I was a member of the Orthodox
Syrian Church, Kalyan, till recently. Even though I was a rare visitor
to the Church, whenever I used to go, I emphasized that the credit balance
of one's deeds are all that matters, ultimately. Moreover, my promotion
of Blood Donation, Eye Donation, etc. and my articles about the same in
The Times of India earned me the wrath of the Orthodox clergy and they
issued orders to other members of the Church to boycott me. Moreover, my
learning Vipassana Meditation and my interest in other religious teachings
(Theology) brought me the title of a "Rebel".
Recently, when I filled in the Body
Donation Form of my ailing mother (body, after death to be donated to medical
college students for research) through the Dadichi Dehdaan Mandal, Dombivli,
I got a promotion from a "Rebel" to an "Outcaste".
The Church clergy then hit upon
the idea of pressurising me through my wife, who is a practising Christian.
Inspite of strained relationship with my wife, I refused to get my 2-month
old son baptized as a Christian as my contention is that the child should
be free to choose his religion as per his liking and nothing should be
imposed on the child, till the child attains 18 years of age. Moreover,
I myself resigned from the primary membership of the Church and am free
from any dogma now.
When I wished to take my ailing
mother to the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital at Khar Road, the Orthodox Syrian
Church clergy opposed the same as they contented that it is a Hindu Hospital.
Still, with the help of Press reporters and Ambulance, I could escape the
hired goons set up by Church and reach the Ramakrishna Hospital. After
a very good recovery, my mother has now been admitted to the Baktivedanta
Hospital at Mira Road (East) for eye operation.
I wish to know from the Orthodox
Syrian clergy that if a Hospital can be Hindu, then what about the schools
controlled by the Church with grant from the Government? Are these schools
Christian schools? If yes, why should the Government give grant to them,
especially when this Church opposes a national programme promoted by the
Ministry of Health like Eye Donation?
If such interference and blatant
attack on the constitutional rights of an Indian citizen to choose his
faith is allowed to pass, these very autocratic fascist forces shall be
emboldened to resort to forcible conversions using both carrot and stick.
Let Democracy triumph over such fanatic forces.
Your voice in this matter could
make a difference.
Sampoorna Kranti aab naara hai
Bhavi Bhavishya hamara hai
- Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan
Thanking you in anticipation, Withy
light and love,
Sd/-
(Alex J. Varghese)
==============
Mr. Varghese can be contacted at:
alexjv2002@yahoo.com
