The 15th November 1954.
The Chairman explained the object of the State Government in appointing the Committee.
Shri Sohanlal Agarwal, Secretary, Vedic S.R. Samiti and Secretary, Arya Samaj: The facts stated in the memorandum presented by me are given as a result of my experience. Government do not make any provision for schools and, therefore, missionaries have got an opportunity of working in Jabalpur. Christian mothers are put in charge of children. No national songs are sung in the schools. Quarters are provided for lady teachers and there is strict control over them. Church is situated in school premises. This atmosphere is responsible for missionary activities. Facilities afforded by Government are enjoyed by Christian students. Christian students have been maintained at the cost of institutions at some places. Hindu Gods and Goddesses are ridiculed in schools. On 21st December 1953, a rehearsal of a drama was being given in a Christian Mission School of Methodist Church. Kalimata worship was condemned and Christian religion impressed in the drama. Shri Ambikaprasad Saraf, a teacher in the school, very strongly protested against this. Hindu students also protested and the drama was not played. Shri Ambikaprasadji�s services were terminated. Some Hindu students were rusticated. Education Department held enquiries into the matter but it was one-sided because they did not ask any of the Hindu teachers and students. The teacher was appointed by the Education Department in another school. The students were admitted to the school and Bible reading was also stopped. A student was beaten and no action was taken though a complaint was made to the police. The boy�s father will be produced before you whenever desired. August 15th was celebrated on the 13th in the Johnson�s Girls� School, because 15th was Sunday and it is considered a religious day. A drama was staged in which an Indian National Flag was pulled down and ten girls in the drama desired that the Cross Flag should he pitched high above it. We will prove this allegation. A copy of the next of the drama will be handed over to you. If I am not telling the truth, I stand for prosecution. The names of President, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the Indian Republic are decried in American Christian magazines abroad. We will supply you a copy of such a magazine. Foreigners support the offices here. A Christian pracharak, Mr. Pande had been to my house for preaching. He gave a book. A police report was made about this. It was also observed that some small toy arms were freely distributed to children. Powdered milk is distributed to Fatma Club freely in the Gondpura. Christians collect boys, sing a song and distribute them alms and milk. We have got witnesses who will say what allurements have been given to them. Why people are living in Christian compounds and how and why they were brought there may also be examined which will throw light.
Shri Chaddha: Government do not care to know what the higher Christian officers are doing. I am referring in particular to a complaint against Shri Franklin about the enquiry made by him in the school affair. That school receives grant from Government. I started agitation against Bible teaching in schools in 1928. Boys were taken to church in my own presence, and in those boys my child was also taken. Two girls were taken away-one to Raipur and the other to Bastar. This happened some few years back. An European lady did this. The girl was about 15 to 16 years of age. I took the girl in my possession very skillfully.
Shri Gangaprasad Vidyarthi, ex-Student, Arya Samaj, Ganjapara: In Pendra Road Sanatorium, one Agriculturist was requested to become Christian because he was not able to continue to meet the cost of treatment there. One Mohemedan boy fell in love with a Christian girl. He was asked to become a Christian even though she was willing to marry the Mohemedan. The boy was aged about 19 to 20. Western form of dress, including tie, is compulsory in a girls� school at Wright Town. This should be stopped.
Shri Satpalnand, ex-Forest Officer: In Raipur, where I was a Forest Sub-Divisional Officer, there was Raipur Forest Tramway. In Singhpur, there was a quarter of Mennonite Mission. They got 8,600 acres of land from a reserve forest from higher authorities. It was a virgin forest. This was intended for a scheme of colonization of arrested cases of lepers and their offsprings. This was the name of the scheme and they received a huge grant from Government. On making enquiries at the colony later, I found that the inmates had come from Dhamtari boarding. I want to point out their manner of work.
Shri Govindsingh Dhurve, Student, Robertson College (a tribal from Dindori area): Before 15 years money was advanced by missionaries free of interest in Dohania. Some five years back a case took place, details of which may be gathered from Shri Varma. Preachers harass people and force conversion on them. Christians are prohibited to take water during summer.
