By Albert Thyrniang
“Making a mountain out of a molehill,” ranks high among the 203 common idioms. This saying that originated in the 16th century is applicable to the over-reaction by the media to the letter written by Archbishop of Delhi, Anil Couto to priests and religious under his jurisdiction. The excerpt of the letter dated May 8, 2018 is as follows, “We are witnessing a turbulent political atmosphere which poses a threat to the democratic principles enshrined in our Constitution and the secular fabric of our nation…..It is our hallowed practice to pray for our country and its political leaders all the time, but all the more so when we approach the general elections….As we look forward towards 2019 when we will have new government let us begin a prayer campaign for our country from May 13, 2018, which marks the anniversary of the apparition of the Blessed Mother at Fatima, consecrating ourselves and our nation to the Immaculate Heart.” The circular requests the faithful to observe a day of fast and Eucharistic adoration every Friday of the week.
The Archbishop also enclosed a prescribed prayer to be recited in churches. It says thus: “May the ethos of true democracy envelop our elections with dignity and the flames of honest patriotism enkindle our political leaders. This is our cry, Heavenly Father, in these troubled times as we see the clouds eclipsing the light of truth, justice, and freedom…Let the poor of our country be provided with the means of livelihood. Let the tribals, Dalits and marginalised be brought into the mainstream of nation-building. Protect our legislature as a place of discerning minds; raise our judiciary as the hallmark of integrity, prudence, and justice. Keep our print, visual and social media as the channels of truth for edifying discourse. Protect our institutions from the infiltrations of the evil forces.”
The media has created a huge hype and controversy out of the letter. A couple of pro-BJP television channels have even sensationalised, distorted and twisted the pastoral letter beyond limits. They have intentionally and disproportionately exaggerated the exaltation of the spiritual leader to his followers. Though the letter does not mention any political party or leader it was made out to be anti-BJP and anti-Modi. The clarification of the man in the eye of the storm did not satisfy the biased and ever aggressive TV anchors who have thrown their journalistic principles and independence to the winds. They have invented all sorts of ridiculous conspiracy theories by the Vatican and the Christians world.
The “pastoral” exhortation has unsettled the BJP and its cohorts because the Archbishop has diagnosed the present “turbulent political atmosphere” that is prevailing in the country. This view is shared by millions of concerned Indians and even non-Indians. Why should a Christian leader’s observation have such a negative take? Instead of appreciating the diagnosis and taking it as an opportunity for soul searching, why shoot the messenger?
The Archbishop sees the rather tumultuous atmosphere as posing a threat to the “democratic principles and the secular fabric of our nation”. It true there is no democracy in the Church or in any religion for that matter, but that does not take away his right as the citizen of the country to point out the reality. “Democracy and Secularism are under threat” is an oft repeated statement by opposition political leaders, social thinkers, writers, journalists ever since the BJP led NDA government came into power in 2014. Even former BJP leaders and many within the BJP do not see the present political situation as rosy. With good reasons they expressed their minds on violation of democratic and secular principles in the country. What is wrong if a church leader expresses the same concern?
Religious polarisation is visible and apparent today. The just concluded Karnataka election saw a lot of it. The BJP’s landslide victory in 2014 was largely due to polarisation. Polarisation is certainly dangerous to secularism. It should stop forthwith. No political party should win an election through polarisation. The electorate should vote a political party to power on the basis of governance, the development plank, programmes to eradicate poverty, plans for education, policies on medical care and a track record of upholding the constitution. The prayer of the Delhi Archbishop was precisely this. Anything wrong with it?
The prayer includes the ‘poor, the tribals, the dalits and marginalised that they may be brought into the mainstream of nation-building’. You cannot bring the above sections if violence is carried out against them. The US in February last year in a document titled ‘Constitutional and Legal Challenges Faced by Religious Minorities in India’ and sponsored by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), said the religious minority communities and Dalits face discrimination and persecution in India where hate crimes, social boycotts and forced conversion have escalated dramatically since 2014. Religious tolerance has deteriorated and violations on religious freedom have increased in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s regime. The report further states, “Since the BJP assumed power, religious minority communities have been subject to derogatory comments by BJP politicians and numerous violent attacks and forced conversions by affiliated Hindu nationalist groups such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Sangh Parivar, and Vishva Hindu Parishad.”
Amnesty International in February this year slammed India for the increase in hate crimes against dalits and minorities. It even accused the Indian authorities of being “critical of human rights defenders in 2017, feeding a climate of hostility and violence against them.” It further pointed out that repressive laws were used to stifle freedom of expression, and journalists and press freedom came under increasing attack. The Archbishop prayed for freedom and the end of violence. Why not appreciate him?
The increasing cases of violence against minorities in the last four years are related to cow vigilantism, ‘love jihad’ and re-conversion. Sensing a conducive opportunity fundamental outfits are even on a mission of converting India into a Hindu Rashtra. Should not a citizen who cherishes the beauty of India as a multi-cultural, multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multi- linguistic, democratic and secular country be concerned with attempts to make this land into a single theocratic nation with one religion, one language and one culture? Praying is the least one can do.
The lesson to be learned is for religious leaders not to be silent. The controversy in Delhi should not deter other church leaders from raising pertinent issues. Church leaders need to be prophets though they have to face criticism. They need to speak the truth though they draw flak. They need to stand with the poor, the marginalised, the oppressed if they have a sense of duty. They need to exercise their leadership if they want to be relevant.
The media made such a hue and cry about the letter because the Archbishop of Delhi asked his faithful to prayer for the general election in 2019 and the new government. The media fear that the leader is trying to influence the outcome of the next election. This is silly. Christians constitute just 2.3 percent of the total population. It must also be known that Christians in India consists of many denominations. There is no single authority who can dictate them, much less on elections. Christians in Goa, Mumbai and the North East and elsewhere in the country have voted for the BJP in recent times with hopes of development. Be sure they don’t follow diktat of religious leaders on whom to vote.
In fine, a party that believes in ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas or inclusive growth does not need to fear a letter from a bishop. Let it remain an unknown document within the four walls of churches.