‘5-M’ target list of Hindu extremists includes Missionaries

The five "sworn enemies of Hindus" highlighted in the text are: Muslims, Marxists, Missionaries, Materialism and Macaulayism.

World Hindu Congress 2014.

India:  Christian missionaries are identified among the five biggest enemies of Hindus in a pamphlet distributed at World Hindu Congress 2014 which has just ended in Delhi.

The five "sworn enemies of Hindus" highlighted in the text are: Muslims, Marxists, Missionaries, Materialism and Macaulayism.

"The combination of forces and anti-Hindus is weakening Indian society and therefore the faithful are invited to counter the cultural system in force," the propaganda said.

The pamphlet defines Islam "poisonous", criticizes the cultural and religious pluralism and the approach of Christian missionaries who "wickedly introduce the value system of their own western societies." Lord Macaulay was instrumental in the introduction of English as the medium of instruction for higher education in India and his policy is termed Macaulayism, which the Hindu fundamentalists especially hold as responsible for liquidating indigenous culture.

Over 1,500 delegates from 40 countries attended the World Hindu Congress in 2014.

Hindu extremists have been suspicious of Catholic missionaries for some time. The Indian Express daily has reported that Hindu extremist groups were interfering with the running of missionaries’ schools in Chhattisgarh state.

The Hindu groups instructed 22 Catholic schools in the Bastar district, attended by a large majority of non-Christian students, that the Catholic priests in these schools would no longer be called "father" but only "Sir".

After a meeting with the representatives of Hindu groups and civil authorities, in order to avoid tensions and conflicts representatives of Catholic schools have agreed on the use of the title "Sir". Catholic missionaries in the district have also agreed to install statues of Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of learning, in schools and also display photographs of great personalities of all religions, who have worked for the national interest in the field of education.

The Catholic leaders reiterated that in the service of education, "one respects the feelings of the Hindu students".

There had been tensions in the area before the agreement; the Christians were accused "of using education as a weapon for conversion".

Source: Vatican Radio, Indian Express