To-The Chairman, Christian Missionary Activities Enquiry Committee, Madhya Pradesh, Nagpur.
Sir,
With reference to your Questionnaire under notification No. 318-716-V-Con., dated the 14th April 1954, we enclose herewith our replies.
From the facts narrated you will please note that the activities of the foreign Christian Missionary are very harmful. The Jabalpur Christians in their resolution appearing in the �Amrit Bazar Patrika�, dated the 27th November 1954, desired the Government to wind up your Enquiry also. They were apparently working under the leadership of the foreign missionaries. You will, therefore, kindly urge upon 'the Government to ask the foreign Christian Missionaries to quit India at once.
We understand that our replies will be followed up by your asking us to prove our facts. You will kindly inform us of the points that you think to be proved before you, so that arrangements may be made in time. Your procedure regarding summoning and attendance of witnesses and calling up documents may kindly be intimated.
Please treat additions to answer 59 and 93 enclosed herewith as part of our answers.
Yours faithfully,
SOHANLAL AGGARWAL, B.A.
(Hons.), LL.B.,
Secretary, Vedic Sanskriti
Raksha Samiti.
Replies
1. It is difficult to give answer to all parts of the question, because all the figures are not available from the Government statistics. In 1941 the total Christian population of the district was 12,354. Out of these only 181 came from the rural area. In 1951 these figures stood at 9,890, for the whole of the district, total district population being 9,10,603 in 1951 and 1,054 for the rural area. These figures include the Anglo-Indians and the foreigners. This reduction is due to the foreign army, its dependents Anglo-Indians and the foreign Christians leaving the district in 1947 before and after. But in the rural area the increase in figures is 582.3 per cent. In 1947 the foreign Christians had prepared themselves to leave the country on account of expected political difficulties, but as the Republic was declared secular they again thought of remaining in the country and started their conspiracies as before and even with greater force. There are no statistics to show the increase from year to year but in the Ranital Ward about 300 Harijans have been very recently converted to Christianity. In this work one Jacob Missionary from the Leonard Theological College has played a great part because the converted and the said Missionary are both Malabari.
2. The above rise is due to ignorance and the social and economic difficulties of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes, and also the enticements given and the propaganda made by the Christian Missionary.
3. It is difficult to give the statistics. Approximate estimation is at 7,000.
CONVERSIONS
4. It is difficult to give the statistics. But it is true, that they have been steadily increasing since the year 1947. The year�s average increase is estimated at 600 if which 577 are estimated to belong to the Scheduled and the Tribal Castes.
5. People are converted individually as well as in groups. In the case of a married couple, husband and wife have both to be converted, otherwise in many cases only the head of the family is converted.
6. (1) Roman Catholic Church and their following Colleges and Schools:-
(i) St. Aloysius College.(2) Protestant Missions as follows:-
(ii) St. Aloysius High School.
(iii) St. Joseph Convent High School.
(iv) St. Thomas High School.
(v) St. Norbert�s Girls High School.
(vi) Sisters� Training Institute.
(i) Assembly of God Mission, U. S. A.They have the following Churches:-
(ii) Christ Church of India, Burma and Ceylon.
(iii) Church of England Zenana Missionary Society.
(iv) Disciples of Christ, India Mission.
(v) Full Gospel Church Fellowship.
(vi) Methodist Church in South-East Asia.
(vii) Methodist Missionary Society.
(viii) Y. W. C. A.
(ix) Y. M. C. A.
(x) C. I. B. C., Katni.
(xi) C. E. Z. M. S., Katni.
(xii) Missionary Training Christopanthi Ashram, Sihora.
(xiii) C. E. Z. M. S., Sihora.
(xiv) United Missionary Society (working for the establishment of Churches). It has its own Mission press, and a large staff of Indian and Foreign Missionaries working for conversion in the interior. This sells Missionary literature also.
(xv) Pentecostal Assembly of the World.
(xvi) Yehova Witnesses.
(1) St. Aloysius Church.There are the following Educational Institutions:
(2) St. Norber.
(3) Another near Sadar Bazar Police Station.
(4, 5 and 6) Three Union Churches.
(7) City Church.
(8) Church of St. Paul Bai Ka Baghicha.
(9) St. Lucas, Ganjipura.
(10) Disciples Church of America and London.
(11) Wesleyan Methodist English Church.
(12) A. G. Church Jehangirabad (Pentecostal).
(13) Miss Lal�s Church Bai Ka Baghicha.