Principal, Johnson Girls� High School: The programme for Independence Day in our school was not planned in a great hurry. Meetings were held on 6th July and 9th August to chalk it out. It was unanimously voted by 26 members present. The function was planned with great responsibility. No one from outside the institution was present at the programme, as none could be invited. We traced the history of the independence of India from 1857 and that is the reason why British flag was brought in. Mother India was represented as having the broadest heart that any nation should have. Mother India was shown as having the kindest heart to welcome the British people and the flag of Pakistan was brought in to show that Mother India is friendly to Pakistan. So also about U. S. A. Cross is the symbol of love and sacrifice. The flag of India was raised the highest. Wrong statements appeared in the press. We had other programme of best rejoinings on the 15th and therefore the drama was performed on the 15th. We went unitedly to the church and offered special prayers. I have given a report of my special meeting to the City Magistrate. Gandhiji loved the Cross. I would not have thought of misunderstanding the Cross. A copy of the text of the drama will be supplied.
Headmaster, Christian High School (Disciples of Christ and Methodist Mission): Regarding the hostel allegation, I want to say that the hostel is meant for those boys who come from different Missions and the expenses are borne by the different Mandalis who send them there. Non-Christians coming from outside place are also allowed to stay there. About 19 Hindu students have so far stayed in the hostel. The hostel is not maintained by the school, but is run by different Missions. We do not get a single pie for the hostel from Government. We get grant from Government for the school. Every one has to pay Rs. 80. Non-Christians boys have lessons in moral teaching and Christian boys have Bible teaching. Bible classes are compulsory for Christian students. Teaching of Bible is not a part of curriculam. We have a syllabus prepared for it. Sadachar Dharma is one of the books prescribed in the syllabus.
About the allegation about staff, we have an equal number of Christians and Non-Christians on our staff. The management never rusticated any student. Only a threat was given for the sake of discipline. There was certain word in the drama to which I objected. The idea of the play given here is incorrect. Message of Christ was presented in the form of a story. The position which indicated that the non-Christians should do as the Christians are doing, was considered objectionable. On 28th October 1954 a teacher Ambikaprasadji resigned and he got a job in Government school.
Shri J. V. Hulasiray, District Superintendent of the Methodist Church in Jabalpur: The drama about which allegation has been made was not staged but only a rehearsal of it was taken. This is not objectionable. Seven Hindu teachers are confirmed on the staff of the school and one of them receive special salary.
One non-Christian gentleman: said at the Circuit House meeting at Jabalpur (on 18-11-1954) that the scope of the Committee is not understood properly by the people and some of them are taking undue advantage of the setting up of the Committee.
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KATNI
17th November 1954.
Shri Malviyaji explained the purpose of the Committee and introduced the members.
President, Nagar Congress Committee: Allurement of service and money is shown to people to become Christians. One Panjabi from Ordnance Factory was offered Rs. 1,000 for conversion. Loans are also advanced by Missionaries. We render all assistance to Christians.
Thakur Jagpathi Singh: Decrying Hindu deities and some teaching is done every Sunday by Christian Missionaries. A Gond came from Mouza Thuthia some time back. He said that children in the village may be converted to Christianity soon, unless some steps were taken by Government. One gentleman said that there is practically no activity at Katni. There may be some activity in Kymore labour colony.
Arya Samaj people, who came later, said that there is enough to say against Christians in Katni and neighbouring villages. They had nothing in particular, but were willing to supply any information asked from them. Copies of questionnaire have been handed over to them with a request to send their replies in due course.
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JABALPUR
The 18th November 1954.
