I agree with Mr Menezes that Christianity and Islam have not always being spread through the sword in India. As regards Christianity, St. Thomas the Apostle came to Kerala’s coast long before European colonizers reached India, and spread Christianity. Islam reached India during the times of the Prophet himself, as is evident from Thrissur’s Cheraman Juma Masjid (during his recent visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a replica of this Mosque to the Saudi King).
However, it is a fact that religious conversions in India at times have been held by threat, coercion or undue influence. In his article, Menezes states: “…That today if we find a Goan landscape dotted by whitewashed churches it is not because of a violent process of proselytization but because Christianisation had provided a way out of the violence that had marred the social and political landscape of Goa…” I do not agree in totality with this statement. It is surprising that he makes an omission about the infamous Goa Inquisition, which tortured not just the non-Christians, but the neo- Christians in Goa too. Even the sister of the famed Garcia de Orta (Orta, after whom the jardim in Panaji is named, was a Jew) was burned at the stake during the Goa Inquisition. I do not need to mention the history of how Goan temples and even populations were relocated etc., but it would be a blatant attempt to neglect history if it were claimed that all conversions to Christianity in Goa occurred due to free will.
Menezes has written about how the Vemulas seek a more equal life in Buddhism. Christianity and Islam too promised an equal life for all its constituents. In fact, a look at history shows that during the Delhi Sultanate Period, even an erstwhile slave could rise to high ranks in the army and even marry the Sultan’s daughter. But now, the Muslims too have a Shia-Sunni divide. As regards Christianity in Goa, it is seem that the Caste system exists as much among the Goan Catholics if not more. I have seen how caste is an important factor in determining confrarias, feasts, marriages, etc. among the Goan Catholic community. Finally, no religion can give the complete solution to any one’s problems.