St. Aloysius College, Womens� Training Institute, Howabagh, Christ Church (Boys) High School, Christ Church (Girls) High School, Johnson�s Girls High School, Bairdsely Girls High School, Katni. St. Norberts Girls High School, Christian Mission High School, St. Joseph�s Convent School. G. C. F. C. E. M. Z. High School, St. Thomas High School, A. G. Primary School. Leonard Theological College. Church Upraise Primary School, Bai Ka Bagicha. Methodist Primary School, Westland. Mission School, Sadar Bazar, Tonga Stand.
Of these missions the most active now is the Yehova Witnesses, with their headquarters at Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society Incorporated, International Bible Students Association, Brooklyn, New York, founded on the 26th of July 1931. Their publications are not issued in less than 25 lakhs. No price is written on any of these books. It depends on the local selling agents to get the maximum out of the customer by using their talents. The book referred in these answers �What Religion has done for Mankind� has been sold by ladies, selling the books of this mission from Rs. 2-8-0 to Rs. 5 each.
The agents of the above said Missions approach the people individually as also in groups.
7. The Head missionaries are always from foreign countries. Subordinate preachers are Indians also. Their wages are from Rs. 50 to Rs. 500 and even more. They are rewarded for bringing in greater number of converts. They get many other facilities like housing accommodation, cars, petrol, travelling allowance, financing picnics and other activities.
8. (a) Yes. Usually a bond is taken for the money advanced with interest to be paid. The verbal agreement is that if the convert does not leave Christianity the bond would not be put into effect. Usually the rate of interest is very high.
(b) Yes. The Sisters who go to the mohallas distribute medicines free of cost. One D. P. Lazarus also distributes medicines free.
(c) Yes. Statements should be taken from the students residing in the Christian Brotherhood Hostel of the Christian Mission School. They are all supported by missionaries of their native places. All such local students are exported. This applies to all other institutions.
(d) Yes.
(e) Yes. Reference may be made to the lessons issued by the Bible School, Voice of Prophecy, Poona and Jeewan Prakash Susamachar School, Jhansi. (Some relevant documents are enclosed.)
(f) Yes. For instance one Jalim Singh working in G. C. F. One.
(g) Yes. Dalchand Jain working in O. F. K.
(h) Yes. The entire literature issued by the Catholic and Protestant Churches.
(i) Yes. The Christian Literature stands as witness.
(j) Yes. The most glaring instance is of the book �What Religion has done for Mankind�.
(k) Yes. All Scheduled and Tribal people were converted by holding out hopes of political, social and economic advantages.
(l) Yes. This is done in the case of the above.
(m) (i) Christ is shown out as the Kali Awtar of the Puranas and other Indian literature. (ii) Jesus is represented as Ishu, which with its variations occurs in the Vedic and the Upanishidic Literature, e.g., the Missionaries quote the first �richa� of the 40th Chapter of the Yajurveda and the �Ishopanashid� saying that Jesus is there in the Indian Literature also. (iii) Bible is shown out �shruti� and its teachings acceptable to the Hindus as a �Shruti Praman�. (iv) The Indian Christian Missionaries show themselves to be Hindus of high caste; they narrate their stories of conversion of Christianity in a very wonderful manner. One S. K. Pandit moves about the houses of the high caste Hindus and shows himself to be a Brahmin. Similarly in the houses of the Mohammedans, Christian Missionaries go out under the names of Ibrahim, etc. In the cities now no change is made in the original names whereas in the villages names are. changed to Christian ones. In their Question Paper No. 32 the School of Voice of Prophecy, Poona, after having taken in writing from the student that he accept Jesus and other cognate Christian principles as pillars of his life except the student to accept their representative who would travel, from Poona to the Students place at his own cost in order that the Mission may help the student further in his studies in Bible. They expect the student to become the messenger of Christ. The school represents to the student that special prayers are being offered for him by the Congregations in the Churches for the soul of the student. What wonderful methods are being used!
9. Not a single one so far we know. The question paper in question enclosed herewith.
10. Not a single one.
11. Yes. Certainly. On account of change of one's religion there is necessarily a mental change also. The very pillars of his life-get changed. The converts to Christianity begin to look towards the foreign Christian States for their welfare. They fall away from the Indian Culture and Customs. The effect of �Shastra� is more deadly than that of a �Shastra�. The instances of his are lacs. Most of the Indian Christians are not friendly towards the Indian Republic or the Indian Culture. India is not for them a Motherland, Fatherland or the sacred land, i.e., all three atonce. The term �Christian� denoted only a community with certain habits and standards of life-largely westernized and divorced from the natural culture of our land, finding itself on its close association with western culture and civilization�- J.C. Kumarappa Practice and Precepts of Jesus.