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| Shri Ishwarprasad Saltanat Bahadur Sinha, President, Arya Samaj, G. C. F. Quarters, Jabalpur. | The applicant has given his own opinion on the explanation given by the Head Mistress of the Johnson Girls� High School, Jabalpur, at the Circuit House meeting, Jabalpur, on 15th November 1954. |
| Shri Harisingh, son of Dhansing Thakur, Reconverted Arya-Samaj. | He has described how allurement was given to him before conversion and how he was received when he embraced Christianity. He did not get even free education for his dughter which was promised by the Missionaries before his conversion. He gives an account of how he converted people to Christianity. After conversion he could see the corruption in Missionaries, their high handedness and outward show in their religion and as such he was disgusted and sought reconversion to Arya Samaj. |
| Shri Daddusing and Basanti care of Shri J. G. Gaekwar Phipkari, Thana Kundam, district Jabalpur. | He was in the employ of Shri Tandon as Chowkidar, Shri Hansa, Shri Peter and Shri Mohane persuaded him to embrace Christianity by giving him allurement of monetary and other help thus enabling him to improve his standard of living. After embracing Christianity no one enquired of him, nor any help was given. The conversion ceremony was kept a secret and the applicant also did not speak to anyone of his community as he was afraid of being outcast. He then approached Arya Samajist and got himself reconverted. |
| Shri R. Rao, Jabalpur | The missionary activities
are not for humanitarian work but for propagating their own religion and
for arousing hatred and contempt of other�s religion. The Christ
Panthi Ashram, 20 miles from Sihora is started for giving medical assistance
to the. poor people, but the experience shows that after treatment heavy
bills are presented and when they are not paid, people are forced to become
Christians. People are deceived by calling the Head of the Ashram a �Swami�
who propogates Christianity in the garb of Hinduism.
The Theological College are engaged in the Christian Youths Fellowship Organisations and the M. Y. F., the propagation of Christianity and may annihilate the true democrat structure bf India. Preachers are trained for missionary work by sending them to foreign countries. Anti-social activities go on in Christian High School, Jabalpur. These have received publicity in press and the State Assembly. The incident on 15th August 1954 in Johnson Girls High School in which the Tri-colour National Flag was insulted is fresh to prove anti-national spirit of Christians. |
| Shri J.P.Gupta, Jabalpur. | Shri Alphanzo, an Anglo-Indian Superintendent of Central Telegraph Office, Jabalpur is giving appointments to Anglo-Indians in preference to other qualified Indian candidates. |
| Arya Samaj, Jabalpur | Supplement to the memorandum presented by the Arya Samajist and Vedic Sanskriti Raksha Samiti; at Jabalpur on 15th November 1954. |
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DINDORI
The 18th November 1954.
Shri Katarae Maharaj, Retired Kanungo: We owe the progress of education to missionaries. There is no force or fraud for conversion. I am disappointed to see the treatment given by Hindu religion.
Lallu Maharaj: Most of the teachers in Dullapur are persons who have been converted during the last few years. Several Baigas and Dhulias have been converted. Poor persons are shown allurement and advantage is taken of their ignorance.
Shri Bilthare, M.L.A.: Last year, when Jaisingh Gond was with me, there were several complaints of forceful conversion. Father at Ginwani had beaten some man for return of wife. The Father was American. A police report was made. Generally, a group of four to six villages is called a Tapra. Prayers are offered in the Tapra every Sunday. In the beginning, these are optional. But later, people are compelled to attend the prayers. I know a case of Karanjia in Dindori tahsil, where a Gond boy was written as Christian, son of Dr. Rambo. He has gone to his house. I have his certificate. It was published in, the press.
Katare Maharaj: Free medicines are distributed at Dullapur.
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PATANGARH
The 20th November 1954.
Mukhia: We worship Bada Deo, which consists of some trees.
Shri Harnamsingh Rajgond: Father Elwin came here in 1938 from Karanja. Elwin did not convert. No other missionaries came here.
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BETUL
18th January 1955.
The Chairman explained the purpose of the Committee and how the questionnaire was framed. He narrated how the Committee wanted to conduct the enquiry. Shri Raman, President of the Lutheren Evangelical Mission, was present among other Christians. He informed the Chairman that the questionnaire was not criticised by his Mission.
2. The Missionaries present at the meeting said that the conception of the Cross and of the attainment is not to be found in any other doctrine. The ideas in the different religions may be the same but the missionaries were preaching the Christ and the Cross, whereas others were not doing it.
