were related to the acceptance of Christianity by a good number of tribals in South Gujarat. The Prime Minister of the country then visited the area. At a press conference on the occasion, he called for a national debate on conversion, namely, the acceptance of other religions by the Indians giving up the religion in which they were born. Much has been written since on the issue. The context of conversion is mostly Hinduism and its entrenched caste system. It is often claimed that the hierarchical order of Hindu society, varna-ashrama dharma, is sanctioned by the Hindu religious scriptures. The Hindu society has not only the four varnas, priests (Brahmins), warriors/rulers (Kshatriyas), business/dealers (Vaishyas) and the menial workers/artisans (Shudras), but also the out-casts whose services to society are so menial and polluting as disposing of dead animals, cleaning of sewers etc. Their jobs are regarded as polluting, and their presence is capable of polluting the caste Hindus. Hence, they are classified into a fifth group, the Untouchables.