12. Yes. In all places from A to H, and also through correspondence is in the case of Bible Schools.
13. The teachings contained in the Christian literature particularly in those of the Bible lessons are most offensive. They irritate the sentiments of the Hindus. There are instances where activities of the missionaries of foreign countries precipitated bloody wars. e.g., the Zulu War in South Africa and the Abyssinian affair in Eritrea. As the Hindus are very tolerant, therefore they have been tolerating the activities of the Christian missionaries as benevolent. In 1954 there was a quarrel between the Hindus of G. C. F. Estate Quarters, Madras lines, and a Missionary Party regarding this. A report was lodged with the Police Station, Ghamapur who enquired into the matter also. This was on t he 22nd August, 1954.
14. Indian and Foreigners both use such offensive language.
15. In the villages the Christian Preachers show out themselves to be Hindus and narrate to the would be converts the evils in Hindu Society. Then they give their reasons for their conversion to Christianity. They start with little helps to the would-be converts. They repeat their visits after a week or two and. get popular with the villagers. The Pracharaks usually take with them the convert relative of an influential man of the locality. When they find that they have become pucca they bring them to the Church and baptise them. Mahatma Gandhi has written about the methods of the Christian Missionaries in villages in his articles published in the Harijan and Young India. His articles in those magazines have been printed in a book form by the Navjeewan Press, Ahmedabad. The book is named Christian Missions and their place in India (Edition 1941). This books throws ample light on the doings of Christianity in India and their ultimate object too.
16. Mostly from Middle to Matriculation but it is necessary for them to be proficient in Bible. They are usually paid more than they are worth. They get increments for doing better work in conversion.
17. The local Theological College trains pracharaks. Those students who get proficiency in Bible and show keenness in Mission work and are thought fit for becoming messengers of Christ are sent to bigger schools of Theology in America and England.
18. Usually one pracharak works in four to five villages. His work is supervised by the nearest church. His test of success is the number of conversions made by him.
19. The books and literature used in propagating Christianity elucidate the principles and maxims of Christianity, Christian saints, and the miracles of Christ and their saints. Their literature predicts eternal damnation for other than Christians. Some copies of the literature distributed free are attached herewith. They are published in lacs in all the languages. Some of this literature rebukes, reviles and debases the followers of other religions. Mahatmaji has referred to the books of Mudroch sold by the Christian depots. Bishop Heber�s following lines had been pinching him the most, �Where every prospect pleases, only man is vile�. Similarly, the book issued by the Yehova Witnesses from Brooklyn, U. S. A., �What Religion has done for Mankind� reviles Brahma, Vishnu, Shiv, Krishna, Buddha, Confucius and all other books very shamelessly. Chapters 14, 15 and 16 of this may kindly be read.
20. In addition to magic lanterns, films, loud-speakers, lessons by correspondence and teachings through Ceylon, London and U. S. A., radios are also used. Under the scheme of the United States� Education Foundation in India created by the American war material disposal money, the Theological Colleges in India hold camps wherein they invite Indian teachers and professors. During the period of these camps, attempts are made to impress upon the minds of the Indians the high ideals of Christianity. Similarly, another institution known as the Moral Rearmament was started in 1954 in India for propagation of Christianity.
21. One Lemurs of the Roman Catholic Mission at Sijhora, district Mandla, got one Keshav Kumar from Bua Bichhiya admitted to the Robertson. Industrial School at Jabalpur. The student was Panka by caste. Keshav Kumar did not get himself converted to Christianity as desired by Lemurs. So Lemurs stopped his aid to the student. Keshav Kumar had to leave his studies and seek his job in the Military where he is now serving. It is reported that at present he is in Bangalore.
22. Every Christian church holds a yearly programme in the shape of a fair. Herein Christians and non-Christians both are invited. Children Participate in various games and successful candidates are given prizes.
Every girls� school holds yearly fairs as �Meena Bazars� where girl students sell their goods. The general public is admitted to these fairs on tickets. These fairs encourage indisciplined behaviour on the part of the youth. The authorities are not concerned with that. They want money. All income goes to the institutions and the churches. One such fair in the G. C. Factory Estate Mission School was very much resented by the labourers of the G. C. F. and the general public, but the Government has not even so far taken proper action in the matter. The articles prepared by the girls during their studentship with their parent�s money are sold in these bazars and the money taken by the Missionaries.
