Shahabuddin's Letter to Statesman, 10 Dec., 1999

I appreciate your editorial "Atrocious Dignity" (11 December, 1999). There is no right to convert but there is Freedom of Conscience and, consequently, the right to change religion. No one can be compelled to profess the religion he was born in. In case he was misled into changing his religion, by use of 'allurement, force or fraud', the easiest course is for him to revert to his original faith or adopt another religion of his choice. He may also file a complaint under the existing law of the land.

But a democratic State has no business to function as the conscience-keeper of its citizens and monitor their conscience from time to time.

You have rightly raised the question as to whether educational and medical facilities or any welfare programme undertaken by a religious group is to be dubbed as an 'allurement'. Then what about State-funded activities of the R.K. Mission and other 'cultural organisation' in the tribal areas? And, what about welfare measures by the State to keep some SC and ST from abandoning Hinduism?

Urine Therapy against Conversion!

Sister Ruby came to Bihar from Pondicherry 15 months ago, fired by a passion to serve oppressed women ... On September 20, the 25-year-old nun (working at) St. Joseph's Health Centre, Jalalpur, near Chapra (was taken by) an autorickshaw (driver and 2 others) ... to a lonely place near a grove. They tied her hands behind her, stripped her and forced her to drink their urine. They asked her why the sisters converted people to Christianity and warned her of dire consequences if she did not leave the district ...

The four nuns at the health centre live in fear and are keen to move to any safer place ... The Director- General of Police ... has constituted a three-member inquiry committee ... (Source: The Week, 10 October, 1999)