3. Shri Dharmadhikari, pleader: In our secular State we do not mind philanthropic and other activities of Missionaries. The Missionary activities are aimed at converting peoples to the Christian religion by providing certain privileges or amenities. We object to this. Generally people do not get converted by conviction. If sufficient time is given, I assure the Committee that I can quote specific instances such blind conversions. Almost all the converts have been drawn from the lower strata of Hindu Society. A religion must have spiritual urge among the men and not merely provide amenities or facilities. The need for religion is for those who are sufficiently intelligent to understand its meaning. Those who are not capable of understanding it, follow their ancestral religion and traditions. I do not object to people taking to Christianity by conviction. Therefore we must make sure that an illiterate person does not accept Christianity by any allurement but he does so by conviction. If you want me to prove this point I think I shall be able to do it. I have no allegations to make so far as the local missions are concerned. They are doing valuable work in this area. Their work may provide indirect inducement in the form of better housing, free education, free medical aid, raising the standard of living and everything else that is better in life, because the Hindu society has refused to recognise them as �men�. No one should be allowed to make conversion unless he has got capacity to formulate an idea of a religion. There must be a test of this before some tribunal. The tribunal should satisfy that the person changing his religion is doing so by conviction.
Shri Raman: In regard to the allegations of Shri Dharmadhikari that only illiterate people are converted. I quote an example of one Mr. R. P. Deshpande from Betul proper. He was an educated and well-to-do Hindu before conversion. Regarding the test proposed by Shri Dharmadhikari, I wonder if a secular State like ours should concern itself with individual religion and interfere with it.
Shri Babulal Mishra, Pleader: Conversion should stop because it is a danger to the political unity of India. It may lead to the creation of Isaisthan like Pakistan. Government may be secular but the loyalty of the people should be such that there should be no ground for them to look beyond their State.
The Christian Missionaries present at the meeting informed the Committee that there might be a few black sheep but the people would be generally national minded. For example, if there is a war between Sweden and India, we will stand by this country. We speak of �Thy Kingdom� but we do not mean any worldly kingdom. We mean the Kingdom of God in Heaven. One gentleman belonging to Scheduled caste observed that there should be no comparison of different religions. There were not man converts in that area.
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AMLA
The 18th January 1955
The Chairman at the outset explained the object of the Committee in undertaking the tour and the basis of its questionnaire. The total number of Christians in Amla is 160, out of whom 90 are Roman Catholics.
Shri Raman: We have a baptism register. There are 700 Protestants and Evangelical Lutheran Church is working here since 1923. Formerly it was called Swedish Mission. Most of the converts come to church. In our denomination we have infant baptisma if the parents are Christians. I do not know a single case where a student has been converted in any of our schools. We come under the National Christian Council. I had been to Sweden twice. Poor people in that country contribute when they are told the need of funds for India. In my presence I have seen certain old ladies emptying their purses and widows giving their marriage rings for this purpose. 1/8th of our funds are spent on education. The rest are spent in institutional activities. Since the time I witnessed the poor people contributing everything for the sake of religion, I have decided not to collect funds now. I simply make an appeal and others collect funds. No conversions have taken place in this area so far. There are no missions as well as Christians in the interior.
All the work evangelistic, medical and education comes under the Church. We get half the amount required for expenditure from Sweden and half comes from India. Our budget is to the extent of four lakhs excluding payment of foreign missionaries. Their pay comes direct from Sweden. Other half comes from grants-in-aid from Government and our local collections. Every Christian individual contributes one anna per rupee and offerings in cash are also made during Sunday prayers. Even Europeans give this contribution and Sunday offerings. I will submit a full account of the contribution to the Committee with a detailed note. It is not that all people pay exactly 6 percent. Some pay more and some pay less.
Even if anybody does not pay, we do not make any difference in our treatment towards him. We have preachers going about in the villages. There has not been much apposition to them so far on the other hand, we have received reports that villagers attend their prachar meetings in large numbers and they get good response from them. I hear that at one place two different villages were keenly anxious to invite the preacher first. This was somewhere in Betul Tahsil, if I remember correctly. We have converted about 154 persons in 7 years time. Our jurisdiction is over Sagar, Betul and Chhindwara districts. Our preachers do not decry other religion. They simply profess their own religion. We have training schools for our preachers in Betul. Catholics do not solemnize marriages between Catholics and Protestants. They do so only when the couple agrees that their children will be Catholic. Our Church is the same as Shri Lakra�s in Surguja district, but the society is different.
