WELCOMING HINDUS BACK TO THE FOLD
‘PANCHAMARS’ COULD CHOOSE TO BE BC OR MBC
By Lt Col CR Sundar, psc Msc (Defence Studies), President Sainik Samaj Party, Tamil Nadu
It has always been widely known that all Muslims and Christians in India share a common Hindu ancestry. By the loud and repeated assertion of this truth by brave and original thinkers like Mr. Subramanian Swamy, the same has now been commonly accepted by all including our co-religionists.
Simultaneously a movement is on the rise to bring back the citizens of our country to the ‘mother’ religion viz. Hinduism. This movement, simply called ‘Ghar Vapsi’ or home coming in English and ‘Veedu Thirumbuthal’ in Tamil is spreading slowly but steadily across the country and does not seem to be raising hackles for the simple reason that this re-conversion to Hinduism is voluntary and peaceful.
We will not now go into the reasons why men in the past left Hinduism to convert to Islam or Christianity or what their last caste or status was when they or their fore fathers decided to adopt various religions having their origins in Arabia. Neither will we go into the semantics of what Hindu religion was and how it has evolved. We will consider the religions as we find them here and now.
From the newspapers we hear of Ghar Vapsi events taking place. But we rarely get to know the details of what took place and how. We have nothing authoritative to tell us how a Ghar Vapsi event should be organized. We hear of Shuddikaran, a movement started by Arya Samaj meaning purification or the common Hindu practice of Dosha Nivarthi which means the removal of malefic or negative effects.
Both these terms seem to me to have negative connotations and appear repulsive. They insinuate that those who have migrated from Hinduism have somehow rendered themselves impure and the present generation that seeks to return to the Hindu fold need to atone for this and be cleansed by some selected persons. There are many who would wish to return to the Hindu religion since there are many good aspects in Hinduism not found in other religions. They would all be put off if we take the line that they need to be purified as a way of nullifying the lives of their forefathers
Further, the social and legal status of those who have thus re-embraced Hinduism as a result of home coming has not been clearly stated. This is particularly galling since our ancient civilization has never confronted such a situation in the past. We need to find acceptable answers to these questions so that the doors for entry back to the Hindu fold may open ever wider and remain so.
Therefore, I decided to do my own research about what the correct and acceptable procedure should be. I consulted many scholars and I am giving below a brief write up on the subject.
Ghar Vapsi
The term Ghar Vapsi is straightforward. Similar terms should be created in all Indian languages.
The procedure for Ghar Vapsi has to be simple and effortless. It should in no way be pretentious, ornamental, demanding and demeaning. It should appear to take place in the normal course of events.
The question is who can conduct Ghar Vapsi. Anyone can organize and conduct Ghar Vapsi. It does not need any permission from any organization or a license from any arm of the government.
The quorum required would be five men or women at least one of whom should be a Hindu. He who shall be referred to as Guru.
All men should have their facial hair removed and preferably tonsured. Women should be suitably attired and wearing kumkum on their foreheads, and neck.
Since it is a sanskara ceremony Homa or Havan is mandatory. The Guru should be conversant with the kindling and consecration to the sacrificial fire, the invocation of one or more divinities and the making of offerings to them with fire. He may recite the prescribed prayers and mantras or read them from Sanskrit or transliterated texts.
After the ceremony all those attending the function will be considered Hindus thereafter.
Status – PANCHAMAR
All reentrants will be referred to as ‘Panchamars’ since they will be considered to have already transcended the four ‘Varnas’ and have found existence in a new fifth varna.
The concept of Panchamar is new. Hindus have from time to time developed new concepts to serve the needs of the time in an evolving society. This concept is one such evolution. Therefore I am sure it will be accepted and adopted.
Status – Backward Class (BC) or Most Backward Class (MBC)
Panchamars may choose to be either to BCs or MBCs and derive the financial and other benefits available to those classes. They may also choose to be neither. However, they cannot chose to become schedule castes (SC) since as a nation we are committed to uplifting of SCs.
Security
And finally, there is a point about security. Till recently Hinduism did not mind if their flock embraced other religions be it by force, coercion or enticement. But, from our experience we know that certain other religions do not take to it kindly if their members leave their fold. They are apt to use violence.
Therefore there is a strong case to consider protecting Panchamars adequately even to the extent of arming them.
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Lt Col CR Sundar,
Source: WHN Media Network