23. In this respect, kindly read the article contributed by Mrs. Manorama R. Modak published in Amrit Bazar Patrika, dated the 12th September 1954 (Sunday Edition). Missionaries hope for the return of the British Government or are contriving with American and other vested interests. Foreign Missions are controlled by foreign Governments, but not by the Central or Provincial Indian Governments.
24. Yes. The Arya Samaj accepts into the Hindu-fold non-Hindus who apply for conversion to Hinduism, making the fact duly public by lodging reports with the police station and affidavit from the convert. Necessarily, this work is very limited. No enticements are used for this purpose. There are many converted Christians or orphans and widows who in their tribulations fell into the hands of the Christians but now repent and ask for reconversion to Hinduism. They are gladly accepted. According to the rules laid down by Mahatma Gandhi, these are not at all cases of conversions and the fact of their being taken back to the Hindu-fold is not reconversion because they were never converted at all.
SOCIAL RELATIONS
25. There is a hue and cry throughout the country against the Christian Missionaries on account of their harmful and anti-national activities. Before 1947, their own cousin brothers were ruling the country and they had their own way. Now, the preaching of Christianity has taken an international shape. It has become a huge political conspiracy. Now, there is danger to the peace of the country from this propaganda for Christianity, which is intended to serve as a political weapon in due time.
26. Non-Christians have not so far boycotted Christians. However, new Christian converts are kept within the precincts of the Missions compounds and their activities are very strictly guarded by the Mission authorities. The intention is to segregate them from their previous brethren and create a distinct Christian community.
29. Foreign Christian Missions have been responsible for the creation of the Karen State on Burma-China border, with the help of the American and Chang Kai Shek�s money. So they are trying to create an independent Naga land on Assam-China border and create a separate province as Jharkhand in India itself. The drama played in the Johnson�s Girls� High School on the 13th of August 1954 with reference to the Independence Day was also neither religious nor social but bad a political aim. The Principal of the said school while replying to the charges on the 15th of November 1954 before your Committee, had no explanation for this curious drama played in her school.
30. In our district, Christians have never complained against non-Christian officials. Generally, the Government officials have been quite favourable towards Christians, while on the other band the Christian officials of the Education Department of the Madhya Pradesh Government, namely, Shri Franklin, Director of Public Instruction, and Shri G. V. Bernard, District Superintendent of Education, have been always favourable to the Christian schools. In the enquiry against the Christian Mission School held on the 27th October 1954, they favoured the school authorities. It was only on the strong intervention of the City�s Action Committee that these officials listened to the grievances of the dismissed master, Shri Ambika Prasad and expelled students. Shri D�Souza, late Principal of the Prantiya Shikshan Mahavidyalaya, used to give undue facilities to the Christian students in the Robertson Industrial School. He also got suspended one Shri Bodhley, headmaster of the said school, who incurred his displeasure. The case against Shri Bodhley is still proceeding. In the proceedings under penal law between Narayan, Jibai and Rolinson in the District Courts, Shri Y. G. Mudliar, City Magistrate was suspected to help the accused who is a Christian. The case had to be transferred from his court to the Court of the Additional Deputy Commissioner where the prosecution got the orders of Shri Mudliar set aside.
32. In many cases, not.
33. There is no moral improvement in the converts to Christianity. Generally, it is noticed that in matters of diet and social behaviour regarding funds, they become loose. Children delinquency is the most amongst the Christians.
34. Yes. In Shahpur, they demolished one temple. In the Surguja State the �choties� of many Hindus were cut by the Missionaries. Mahatma Gandhi in his book at pages 164 and 165 has referred to the demolition of a Hindu temple by a Missionary. In this respect kindly read the ordinances issued by the Portuguese Government as mentioned by Kaviraj Harnamdas, B.A., in his Presidential Address to the Anti-Foreign Missionary Conference, Delhi, held on 29th August 1954 at Dewan Hall, Delhi.
35. The result was tension throughout India, by any such act committed by them in any part of the country.
36. The mentality of the Christian Missions has been anti-national towards reconstruction efforts. They have not welcomed nor cooperated with the work of organisations like the Harijan Sewa Sangh and the Kasturba Memorial Trust. Gandhiji has referred to their opposition in the above book. The foreign Christian Papers are very loudly charging the Indian Government for having started works for the benefit of the scheduled and tribal castes or having helped reclamation of the tribal people.