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CHICHOLI
19th January 1955
Attendance 100 Villagers represented 10.
As usual the Chairman initiated the proceedings by explaining the object of the State Government in appointing the Committee and the method the Committee propose to adopt in the conduct of the enquiry. Among others, Shri Raman and local foreign missionaries were present.
Shri Thune of Kondhal: I cooked food and ate along with other Christians. This was given publicity in my own caste by Christians and I was declared to have been converted. I used to go to Church some times. I was required to pay Rs. 40 as fine (dand) for coming back to my own caste. On conversion to Christianity my topknot was not removed. My Christian name was Premlal. I was under the Swedish denomination. I worship Bada Deo, I am not a Gond.
Smt. Mullo Gond of Kondhal: My husband took food from Christians and therefore he was outcast. He is dead. I am still out of my caste because of this. My caste-fellows demand Rs. 40 to Rs. 50 for allowing me in their caste.
Smt. Radia, caste Nhai (Barber) of Kondhal: My cousin was converted by promising a beautiful girl in marriage and he was also some food to eat. His first wife from my caste is still alive. He has also a Christian wife.
Shri Kanhailal Machiwar of Chicholi: Majority of the tribals live in Bhainsdehi and they are of low caste, illiterate and poor. We have no objection if Christian missionaries preach their religion. We object to their method of allurement. A rich man of Bhainsdehi named killedar was converted on the understanding that his loan would be paid off by missionaries. Kanhailal Nhai was married to a Christian woman, although his first wife was alive. Harijans are not allowed to draw water from Christian wells. They are allowed to do so on conversion to Christianity.
Shri Raman interrupted saying that at Kondhal there is no necessity for today to go into Mission compound for water, because there are enough wells in Harijan basti.
Shri Kanhailal: Almost all conversions in this area are as a result of Christian khanapina. Bible is taught in Christian schools, which are recognised by Government. In my school days the classes were held on Sundays. The following couplet is taught in the schools:-
B©gm _gr _{a{ àmU ]Mm`m$&
Vyhr _{a{ am_ a_¡`m, Vyhr _{a{ H¥$îU
H$Ýh¡`m$&
In a disease which is contagious, a washerman does not touch the clothes of a person who has got wounds whereas a Christian does so and the persons whom he helps by this act is said to be converted to the Christianity. Those who are ignorant about Christ think that Christ is nothing else but Ram and Krishna and with this belief they attend churches. Mission schools are run with the main object of preaching, and education is only a secondary subject.
During the Second World war Christian missionaries recruited about 100 sons in this district. The object of conversion appears to be to increase their numbers. So far as I know, about 300 persons have been converted to Christianity in this area up to 1947. Since 1947, to date about 4,000, might have been converted. I am a Malguzar of 25 villages.
Shri Ratan and Balaji Sonar supported the statement made by Shri Kanhailal: Shri Ratan also said that orphan boys are taken away by missionaries from one place to some other and converted by rendering them necessary help.
Shri Brijbhushan of Chicholi: The missionaries preach against our Government by saying that during the British regime silver coins were in use whereas now paper is given to villagers. They also criticise Government�s prohibition policy. Mr. Moss�s preachers say this in their prachar meetings. I had heard them say so, in presence of Mr. Moss. These speeches are anti-national. Mr. Moss, who was a Padri here, used to give (during the National Movement of 1942.) a secret account of local activities to the D. C. and Commissioner, who were also Christians.
Shri Kundansao of Chicholi, Chairman, Education Committee, Janapada Sabha, Betul: Mr. Moss helped British Government in 1942 in arresting national workers and used to supply secret information to Britishers. No Christian in this area takes part in our national festivals. Mr. Moss left this area in 1950.
Shri Gare, Gond of Harawadi sent his sons to mission school in the hope that they would receive education, but the boys were shown allurement of marriage by missionaries. They were taken to Chhindwara school and now it is understood that they have been converted.
Shri Laxminarayan Dixit of Chicholi: Christians have always been found to be against the national movement. They have often asked their followers to support the British Government. I know these things from my experience of prachar between 1920 to 1940.
