Gone are the days blaming the Hindu echelons, poverty, temple entry, by the Schedule Caste, for their conversions into the ever-saviour religion “Christianity”. In a most shocking incident in Kottur, Theni, at RC colony, John Peter aged 57, father of four sons, eldest Arulanantham, a police officer, Amalrayan, a professor, Aaron, a driver for sand collecting truck and Amos, died day before yesterday. The problem started when the Christian big wigs of that area and the Church authorities including the priest refused to give permission to bury John Peter at the graveyard meant for the dead. This was because of the sole reason Aaron the third son of the dead married a Hindu girl, much to the dislike of the Church authorities and the whole family was ostracised among their society.
When someone is born or dead, it is the custom of the family members to approach the Church priest and authorities to ring bell at the church, as an indication, where the other people in the area gather and participate in all happenings, good or bad. Now the church priest and authorities refused to ring bell for John peter’s death and they wanted Aaron and his wife to prostrate before the Church, priest and authorities, asking them to pardon for their sin of, a Christian marrying to a Hindu. The matter intensified, created commotion and tension, for the reason that Aaron refused to ask forgiveness and he would take it up legally. The talks with the locals, church priest and authorities failed.
The local police were informed about the reality and the ADSP Sukumaran had stepped in, talked to the church priest and authorities, local people after which they agreed to bury John Peter in the graveyard and was buried with all due respects. Where are the Constitutional rights gone mentioned by Sri B R Ambedkar? Don’t the Christians who by conversions for the reasons known to them, should subject themselves to the parallel rules laid down by the Church priests and authorities? Are the Church priests getting more godlier than the God inside the Church? The learning is, if you think that your mother religion you are originally born into is not good, as the religion you later choose to adopt and convert, this is what you get.
Recent incidents show due to non-payment of church money a dead converted person was not allowed to be buried in the graveyard meant for them unless and until the dues were paid. It is time !!!! for an awakening?
— MRS.Vijayshree Ramesh