37. Not to our knowledge. During the days of national calamities the Christian Missions are not known to have contributed or encouraged their converts to contribute to National Welfare Schemes or funds for relief. They have tried throughout their history in India to take undue advantage of the distressed�s condition. They have only helped those who would get converted to Christianity. They tried to use their money to help the Sindhi displaced person in 1947 with this very view, but they were not successful. Mahatma Gandhi has also referred to this fact in his abovesaid book. Kindly read the same also in the memorandum submitted by L. Devichand, President, Dayanand Salvation Mission to the Central Government (copy attached).
39. Everybody knows about Father Elwyn marrying, with Gond girls. They mix with their would be converts and learn their dialects and customs.
40. Yes. The Christians generally live as a distinct communal group, hostile to Indian traditions and culture with affinity towards foreign culture. The peculiar uniforms of the Christian schools is ample evidence of this. Even small children are expected to attend the school with the neck-tie which represents their sacred emblem, the Cross. They have praise only for the Christian saints and Christians are not expected generally to have any respects for Indian saints. Now the Christians are trying to have their distinct colony in the Madan Mahal area. In their dress, habits and fashion, the Christians try to imitate the West where others are saving it good-bye.
41. The converts to Christianity forget all Indian customs, social as well as religious. They become anti to them. They give up the worship of gram devtas and ancient marriage rites. Among the new Roman Catholics some at least follow Indian customs. But as regards Protestant converts, the ladies have to give up their Indian ornaments, their coloured saris, the tikka on the forehead and sindoor on their �maang�. They prohibit wearing of any ear-ring or any nose ornament. Every attempt is made that the new Christians should take to the Western methods of dress and diet and social behaviour.
42. All the activities of the Christian Missionaries are detrimental to the interests of the Nation. The sole purpose of the Christian Missionaries is to establish a Christian state in India as they were able to establish such states in other parts of the world. Lincoln Watts in his book �What the Figures Tell�, also declares this at the end of his book. The school of Voice of Prophecy Poona in this Lesson No. 32 given a full detail of their activities and purpose thereof. One copy of the same was separately forwarded to you under our letter, dated the 7th January, received by you on the 11th January 1955 for your necessary action.
MISSIONS
43. Kindly refer to answer No. 6.
44. In 1947 many Missionaries were prepared to leave the country and there were some instances of disposal of their property also. In 1948, how ever, the state was declared secular and the Missionaries began to pour in, in ever-increasing numbers in Jabalpur, the Pentecostal Church and Yehova Witnesses came after 1947. There has been very marked increase in the American Missionaries of the Methodist Church in South-East Asia. Before 1947, their work was located at Jabalpur and Katni only but now they have opened their centres at Bakharu, Burji, Katangi, Khamaria, Panagar, Patan, Shahpura, Garha and Gorakhpur.
48. From the Leonard Theological College and the Women�s Training Institute students are sent for missionary training, mostly to America now. The Missions bear the entire expenditure. Miss Anu N. Gadre of Johnson Girls� High School has left for America for training. One P. R. Yohan of the C. I. B. C., Ghampur, has received 7 years� foreign training.
49. No.
50. The Roman Catholic Churches in India are controlled by the Papal Internuncio at New Delhi who directs and formulates the entire activity of the Roman Catholic Church, and the National Christian Council at Nagpur, controls, directs and formulates the activities of the Reformed Churches. In effect the Catholics are kept under the ways of the Holy See, while the Protestants are under International Missionary Council, which has its offices in London (Edinburgh House, 2 Eaton Gate, London S.W.1 and in New York (156 Avenue, New York City). The objects of the Council are-
(1) To help to co-ordinate the activities of the Provincial Councils and to assist them to co-operate with each other where such co-operation is desirable.
(2) To stimulate thinking and investigation on Missionary questions, to enlist in the solution of those questions the best knowledge and experience to be found in India and other countries, and to make results available for all Churches and Missions in India.
(3) Through common consultation, to help to form Christian public opinion and bring it to bear on the moral and social problems of the day.
(4) To be in communication with the International Missionary Council regarding such matter as call for consideration or action from the point of view of the Indian Mission field as a whole.
(5) To make provision for the convening of a National Christian Conference when such is in the opinion of the Council desirable.