Shri Tejilal, cultivator of Chicholi: It so happened that I was going to my fields and I over-heard the talk between a missionary and a local preacher. The preacher was told that he should preach to people very cleverly and watchfully. He need not preach to many but he should fix up his target on an individual and be after him for conversion. At Chudia, about a month back a preacher said in his personal conversation that the Congress-raj has not done any good to the common people.
Shri Raman informed the Committee that the inferior methods alleged to be practised in this area were disliked by his Mission. Had it been an intention of adopting such methods during the British regime the Swedish mission or any other mission for that purpose would have been successful in swelling the Christian population in the area by thousands. The present population of Christians at Chicholi is only 8.
The Missionary palak in generally replying to the allegation put forth in the meeting said that wells owned by Christians in this district and particularly at Kondhal, were open to all because Christians do not recognise castes. There are no Harijans in Kondhal. The local people are mostly Gonds. Therefore, the question of not allowing Harijans to draw water from Christian wells at Kondhal should not arise. The number of Christians in this area is every small. Some of them might have been absent at national programmes. But this should not mean that all Christians do not take part in national festivals.
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PADHAR
The 19th January 1955.
Attendance about 50. Villages represented 7.
Chairman explained the object of the Committee and introduced the members.
Shri Bhikaji Gond of Dolidhana: One Ramji of my village was converted about 5 years back. He was told that he would be cultivation and other help because there was a quarrel with him. We recognise Bada Deo, i.e., Mahadeoji. Missionaries preach their religion. I made complaints as well as requests to Government to give me a candidate who would be able to teach my small daughter. This is about 2 years back. One Jagat, Gond, gave a boy to the Mission. We consider ourselves to be Hindus. The Methodist Mission was active here.
Shri Raman: We run a primary school here and we have also a church. We teach Bible in the school because majority of the students are Christians. There are 35 students in the Boarding. The population of this village is about 500. A school and a hospital are necessary here. In Koraband Dhana (mohalla) of Silot village 5 to 6 families of Katias are reported to have been converted. This was about 8 years back.
Christian Missionary: We have no missionary work here. We simply o in the villages for preaching. I do not know a single student who has seen converted from the Mission school here.
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NIMPANI
The 19th January 1955.
Attendance about 100. Villages represented 12.
Shri Malviyaji explained the object of the Committee and introduced the members.
Patel of Dondi: Missionary preachers come to our village and sometimes stay for about 8 to 15 days. They preach women in the afternoon when the man folk is out. I do not know what they preach. Almost every year they come to the village. There is one old Christian in my village.
Patel of Nimpani: Mission preachers come to my village and stay in the basi. Gonds and Kotwars attend their preachings. I do not go. I learn that the preachers ask people to give up stone worship and take to the worship of Christ. They give free medicines at Padhar hospital. I am 40 years of age and during my life time about 72 persons might have been converted.
There is no particular complaint against Christians in this area.
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SHAHAPUR
The 19th January 1935.
Attendance-About 125. Villages represented--6.
The Chairman explained the object of the Committee and how the questionnaire has been framed. He also introduced the members.
Shri Ayodhyaprasad Gupta of Shahapur, Arya Samajist: In Mission hospitals, male or female servants or patients are required to embrace Christianity. Those patients, who do not change their religion, are required to pay the hospital bills before discharge. I am speaking only of the Swedish Mission.
Shrimati Bhandarkar and Shri Bernard, both officers of the Education Department, did not recommend grant to our Janpad school. Instead they gave grant to the Mission school because both are Christians. We were asked to deposit Rs. 500 before Government recognition could be granted. After one year of the deposit about Rs. 150 more were required to be paid.
Headmaster of the Janpad School: The school has been going on since the last 3 years. . A promise was given by Education Department officers that if Rs. 500 were deposited, it would receive Government grant. The Mission Middle School has been started since this school was closed.
Shri Raman: The Mission Middle School was in existence since long, although it was not getting Government grant.
