To protect societal harmony and national security, conversions must be curbed

What Swami Vivekananda said 125 years ago still holds true today. He said that the conversion of a Hindu doesn't just mean one less Hindu, but an increase in enemies.

- DR. SATISH POONIA

On April 1, 1899, in a conversation with a correspondent of Prabuddha Bharat magazine, Vivekananda spoke about conversion, Hindutva, and the challenges faced by those who have converted to Hinduism and later returned to their original faith. He said that conversion should not be accepted in any civilized society.

The issue of conversion has been a longstanding problem in our country. Mahatma Gandhi also opposed conversion. He believed that no one should try to convert another person. He felt that religious conversion under the guise of humanitarian work was a sign of a diseased mind. Gandhi condemned conversions that involved deceit, greed, or coercion, especially when they targeted the poor and deprived.

In our country, conversions have often been carried out under various pretexts, such as claims of humanitarian work, exploitation of poverty, or deceitful tactics like love jihad, leading to the conversion of many people.

During the Mughal and British rule in India, systematic efforts were made to forcibly convert Hindus, which led to the creation of Pakistan and Bangladesh. The consequences of these conversions are still visible today in the strained relations with our neighboring countries.

In the current context, Swami Vivekananda's statement from 125 years ago about the dangers of conversion becomes increasingly relevant. He had warned that converting Hindus doesn't just reduce their number, but also increases the number of enemies. This view resonates today as the ongoing issue of religious conversion continues to impact Indian society.