This Council controls the Churches through the provincial and district organisations. Every Mission has its chief secretary in the country to which the Mission belongs and there is a field secretary in India.
51. The foreign Missions are helped by the sending countries and their churches. The followers of every church have to pay to the church one-tenth of their income anti the faithful are expected to donate their all in all even. The Roman Catholics earn a lot by Orphanages Lotteries and by staging dramas.
53. It is not possible to give exact figures. The local Methodist Church, and Women�s Training School have received a huge amount from the Church Women�s service Association, America. Similarly, the Leonard Theological College have received a heavy amount for their building. The American Government has established a United States Education Foundation in India far furthering Missionary purposes through the Theological Colleges.
54. The abovesaid foundation and the Moral Rearmament Institutions created by America are not outwardly for religious purposes. They want to preach the Gospel through social contacts. Recently a very large amount of powder milk was received by the Christian Missionaries. This milk is distributed by a Missionary Society in Gorakhpur to non-Christian children also and, Christian prayer said on such meetings. It is distributed free to students in Christian schools up to primary classes.
55. The literature, pamphlets and tracts used for religious propaganda aim at showing the holiness of Bible, the Gospels, Christ and Holy Ghost. They all sing the songs of the Divinity of these. Quotations from the Gospels are cited in support of Missionary preachings. Some sample copies are attached.
56. Regular reports of the achievements of the Mission are published in the form of Directories for the guidance of Missionaries. They can be had from the National Christian Council, Nagpur, and Internuncio, Delhi. Kindly call for them.
57. The activities of the Missions are of the following kinds, as (a) Religious propaganda, (b) Running of institutions like schools and hospitals, (c) the Methodist Church Mission have taken to agriculture also near Barela, (d) Establishment of churches and training of Pracharaks. The Christian Missions are helping the Christians to establish their own colony in Madan Mahal area. Easy building loans are also given. For the results achieved, please refer to their Directors.
58. No.
59. The centres of the Missions are at Jabalpur and the Cantonment area. They concentrate their work in the interior of this and other districts.
In the Protestant Churches Directory for 1951, at page 120 in the Preliminary Note for Madhya Pradesh, the following statement occurs:-
�The total number of tribesmen in the State is 3,708,892 among whom the Census reports 148 Christians, which is obviously a misstatement. The depressed classes number 3,265,453 who, with tribes people, make it all about 7,000,000 constituting a great field for Evangelism.�
That is their main field of work in the city and the cantonment area. They work in the suburbs. The Missions in the districts are functioning since the days of the British. The M. C. S. A. branches at Balkharua, Burji, Garha Gorakhpur, Patan, Khamaria, Katangi, Pamgar, Patan and Shahpur were opened after 1947. The United Christian Missionary Society has its head office at Jabalpur. It has a Mission Press also. Its aim is to establish Christian Churches. Their preachers work in the interior. They have their branches in Orissa, Jhansi, Pendra Road, Bilaspur, Kotah, Mungali, Fosterpur and Sambalpur. Their annual budget is from eight to ten lakhs. The C. I. B. C. Mission has its branch at Katni also. It is possible to go to these places throughout the year.
61. It appears that the Government has not so far taken any executive action to interfere with the activities of the Missionaries.
62. The meetings of the Missionary workers are held at periodical intervals, but the proceedings of such meetings are not made known to the general public.
63. Yes. Every Mission has its particular area of work. Usually they do not interfere in other�s fields.
64. After 1947, the Missionary activities have increased very much. The activities of the Leonard Theological College have increased manifold. The. Methodist Women�s Training institute has also increased its activities. The Methodist Mission has extended its activities to Gorakhpur, Garha, Khamaria, Katangi, Panagar, Belkhera, Patan, Shahpur and Burji.
65. We have come across cases of mass conversions in newspapers. Thakkar Bappa has been quoted in Mahatma Gandhi�s writings in the above-said book, narrating the peculiar tactics used for mass conversions.
66. The interest shown by the Missionaries in the States Reorganisation Commission�s work has been anti-national. They have demanded Naga land and Jharkhand.
67. From 1947 Christian Missions have supported the Congress whose declared aim is secularism.
HOSPITALS
69. There is one M. T. S. C. Christian Dispensary at Sihora.
70. Christians are given more facilities than non-Christians.
71. Yes. All the benevolent activities of the Christian Missions aim at conversion, which is the most coveted aim of the Missionaries. The activities of the Churches are mentioned in the book �Christian Missions� referred to above and the Maker of the nation did not like the Christian preachings through the hospitals. The patients have to join the, Christian prayers; those who do not join not attended to. The does of the medicines are given with the doses of Christianity. All church hospitals are members of the Christian Medical Association of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon, the aims of which are the preventions and relief of human sufferings and the pursuit of measures for the promotion of health in the spirit of Christ in the extending of the Kingdom of God.
