John Dayal
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John Dayal, (New Delhi, Oct. 2, 1948 - ) is an Indian Christian activist and campaigner for Dalit rights who is accused of being anti-Hindu communal bias. Formerly a journalist with the Delhi edition of the Indian tabloid newspaper, the Mid-Day, which belongs to the Muslim-Communist dominated Inquilab Press, and from which he had been dismissed for his outspoken views, he has gone on to found and preside over the ecumenical All India Christian Council and United Christian Forum for Human Rights.Dayal, born of Christian parents from Central India, is married and resides normally in New Delhi, the capital of the Indian Union.
He describes himself as a "human rights activist" who is "fighting for the rights of Muslim, Christian and Dalit minorities" in India. He is associated with numerous Christian evangelical groups, such as Dalit Freedom Network[1]. He constantly re-iterates their allegations about "Hindu-perpetrated massacres of Christians in India".
He has engaged in activist campaigns for the mass conversion of Hindus to Christianity, but has reportedly claimed that the conversions of Hindus to Christianity in the Seven Sister States by Christian Missionaries such as the Tripura Baptist Christian Union and their affiliated terror groups such as the National Liberation Front of Tripura - often called 'forced conversions' - is a "malicious myth" propagated by a secret cabal of Hindus.[1] He is also an outspoken critic of the Hindutva movement, which he alleges "is a sick ideology that is fighting against history, cultural anthropology, and human nature" and "preaches silly theses of One Nation, One People, One Culture"[2]. He has also severely attacked anti-Conversion bills passed in various states in India[3] , a response to missionary activity.[4][5]
[edit] Criticism
P.N Benjamin, the coordinator of the Bangalore Initiative for Religious Dialogue, has said: "Hindu-bashing, especially RSS/VHP/Bajrang Dal bashing, seems to be your [Dayal's] only hobby." [1]. Benjamin also said that Dayal "opens his mouth and wields his pen only to spew venom on the Hindu community"[6] A prominent critic of Dayal is Rajeev Srinivasan, who also accuses him declaring that all Hindus are enemies of Christians[7].John Dayal was very popular among some anti-Hindu elements, such as the (now defunct) website Dalitstan, where his works were frequently showcased [8]. Rediff columnist Varsha Bhosle criticizes Dayal for having subversive separatist views and misrepresenting the Catholic Church in India [9].
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b John Dayal's Hate Mongering and An Open Response
- ^ John Dayal: “People have rejected the ideology of hate”
- ^ Fending off Hindutva
- ^ India: Concerns over more anti-conversion bills
- ^ Niyogi Committee Report On Christian Missionary Activities, Government of Madhya Pradesh 1956
- ^ Sister Sonia, he wanted a total ban on conversions, New India Press
- ^ john dayal, fundamentalist, names his greatest enemy by Rajeev Srinivasan
- ^ dalitstan.org
- ^ Towards Balkanisation, IV: Catholics Rediff.com
