Statement to UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Persecution in India March 5, 2008 Full Story

Petition to Prime Minister of India for Protection of the Rights of the Christian Minorities in Orissa. Click here to Sign

Petition to Prime Minister of India and Chairperson, UPA on Dalit Christian Reservation. Click here to Sign

Re-writing the Destiny of Indian Dalits  (The Power of English Education)

The lives of 250 million Dalits of India are destined their destiny by birth, “You are born untouchable, shall remain untouchable forever.” Their destiny is unchangeable. Full Story

A Change Needed for Manipur

(Transformation in Cali - Similar Need for Manipur)

Looking at today’s burning of Manipur, this article is the out pouring of cry when and every time I watch a documentary film produced by the Global Network presented by George Otis Jr. on how the community transformation was possible in the city of Cali in Colombia in 1993. Full Story

Inactive of State Government is a Great Concern for Civil Liberty

By Madhu Chandra

Be it of post-Godhra episode in Gujarat 2002 or Ethnic Cleansing of Christians in Orissa 2008 or Mangalore Pup attack on women, the inactive of concern ruling state government in dealing with fanatic outfits is grave concern for Indian secularism. Full Story

I, The Convert: My conversion was not a change of religion; it was a change of heart

Anand  Mahadevan

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20081027&fname=Conversions+%28F%29&sid=5

I was born a Brahmin and am the grandson of a priest whom I dearly loved. I am educated and my current professional standing indicates that I am reasonably intelligent. I am also affluent and my income would put me distinctly in the upper middle class bracket. I guess that would make me high-caste, rich and smart. In other words, I am not a tribal, or poor or dim-witted. And yet, I chose to become a follower of Jesus Christ. Full Story

A Moratorium on Conversions: Who Decides?

By Joseph D’souza

In the first wave of attacks on Christians in modern India during the late 1990s, a Christian leader flinched under the pressure of Hindu extremists and called for a five year moratorium on conversions. Extremist Hindu forces have repeatedly said Christians are engaged in forced and fraudulent conversions and this is the chief reason for ‘spontaneous’ violence against Christians. The Christian leader apparently succumbed to the incessant propaganda campaign. Full Story

Who does Really Convert?

By Madhu Chandra

I and my forefathers were forcibly converted to Hinduism.

Hindutva fundamentalists have chosen Conversion as a yardstick to kill missionaries, rape nuns, and vandalize churches.

Who actually does fraudulent conversion? Charges are given to Christians and made it as real to whole nation through saffron sponsored media. I am a living example, representing 2.5 million Manipuris, where my forefathers were forcibly converted to Hinduism in 19^th century, which is known as PUYA MEITHABA (burning of Meitei Script) by Hindu missionary. Ever since then, every Manipuri (Meitei) has Singh at the end of every name, although many youngsters are abandoning it by returning to indigenous Meitei religion. Full Story

Umrao Jaan: A Story of Indian Girl Child

By Madhu Chandra

“Agale Janam Mohe, Betiya na kijo” “In next birth of mine, Oh God, don’t bring me as a girl child!”

The Umrao Jaan is a Bollywood film produced by Muzaffar Ali in 1981, which was remake by J. P. Dutta in 2006, is the story of Indian girl child base on Urdu novel “Umrao Jaan Ada” written in 1905 by Mirza Hadi Ruswa based on the famous Lucknow courtesan.

It is a story of an Indian girl child who laments her agony of life, composed in form of poetry and music with soul gripping lyric “Agale janam mohe, betiya na kijo,” “In next birth of mine, Oh God, don’t bring me as a girl child” Full Story

