An Indian Christian’s lament

THE Portuguese Church in Dadar (central Mumbai) was built during colonial times, probably when the Portuguese had occupied what was then a coastal town comprising seven islands. Internationally renowned architect Charles Correa redesigned the old building and it stands today as a monument to his genius.

Charles was a classmate of my younger brother, Edgar. SF Rodrigues, who became the Chief of Army Staff, was another classmate. Edgar was well known as an authority on urban planning. The class that matriculated from St Xavier’s School in Dhobi Talao in 1946 was indeed unique.

So, when the parish priest of the Portuguese Church asked me to hoist the National Flag at the entrance to the premises on August 15, I accepted his invitation despite my reluctance to attend public functions because of age-related disabilities.

There were nearly 300 parishioners crowded into a small space for the ceremony. Every participant was palpably enthusiastic. They listened attentively to the parish priest’s address extolling the country’s progress in the 78 years since Independence and pledging the Christian loyalty to the land of their ancestors.

Flag hoisting on August 15 and its unfurling on January 26 are organised in the hundred-odd parishes that constitute the Mumbai Archdiocese. It is apparent to one and all that the Christians of my city are true nationalists and the nation should be proud of nurturing such law-abiding citizens whose contribution to nation-building is tremendous. Christians are major participants in the education and health sectors.

Christian officers in the armed forces and the civil services have proved to be valuable cogs in the governance machinery. Because of their adherence to the concept of service, which has been dinned into them every week at Sunday Mass, their role as servants of the people (and not their masters) comes naturally to them. The story of Jesus Christ washing the feet of his disciples reinforces the spirit of service, which exemplifies the Christian faith.

It is a pity that the number of Christians in the top echelons of civil and defence services is steadily declining. The parish priest mentioned this development in his address. It set me thinking. If their exclusion is being subtly engineered, that would be disturbing. It would militate against quality in governance. Christian officers have invariably been welcomed by the public for their integrity and sense of justice, at least in my state of Maharashtra.

Even in Gujarat, where I had two stints at the beginning and then at the fag end of my career, the local people were extremely friendly and welcoming. The only other state where I served was Punjab, where no officer was willing to go! Then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had to appeal to my patriotism and sense of duty when he asked me to accept a virtual downgrade in status. I was a Special Secretary in the Home Ministry when I was asked to accept the post of DGP, Punjab. I reckon it was a rare instance in the annals of bureaucracy when an officer was virtually demoted because of his acceptability and utility.

In my entire service, I have never experienced any discrimination because of my religion and my beliefs. From Parbhani, a small district in Marathwada, I was sent to Nanded, a much bigger district next door, because of the prevailing disquiet in police ranks born of poor leadership. Subsequently, I was sent to Sholapur, a really big district where my predecessor had been taken for a ride by his subordinates because he had not bothered to learn Marathi.

When I attained the top police rank of DGP, I was asked to resolve a communal issue in Gujarat, and a year later the terrorist problem in Punjab. In 1987, Rajiv Gandhi, in his annual address to police chiefs of all states, asked the assembled DGPs why only my name was suggested to him whenever there was a critical situation to be tackled in some part of the country.

I am mentioning this because I feel that India is losing out by not encouraging young men and women, irrespective of their religious identity, to contribute actively to the progress of our great nation. If Muslims and Christians are overlooked for higher bureaucratic or police appointments, that would amount to cutting off your nose to spite your face!

The only complaint that Hindutva activists have against Christians in India is that they are engaged in conversions, mainly of the poor, Scheduled Castes and Adivasis. As far as I know, no such complaint has been made against any IAS or IPS officer in the country till date. Their examples of fair play, justice and compassion, which come naturally to them, may influence a few stray individuals to seek refuge in Christianity. How can the blame be assigned to them if this does happen? (Incidentally, I know of no such case). But to accuse Christians of using force to convert is the most ridiculous accusation that can be made.

In a recent case of hate mongering by the Bajrang Dal, the strong arm of Hindutvawadis, two elderly nuns hailing from Kerala were arrested for the ‘forced conversion’ of three girls they were escorting. Astonishingly, the nuns were also charged with ‘human trafficking’, which has connotations of prostitution! If such blatantly false cases are registered against priests and nuns, it will become difficult for minorities to live in their own country, where their ancestors were born thousands of years ago.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day message this year, recounted the achievements of his government in the past 11 years. He should also have recalled the contribution of his predecessors as he has succeeded largely by building on what they achieved. I know of no Prime Minister who did nothing during his term. I can testify that Rajiv Gandhi hardly ever got a good night’s sleep as PM.

It would have been even more relevant for PM Modi to mention what he has done to build national unity, because progress will be infinitely slower without unity and harmony. His promise of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” rings hollow amid lynching of cattle traders and thrashing of inter-faith couples as well as lately of nuns for ‘forced conversions’ and ‘human trafficking’.