By: RSSFACTS Web Desk

Arunachal Pradesh, the sensitive border state of India, might have a population of only 1.5 million, but it is facing rapid conversion to Christianity. Given the strategic importance of this state, which shares a border with China, this change in religious demography could have significant security and strategic implications. The north-eastern states, which have seen significant shifts in religious demography, have historically experienced separatist movements.

This issue has come to the fore again, with the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (ABVKA) taking it up in the wake of protests organised by a section of the Church in Arunachal Pradesh over the expected implementation of a 1978 legislation.

ABVKA is an organisation inspired by the RSS. It has been working with tribal communities since its inception in 1952, and one of its key programmes is to prevent the conversion of tribals to Christianity. Janjati Suraksha Manch, another organisation inspired by ABVKA, has been holding public rallies across the country for several years, demanding that tribal converts to Christianity should not be allowed to avail benefits reserved for the Scheduled Tribe community.

Historical Context

India’s tribal population lives across 30 states and union territories, exceeding 120 million. They have faced the onslaught of conversions since the arrival of the British. British rule actively encouraged Christian missionaries to convert tribal communities in India to Christianity, particularly in the north-eastern parts. Following India’s independence, the rapid spread of Christian proselytisation among tribal populations, particularly in north-eastern India, continued. The resulting demographic shifts fuelled the emergence of separatist movements in this region.

Arunachal Facing the Evangelical Tide

Arunachal Pradesh has often been in the news due to defence-related issues, as it shares a border with China. However, this has likely resulted in the religious demographic changes of the state being overlooked, despite the serious strategic implications.

One of the most significant and most neglected stories that came out of the Census 2011 data is the onslaught of evangelical tide in Arunachal Pradesh. From 2001-11, the proportion of Christians in the population of the state has risen from less than 19 to more than 30 percent. According to a Centre for Policy study, Christians now form a majority or near majority of the population in several districts. The share of Christians in the Scheduled Tribes population of the state and the districts is even higher.

This is what has concerned the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (ABVKA), as its national president Satyendra Singh has demanded the immediate implementation of the rules of the Religious Freedom Act, 1978, passed in Arunachal Pradesh.

Ironically, this legislation was passed specifically to check conversions, but its rules have not yet been framed, according to the ABVKA.
“Unfortunately, due to the rules not being framed yet, this law has not been implemented for the last 47 years. As a result, the Christian population in the state increased to 31% by 2011, when it was only 1% before the law was enacted,” says Singh.

The Itanagar Permanent Bench of the Gauhati High Court, in an order issued on a public interest petition on 30th September last year had instructed the Arunachal Pradesh government to notify the rules for implementing this law within six months from the date of the order. Underlining this, the ABVKA states that, as this period approaches, the Church and organisations inspired by it have started opposing the court’s order and the state government’s efforts to frame the rules.

The ABVKA president Satyendra Singh specifically said in a press conference in Kolkata on 11th March: “In this small state, with a population of 1.5 million, two bishops and thousands of people inspired by churches are now protesting against the High Court order and the state government’s efforts to frame the rules in compliance with it.”

Arunachal Pradesh Religious Freedom Act (APFRA), 1978

The APFRA is a standard piece of legislation that follows the norms seen in other anti-conversion laws in different states. Most importantly, it defines ‘indigenous faith’ in the context of the state’s demography, which would help in checking conversions through force, fraud, or inducement.

Sections 2(b), 2(c), and 2(h) of this Act, when read together, provide a robust legal framework to prevent unabated conversions in the state.

Section 2(b) defines ‘Conversion’. It states: “Conversion means renouncing one religious faith and adopting another religious faith, and ‘convert’ shall be constructed accordingly.”
Section 2(h) says “religious faith” includes any indigenous faith.

According to Section 2(c) of this Act, “Indigenous faith” means religions, beliefs, practices, rites, rituals, festivals, observances, performances, abstinences, and customs that have been found sanctioned, approved, or performed by the indigenous communities of Arunachal Pradesh since the time these communities have been known. This includes Buddhism as practiced by the Monpas, Membas, Sherdukpens, Khambas, Khamptis, and Singphos, Vaishnavism as practised by Noctes, Akas, and Nature worship, including worship of Donyi-Polo, as prevalent among other indigenous communities of Arunachal Pradesh.

Fulfilling the Constitutional Responsibility

It is clear that by framing the rules for the APRFA, 1978 and implementing them, the state government would be fulfilling its constitutional responsibility. However, Christian organisations are mobilising on the ground and building a narrative through media and social media to pressure the state government to refrain from implementing this legislation. On the other hand, the ABVKA has taken a firm stance, demanding that the Arunachal Pradesh government immediately notify these rules and begin strict enforcement of the law. It has also requested the India’ Home Minister Amit Shah “to make the necessary intervention in this matter to protect the cultural identity of the patriotic tribes of this border-sensitive state.”

(This article was first published in www.moneycontrol.com. Link: https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/opinion/why-it-is-important-to-implement-a-1978-legislation-to-keep-arunachal-safe-12965055.html)