VHP International General Secretary Praveen Togadia, who trained to be an oncologist but who likes nothing better than to drive non-Hindus out of India, reached Kandhamal for Saraswati’s last rites (he was buried in a sitting position - the padmasana – in his Chakapada ashram, where he ran a school and hostel for boys). Togadia said a Christian sect had killed Saraswati. It was enough to trigger murderous assaults on Christians in Kandhamal and elsewhere in Orissa. Hundreds of Christian homes were set ablaze, a few pastors were slain, and warnings were issued asking them to return home as Hindus, or never.
In the jungles off Sankarakhol village, one of the first targeted by the militant Hindus, a group of RSS whole-timers were reconverting 18 Christians to Hinduism. It was a daytime ceremony. RSS Mandal Mukhiya (head of the Mandal unit) Sudhir Pradhan, a slim bearded man, was in charge. There weree 30 Hindus to make sure that the 18 Christians did not change their mind.
Each of the Christians had brought a copy of the Bible in Oriya along. They also brought a coconut each, and some incense sticks, red thread to tie around the wrist, and vermillion for their foreheads. The Christians first burned their Bibles in a small bonfire. They sat in a circle. In the middle were the coconuts, each one signifying a Christian, and the other paraphernalia. The god of the hills was appeased first in a prayer.
Then, a Christian rose. He had a coconut in his hand. “I swear that I have become a Hindu today. After today, if I ever become a Christian again, may my dynasty perish,” he said. He broke the coconut on a stone. The other Christians followed, each one making the same promise. Some murmured, some were loud. A Hindu priest began to apply vermillion on the foreheads of the Christians-turned-Hindus. One of them protested, but it was too late. There was a red streak on his forehead as well.
Sudhir Pradhan then took over. Eyes closed, spine firm, and voice ominous. There was a deep and rhythmic chanting of Om followed by the Gayatri Mantra, a sacred chant of the Hindus. The slogans followed: “Bharat mata ki jai.” “Ganga mata ki jai.” “Gau mata ki jai.” “Sri Ramjanambhoomi ki jai.” They paused for a few moments and the Christians-becoming-Hindus knelt, placing their foreheads on the ground. There was a final “Jai Shri Ram.” The first stage of re-conversion from Christianity to Hinduism was over. The motivation for these Christians to reconvert was life. They wanted to live in Kandhamal, keep their houses and, maybe, get some regular work.
Months afterward, these Christian-turned-Hindus would be asked to attend a yagya - a Hindu ritual of sacrifice that involves the worship of deities, unity and charity. In the yagya, they would wear saffron clothes and a sacred thread, and get their heads shaved. They would offer a few goats and some rice as fee. They would be given Gau Mutra (cow urine) and Tulsi water to drink. They would take Hindu vows. Then, they would share the mutton and rice (cooked from their offerings) in a small feast. This completed their re-conversion. From then on, they would have a Tulsi plant in their homes, have pictures of Hindu gods on their walls, and celebrate Hindu festivals. They would pray only to Hindu gods.
Pradhan was happy. He had done his job for the day. He explained the difference between a Hindu and a Christian. “They (Christians) eat cows. We (Hindus) worship cows.” Therefore, “people who eat cows should be given the same treatment that they give the cows.” Pradhan said.
Togadia had laid down the policy. “He has already announced that there is no place for Christians. If Christians do not become Hindus, they have to go. We do not care where they go. They must leave Orissa,” he said.