72. Yes, Usually the Doctors and the Nurses are themselves Christian �Pracharks�. From page 281 of the above Directory it is clear that the main hospital staff is missionary.
73. Yes. It is heard that the Christians distribute their books free in the hospitals. It is not allowed to read books other than Christian.
74. The Dispensary at Sihora is under Rev. John Verghese. He is there before 1947. Usually the Mission people are the managers. It is heard so.
77. The missionaries usually keep the Herbs-Minera. Medicines of Dr. De Chane of Hyderabad and Homeopathic Medicines Father Muller�s Poor Dispensary, P.O. Kankanadi, S. India. No licence is required for these. The Missionaries get them at reduced rates. Both these laboratories encourage Missionary Work. Usually the �Pracharks� themselves distribute the medicines. These medicines can be given by lay people even. because they are not harmful.
SCHOOLS
78. Kindly refer to answer No. 6.
79. As stated before, the Christian Officials of the Education Department have been always favourable to the Christian Institutions. They do not apply the secular principles of the Education code to the Christian schools. Even in matters of grants-in-aid these officials have been favourable to the Mission Schools. The local Hitkarini High School with 2,000 students gets only Rs. 18,000 whereas the local Mission nigh School with 570 students only get, Rs. 9,000.
80. The total strength of the Christian schools is not known to us. It is roughly estimated at 5,000. In the Leonard Theological College exclusively all students are Christians. In the Women�s Training Institute, out of 58 students only 2 are non-Christians who have adopted all Christian habits. In the other Christian Institutions only 15 to 20 per cent are Christian and the rest are non-Christian. This large number of Christian Educational Institutions in the district of Jabalpur is due to the undue encouragement given by the previous British Rulers who were themselves neglectful of this relatively backward area. Even now the Government and the non-Christian Institutions are insufficient and ill-equipped to educate the boys and girls of the district.
81. Only those Non-Christian students are admitted to these Institutions whose parents much against their wish give a written undertaking that they have no objection to Christian teachings to the students. History bears witness that education in Christian lands had been in the hands of the Church. The foremost duty of the Church is evangelisation. So, the ultimate aim of the Christian schools is through education. Mahatma Gandhi has said that effects of the Bible on the tender hearts has nefarious consequences. The seed sown by the Education Missionary ripens in the form of conversion of the student at the hands of the Church Missionary. This is their history. Any student who is made a covert, is at once taken away from his Locality. Most of the Christian students in our local Christian schools are sent from outside by Missions.
82. It is heard that while recording the names of the students in school registers the Christian school teachers in the rural areas change the name of poor children into Christian names.
83. Usually the Christian school charge higher fees. Even students of Primary Classes whose education is free are charged heavy fees. Apart from Government scholarships special facilities are given to Christian students and to those who accept to be converted to Christianity out of 570 students in the local Christian Mission School, 100 Christian students get free tuition, books, diet, milk and clothes and accommodation in hostel. These facilities are not available to any non-Christian student.
84. Yes. In this connection kindly refer to Lesson No. 32 of the Voice of Prophecy Poona. That gives the method of religious instruction in the schools. Christian morals are stated to be necessary with education. Bible teachings are compulsory in Primary and Middle schools. The usual prayers are all Christian. In the local Christian Mission School the middle class students are given compulsory Bible teaching for one hour on Sundays, Wednesdays and Friday-S. The students are made to learn by rote the parable, of the Gospel. They are asked to purchase Christian books. Bible is distributed free to the poor. At the end of the daily morning Christian prayers all shout �Amen�. The female teachers in the primary schools play a lead rig part in impressing upon the young minds the beauties of Christian Trio.
85. No. It is beyond expectation.
86. In the Christian Institutions Christian precepts are treated as moral instruction.
87. Yes. There are non-Christian members on the staff of the schools, but very few. Those who try to show themselves to be strict in their religion are not looked with favour by the authorities. From 1947 to 1954 many non-Christian teachers were engaged by the local Christian Mission School, but none was confirmed, whereas all Christians were given due promotion. Master Ambika Prasad Shroff of that school had to suffer great hardships on account of his not tolerating the growing enemosity shown by the Christian authorities against Hindus. Those Hindu students who took part in the school strike on the 26th September 1954 were got challaned by the school authorities under section 167, Criminal Procedure Code. This is the usual treatment in all the Christian school. The school boys and the Hindu members of the staff will tell you their sorry state if you call them individually and get their feelings in confidence.
