By Matters India Reporter
Dimahasou, Nov 5, 2024: Various Church groups in Assam have demanded action against a rightwing Hindu leader who allegedly maligned Christians and tried to undermine religious harmony in the northeastern Indian state.
On October 27, Surendra Kumar Jain, the international joint general secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (world Hindu council), stirred a controversy by accusing Churches of drug trafficking. He reportedly asserted that Churches were linked to drug trafficking that contributed to the degradation of youth in the region.
He made the remarks at a function to honor Joya Thaosen (1925-1944), a revered freedom fighter who died fighting the British, at KK Hojai Chatrinivas Building, Haflong, Dima Hasao District.
The United Christian Forum of Dimahasou, the United Christian Forum of Karbi Anglong, and the Assam Christian Forum (ACF) on November 5 expressed “deep shock and dismay” over Jain’s “divisive remarks.”
“We believe that [Jain’s] baseless accusations against the Church and the Christian community are not only harmful but seem to be a deliberate attempt to malign an entire faith community. His statements undermine the invaluable contributions of the Christian community to this region,” stated the Assam Christian Forum, an ecumenical group.
The Christian groups regretted that the Hindu leader used a significant event as a platform to condemn and divide communities on religious grounds. “Jain’s comments are perceived as a dishonor to the rich legacy of Thaosen, who stood for unity and secular values,” they added.
They said all communities of Dima Hasao and the country at large cherished Thaosen’s legacy.
They noted that Christians have played “a transformative role” in northeastern India from the pre-Independence era. The community has worked in areas such as education, healthcare, social welfare, literature, media, relief, rehabilitation, and sustainable development, they claimed.
“The Christian community’s work has had a lasting impact, bringing positive change to countless lives and promoting the welfare of all.”
They also dismissed Jain’s allegation about Church’s involvement in illicit activities as unsubstantiated and inflammatory.
“Such divisive rhetoric sows seeds of mistrust and damages the spirit of unity that has long allowed diverse groups to coexist peacefully in the Dimahasou. These comments are seen not only as an insult to the entire Christian community but as an effort to disrupt the harmony that has been the foundation of the region’s progress,” the Christian groups asserted.
The Assam Christian Forum urged their community leaders and representatives across organizations to refrain from making inflammatory statements that endanger communal peace. They called upon all sectors of society to stand united against divisive language and to reject such harmful rhetoric.
The Christians in northeastern India remain “steadfast in its mission of compassion and service to all. It will continue to support the welfare and development of the region, working for the good of all communities with a commitment to human dignity and inclusiveness.”
Thaosen was born on October 26, 1925 at Jorai Bathari village in Assam’s Dima Hasao district.
She was 19 when she opposed the British Raj and organized the Revolutionary Dimasa Army under the leadership with Arjun Langthasa and Jowte Dao Kemprai.
She led the people of Samphardisa, Khepre, Kouldisa, Diyung, Aprudisa, Sabawari.to oppose the British. She marched to Kohima to offer solidarity to Rani Jhansi Regiment of Subhash Chandra Bose’s Azad Hind Fauz at the battle of Kohima.
She died on April 7, 1944, while fighting the British force at Khirem-Kowai range near Dimapur, Naga Hills.