Author: Sharat Pradhan,
in Lukhnow
Publication: Rediff
On The Net
Date: June 11, 2000
A Hindu outfit has come
up with a programme to counter Christian missionaries.
Says Shashi Shyam Singh,
secretary of the Hindi Heritage Pratishthan, "We have undertaken the task
of imparting modern training to Hindu priests before sending them to western
countries."
According to him, "Our
sole agenda is to spread the message of Hinduism, as Christian missionaries
are busy propagating their beliefs in India."
The first batch of 33
priests was recently sent to the United States, Singapore and Mauritius
by Modipuram-based organisation. Though he denies direct association with
the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a senior VHP officer-bearer in Lukhnow confirmed,
"We are definitely helping the organisation, which is providing yeoman
service to match the growing influence of Christianity."
Funded by the B K Modi
group of industries, the pratishthan runs a regular training school for
pujaris.
The nine-month course
imparts working knowledge of the Vedas and Upanishads, besides the Ramayana
and Gita and successful understudies receive a diploma. The teachers lay
special emphasis on anecdotes from religious scriptures to counter 'propaganda'
by other religions, particularly Christianity.
Singh said over the telephone,
"Our trained priests will spend 10 years in the countries. Besides functioning
as temple priests, they will hold regular discourses on the Gita and Ramayana
and perform religious rituals."
He said, "Knowledge of
English will help them communicate easily with their target audience -
non-resident Indians and foreigners keen to know more about Hindu spiritualism.''
He added, "The need for
such a programme was expressed by several non-resident Indians who felt
that their children were alienated from traditional Hindu culture and were
increasingly dazzled by Western and Christian influences."
Singh claimed the programme
had received a tremendous response from countries with many Indians. He
said there was a request recently for 25 priests from the Sanatan Dharma
Federation of Temples in Mauritius. He claimed that similar demands were
coming in from Britain and the Caribbean islands.