88. The schools enjoy all national holidays. They enjoy all Christian holidays also, but not so the other Hindu holidays. The Methodist Institutions like the Johnson�s Girls� School and the Women�s Training Institute have Saturdays also as holidays because like the Seventh Day adventist Mission, they also want that according to the Bible Yehova God made this world from Sunday to Friday and took rest on Saturday. It was on account of this reason that the local Johnson�s Girls� High School celebrated the Independence Day on the 13th August instead of 14th and 15th August 1954, which happened to be Saturday and Sunday, both Christian holidays. This shows that they can sacrifice the importance of the National Calendar while in conflict with their Missions principles.
89. We have referred to the peculiar sort of Political drama played by the local Johnson�s Girls� High School on the 13th August 1954 in which the National Flag was shown down. In the Deepavali holidays in 1953 the St. Alloysis College also played one drama entitled �Monkey�s Paw� by Christian students. Hindus were represented as a class of superstitious people. This was very much resented by the non-Christian students of the College.
90. Every occasion is taken by the local Christian schools to bring into contempt non-Christian religions and deities. On the 21st of December 1953, 2 dramas were played by the students of the local Christian Mission School intended to degrade the worship of Kali and Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv. In fact these were two rehearsals which created great agitation among the Hindu staff and the students and the authorities had to give up the idea of staging the dramas. In the one certain Hindu worshippers of Kali were shown in tattered robes and drunken state. One Isai Parcharak was represented to approach them asking them to give up the useless worship of Kali and seek shelter under Christ wherein they would get salvation, comfort and wealth. The Christian Parcharak succeeded in converting one who came back to the stage in Christian dress and asked others to follow his example. In the other drama three Indian Sadhus were shown as Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh roaming about in a disturbed state of mind and a Christian Missionary is represented to approach them and tell them that they would not get any consolation except by the acceptance of Christ. In the end these three are shown as going over to Jesus.
91. Some of the High Schools and Colleges of the Mission have hostel, or boarding house, attached. Only Christians or the students sent by the Missions from other parts of the country are readily admitted but not so the others. Fees are charged but for most of them the sending Missionaries pay. On the 15th of November 1954, Mr. Singh, the headmaster of the local Mission School made this very statement.
92. Yes. Attendance at religious exercises are compulsory for the inmates of these Boarding Houses. Prospectus of the Mission schools are clear in this respect. As the activities of the Missionaries in the hostels are mostly secret and the students are also from outside it has been difficult to find any local instances. Any local student who is to be converted is at once transported. History tells that this has been the aim of Christian Hostels. If the Committee goes into the history of the Christian boarders of the local Christian Brotherhood Hostel, they will get the local facts. The person incharge of the Johnson�s Girls� High School Miss Z. Soule is the Youth Organizer of the Women society of Christian Service of the Methodist Church in Southern India. Naturally her sole aim through college, school and hostels can only be extension of Christianity within -sphere of her influence. In Christ Church School attendance of even non-Christian boarders in Church on Sundays is compulsory and it is very strictly observed.
REMEDIES
93. As is clear from History and from Lesson No. 32 of the Voice of Prophecy Poona all Foreign Missions have one aim. Their organisation is one. They have to evangelise, the country and exterminate all the rest, with a view to make India Christ�s� land. This is what Lincoln Watts tells in his book �What Figures Tell�. He has been a most, leading Missionary being Indian Secretary of the World Dominion Movement. He is authority on Christian intentions in India. The Christian establishments in India were intended to be political and economic strongholds in India. The following remedies should be undertaken immediately:-
(1) As reported by Lala Lajpat Rai from his exile in America in 1905 the intention of the American Government sending their Missionaries to India was on the principle �Save the world to save America�. American Missionaries are not religious Missionaries but political and economic. In this respect kindly read the Presidential address of Kaviraj Harmandas B.A. to the Anti-Foreign Missionary Conference held on 29th of August 1954, as also the Memorandum submitted by L. Devi Chand M.A., President of the Dayanand Salvation Mission to the Central Government, (copies of both are attached).
