At 47%, Hinduism biggest gainer in religious conversion in Kerala
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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While the BJP, in its election manifesto, has promised an Uttar Pradesh model law against forceful religious conversion and ‘love jihad’ in Kerala to woo Hindu and Christian voters, the data sourced by TNIE from the government gazettes paint an altogether different picture.
According to official figures for the year 2020, the biggest gainer – in terms of new converts – was Hinduism. People who embraced Hinduism constituted 47 per cent of religious conversions in Kerala during the one-year period under reference.
Of the total 506 people who registered their change of religion with the government, 241 were those who converted from Christianity or Islam to Hinduism. A total of 144 persons adopted Islam whereas Christianity received 119 new believers in the year, shows the data.
32 people left Islam for Hinduism
As per the rule, people who officially change their religion, including minors, have to advertise it in the gazette. 72% of the new converts to Hinduism were Dalit Christians, mostly Christian Cheramars, Christian Sambavas and Christian Pulayas. It was evident that lack of reservation benefits forced many Dalit Christians to re-embrace Hinduism. Also, 32 people left Islam to join Hinduism.
Christianity lost 242 believers to the other two religions and attracted only 119 persons. Islam gained 144 new believers and lost 40 during the period. Buddhism received two new believers who switched from Hinduism.
77% of the new converts to Islam were Hindus and 63% women. It attracted the highest number of persons from Ezhava, Thiyya and Nair communities. 25 persons, including 13 females, switched from Hindu Ezhava to Islam.
17 Thiyya community members including 11 females converted to Islam. 17 persons including 12 females were from the Nair community. Of the 33 persons who crossed over to Islam from Christianity, 9 were Syrian Catholics, who included two women.
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In era marked by conflict, Gandhi's principle of non-violence offers way forward: Vice Prez
Motihari (PTI): Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Saturday said in an era marked by conflict, division, and intolerance, Mahatma Gandhi's principle of non-violence offers a powerful way forward for humanity.
Addressing the third convocation of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in East Champaran district, Radhakrishnan asserted that fields such as AI and data science are opening new avenues for growth and innovation, as he urged the youth to embrace these advancements with curiosity and responsibility.
"We all know that Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment in Bihar, and Gandhi found his true 'karma boomi' in this very land of Champaran," he said.
Radhakrishnan said, be it Buddhism, Jainism, or the idea of socialist revolution, everything took shape here.
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"Bihar has produced visionaries like Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan, who shaped the moral and political conscience of India. I myself, as an 18 or 19 years old, had a deep association with the JP movement in 1974 as the district general secretary of Coimbatore," he said.
The vice president remembered the contributions of Karpoori Thakur, first president Rajendra Prasad and philanthropist Maharani Janki Kunwar in uplifting India's socio-political status.
Congratulating the graduating students, he urged them to embrace nationalism and play their roles in "building a healthy and resilient society that never accepts non-ethical things".
"As you receive your degrees today, you are expected to serve as torchbearers of India's rich legacy. May you carry forward the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and contribute to the realisation of a strong, prosperous, and well-developed India," he said.
The vice president advised students to use technology for personal growth and to empower society.
"Fields such as artificial intelligence and data science are redefining the possibilities and opening new avenues for growth and innovation. I encourage you to embrace these advancements with curiosity and responsibility," he said.
Radhakrishnan said specialised research opportunities provided by the varsity demonstrate its commitment to reviving and promoting India's traditional intellectual heritage.
"I am also informed that the university actively maintains a culture of sports and fitness as part of the Fit India movement. It has established a vision to provide world-class education and build proper talent," he said.
Governor Syed Ata Hasnain and Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary were among those present at the function.