We received grant after we conducted the school for 2 years at our own cost. Shri Gupta further went on to say that pamphlets are distributed to school boys regarding Christian religion. He read out from a copy of a first year Motidhana student Greta P. Lall. The subject is Church History.
Shri Raman replied that Miss Greta is a student of the Bible school and not of a regular primary school. The copy read out may be of that class.
Shri Ayodhyaprasadji went on that there is Christian prayer in the school every day. He read out a cutting and said that in Maradwani several Hindu idols have been thrown away. I was present at certain meetings where Hindu idols were burnt away and Christian idols held in high esteem.
One Budhu Gond of Pathiari (about 1½ miles from Shahapur) gave his one-and-a-half year aged son to a Christian woman. Now they are not returning him unless he says Rs. 100. Budhu Gond is not here. One Christian lady interrupted to say that the boy is now with the Missionary Society at Padhar and the society will decide whether the boy should be returned to his parents.
Shri Ayodhyaprasadji: Shrimati Masso Katian, aged about 30 years has two sons. She has been given two dhoties and three dusas by Missionaries. She says that she does not want to 90 back to the Hindu religion. Masso is not yet converted. Kanhaiya Kirhad had given a daughter to Missionaries. She was about 8 years of age. Her father had given the girl to Missionaries, as perhaps he was unconscious when the daughter was given. The girl is now learnt to be with Dr. Rangilal.
Shri Nandkishore: He explained the temple case of Shahapur. He said �The land was given to my brother-in-law. He is about 8 to 10 acres. The land on which the temple stood was not sold. I was present at the time of the transaction. It was some time in 1941. The temple was in good condition then. The well nearby was also in good condition. I was ill and had been to Surat for treatment before 1½ years. About 11 months ago I came back. My sister-in-law is in Piparia. Before I left for Surat the Shivling and the temple were intact. This may be about two years back. I had brought a �Kalas� (dome) with me for putting it on the temple, because I recovered from illness. When I came I was not well. I expressed my desire to my friends at Shahapur. They informed me that the temple had been destroyed. I do not know anything, about its destruction.
Shri Ayodhyaprasad informed that one Mr. Doma had done this in about 1951. �When I was going by that road, I saw some 10 to 20 Christians destroying the temple with some labourers. The temple was repaired some time in 1940. The �Sikhar� (work of masonary on which the dome is put) was alright there. There was no daily worship because it is not necessary�. Rama Kotwar informed that when he was going by the road before 3 years, he saw the temple being destroyed. He told Mr. Doma not to destroy it, but Mr. Doma informed him that he had purchased the property and the temple was his property.
Shri Gupta complained that �the name of the village is being tried to be changed from �Motidhana� to �Prabhudhana� by Christians. Mr. Doma was manager there for about 3 years. The church building at Motidhana was constructed during Mr. Doma�s time. When the temple destruction was going on, I informed the village patel, Suklin Master but fie did not say anything. Then I informed the patel of this village, but he told me that it was not his village and therefore he could not interfere�.
Sibloon Bhawse, Patel of Motidhana: �In 1941 when the land was purchased, there was a horizontal crack to the temple building. As there were no repairs for about 5-6 years, the wall broke down. The bricks were in mind and as a result of rains, half the wall gave way. About 2 years later, some more portion of the wall gave way. In course of time, the whole of the temple was in a dilapidated condition and people used to take away the bricks. I do not know about the idol in the temple because I never went there. I am a Christian. I was present at the time of registration the sale-deed and the area of the temple was excluded from sale. About well, it was written in the document that it would only be used by Christians, if required, though the owner may be some others, viz., non-Christians.
Shri Girdharising: �I was a shopkeeper, and used to go to Padhar-Bazar. About 2 to 3 years back in the month of March April (Fag) I was going by the road and saw that near the temple there was a tall saheb and a cart of the patel. Labourers were taking out the bricks. I used to go there every week. I had seen the temple that it was quite alright before one month of the destruction. One week prior to the date of destruction it was alright. This was the case before 2-3 years. I saw the building, which was alright and bricks were taken out of the Chabutara.
The Christians informed that a procession of students went by the Church with the slogans ""odX{er B©gmB© ^maV N>m{S>m{'' when the congregation was in prayers.
