[Assam] Conversion the dead?

[Ram Sarangapani]

Well, well, well, this is a new twist. Won't they atleast stop converting
the dead?

Sentinel Letter
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*Mbaupungwa Pastor Converts Dead IIamdi*
IIamdi Sarayu was the president of Zeliangrong Heraka Youth Organization,
Nagaland for 16 years. He was working as an assistant teacher at Government
High School, Tening, in Nagaland. He lived his whole life according to
traditions. He had high regards for customary laws and traditional
festivals.
He was pained at the degeneration of indigenous Naga culture and primordial
religions. Western culture was a cause of concern for him. He used to appeal
to the Naga society to respect primordial religions and indigenous culture.
Unfortunately, IIamdi passed away on May 15 in Dimapur and the Pastor of
Mbaupungwa village, Kuranglung Zeliang, declared on May 16 that Baptism of
Ilamdi's body was already performed and, therefore, his last rites would be
done according to the Baptist rites.
Zeliangrong Heraka leaders and close relatives were shocked to hear the
conversion of the corpse of Ilamdi. They protested but found themselves
helpless against the organized force of the church. Is this the type of
Christianity Naga missionaries are preaching? The Pastor who is supposed to
be a man of truth and moral integrity, turned to be a fraud.
It is strange that when the Pastor of Mbaupungwa village noticed that Heraka
men were nowhere near the dead body of IIamdi, he staged the drama of
Baptism of the corpse in the midnight. Other church leaders of the area know
that Heraka men are angry on the fraudulent conversion of the dead body of
IIamdi. They admit in private that whatever was done in the name of
conversion of the dead body of IIamdi was not right, but they fear to speak
in public.
The Nagaland church was very upset about the passing of the anti-conversion
bill in the Rajasthan Assembly. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio even wrote a
letter to the President of India, requesting him not to give his assent to
the Rajasthan anti-conversion bill. The church and the Chief Minister both
have stated that the freedom to profess one's religion that is guaranteed by
the Constitution, would be violated by such a bill.
But where is the provision in the Constitution giving right to Christian
missionaries to carry the cross and plant on the chest of dying men? What
about the human rights of Heraka men and other followers of primordial
religions? It is because of this invasion of Christian missionaries on the
people of other religions that different States are bringing anti-conversion
bills to protect their people from the church onslaught.
RK Zealiang,
Burma Camp, Dimapur,
Nagaland.
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