Understanding the legacy of Periyar with a Dalit-Bahujan perspective

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Periyar was one of the greatest revolutionaries of our times, though he has not been acknowledged because of particular political reasons. Periyar, father of Tamil nationalism today is under attack from not only the Brahmanical forces but ironically this time; the instrument which they have used is through Dalit writings. Before we move to Periyar and his legacy, it is important to analyse the politics of two Indian states which are important to understand the great vision of Periyar and legacy of Dalit-Bahujan movement in India. Yes, Tamilnadu and Uttar-Pradesh, two very important states, one a Dravidian land as claimed by Periyar and the other the holy land of Aryavrat where government once did not bow to protesters demand for not allowing the statue of Periyar to be build. Though it looks ironic that Periyar who was an iconoclast could be turned into a demi God by his so-called followers. Full Story

Little Known 9/11of India: The AFSPA

(50 years of Arm Force Special Power Act to Fight the Innernal Arm Rebels) 

By Madhu Chandra

In making of the history, the 9/11 is well known and remembered for tragic terror attack on World Trade Tower. World have come united ever since for counter fight against Terrors.

The little known, the 9/11 of India on which Arm Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) was signed into a law in 1958 after it was passed as ordinance on May 22 by Indian Parliament, in same year.  Full Story

 Hindu Fanatics beaten a Maharashtra Village Ministries Worker and Prayer Meeting Stopped  

New Delhi, May 15, 2008 (aicc)

A group of Hindu fanatics has beaten a Maharashtra Village Ministries worker at Joadmoha of Yavatmal District, Maharashtra on May 13. The police failed to take action against the culprits till the filing of this report.

Rev. D. B. Kulothungan, General Secretary of Maharashtra Village Ministries (MVS) reports to All India Christian Council that incident happened when a group of villagers numbering up to 15 to 30 came and forced to stop a prayer meeting held at Mr. Shrikant Chandekar’s resident on May 13. When Shrikant refused to stop the prayer meeting, he was beaten badly by the mob. Full Story

After Four Years, Supreme Court of India Continues to Delay Decision on Dalit Case

New Delhi, April 26, 2008

The delay game by India’s government on Dalit Christian and Dalit Muslim reservations is fueling increased frustration. The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government has failed to make statement on the demand for Scheduled Caste (SC) status by Dalits from religious minorities while the Supreme Court continues to delay a decision on four related cases. Full Story

Attack on Secularism and Democracy: The Signposts

The preamble of Indian Constitution, which guarantees the fundamental rights of every Indian citizen, will be under the threat, if the rise of fascism and attack on Indian secularism and democracy is left uncontrolled. Time is now for expertise to monitor and identify the signpost of the fascist forces that has come under the attack of India secularism and democracy. Full Story

UN Sees Major Challenges to Religious Freedom in India. The aicc coordinated six meetings with NGOs for Special Rapporteur

New Delhi, March 20, 2008

Ms. Asma Jahangir, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, announced her initial findings on religious freedom in India at a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday morning, March 20, 2008. The All India Christian Council (aicc) coordinated six meetings between the UN Special Rapporteur and non-governmental groups (NGOs) during her three week visit. Aicc leaders presented an analysis of increasing religious discrimination and violent attacks. Full Story

What is behind Hindu-Christian violence

By Dan Isaacs, BBC News, Orissa

Some of the displaced are in a refugee camp in the town of Bamunigan

Hundreds of families in a remote region of the eastern Indian state of Orissa remain homeless and without support after a wave of violence swept the region last month.

The minority Christian community in Kandhamal district, many of whom are forest tribal people and low-caste Dalit converts from Hinduism to to Christianity, say they've been targeted by radical Hindu nationalist organisations seeking to put an end to the church and its activities in the region. Full Story

Speakers at Historic Rally Demand Orissa Government Tell Truth about Christmas Attacks on Christians

About 10,000 protestors from all religious backgrounds; speakers slam Orissa government for blaming Naxalites involvement and limiting Christian NGOs relief efforts

BHUBANESWAR – Jan. 10, 2008 – Today about 9,000-10,000 people marched to the Orissa State Assembly building in Bhubaneswar to protest Christmas attacks on Christians and demand justice for victims. Rally speakers demanded the Orissa state government stop making allegations about Christian association with an outlawed Maoist rebel movement and allow Christian churches and groups to provide direct relief to victims. Full Story