Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Goa (Fides Service) - Crisis In Hindutva: Growth or Decline? Will Hindu fundamentalism continue to threaten other religious groups? Will its capillary diffusion or political links succeed in influencing the social and political atmosphere in India, or are they destined to be gradually marginalised? These questions were the subject of an analysis by Indian Redemptorist Fr. Desmond de Sousa in Goa published in the March 4th edition of the official publication of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India SARNews.
Hindutva is an ideology promoted by Hindu extremist groups which use the propagandistic slogan “one country, one culture and one religion” to expel Christianity from India’s history and culture on the grounds that it is ‘foreign’ to India. Whereas for the local Catholic Church in India, with 16 million members, the remarkable contribution made by Christianity, present in India for over two thousand years, to the development of Indian culture and society is unquestionable. Fundamentalist organisations which promote Hindutva nationalist ideology soaked with religious hatred and intolerance accuse Christians, nationals and missionaries, of creating economic inequality among low cast groups and using social work as a mask for proselytising. India’s population of about 1,064,399,000 includes some 30 million Indian followers of Christ, of these 16 million are Catholics of three different ancient rites Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankar. (Agenzia Fides 6/3/2006 Righe: 24 Parole: 245)
