Author: Anil Pathak
Publication: The Times of India
Date: June 6, 2003
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=8894
After massive electoral victory
in tribal dominated areas of central Gujarat, the Sangh Parivar has now
decided to make a fresh bid to expand its influence to the tribal areas
of south Gujarat.
Leading the vanguard of this offensive
will be the militant VHP.
The VHP proposes to approach businessmen
of Surat to finance a massive education project in south Gujarat aimed
at countering - what it calls - the growing influence of Christian missionaries
in the region.
VHP's secretary Pravin Togadia will
be present at a massive cultural show in Surat on June 14 where an appeal
will be issued for donations of Re 1 per day for educating one tribal child
in VHP-run schools in the area.
The cultural show will be presented
by hundreds of tribal children from VHP-run schools in Dangs and Surat.
Significantly, VHP's efforts run
parallel to similar attempts being made by its parent organisation, the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which also runs numerous 'ashram shalas' in
the tribal belt of South Gujarat.
The VHP's 'ekal vidyalaya' project
was launched in tribal areas of Dangs and Surat after anti-Christian violence
in Dangs in December 1999. During the last four years, the VHP has opened
nearly 400 such schools where nearly 12,000 children are imparted basic
education apart from teachings in the tenets of Hindutva.
These schools are being run through
the VHP-backed Bharatiya Jan Seva Sansthan (BJSS) which was established
after the Dangs violence. Children are taught lessons from 'Ramayan' and
'Bhagvad Gita' apart from the regular syllabus. The students are also exposed
to Hindu symbols and deities, saints and patriots.
The classes are held for three hours
in the morning under the shade of some big tree and children are also taken
to nearby ground for physical exercises and games. "We have succeeded in
containing the religious conversion among Adivasis who were earlier being
wooed by missionaries to embrace Christianity," claimed Arvind Brahmbhatt
of the BJSS.
As a part of the programme, small
idols of Lord Hanuman have been installed at 150 places and photographs
of Goddess Devmogra, who is worshipped by tribals in Dangs, have been distributed
in thousands of homes. All Hindu festivals are celebrated with fanfare
through these institutions.
During 'Ganeshtosav', the Adivasis
are encouraged to abstain from consuming alcohol and meat and adhere to
Hindu rituals throughout the 10-day celebration.
While unfolding the future plans
to cover more tribal areas under this project, Brahmbhatt said, "Spurred
by the success of the project in Dangs and Surat districts, we have decided
to expand our base in tribal areas by starting 500 more schools in Valsad
and Bharuch districts."
