Tony D'Souza is a konkan author from GOA who stays in US and this what he has to say about Portuguese deeds in GOA in his Book(interview came in metro paper in Uk). 'To convert hindus, they made them taste pork meat , rendered them untouchable and then converted them' .........this is just one instance, I wonder how the other converts in India turned up..were they given same treatment earlier..I am talking abt christian missionaries who are still doing the same thing..or have done it earlier..see how we Hindians are so tolerant..even after all thse, we are strong
RE:Tony D'Souza
by sriram sriram sriram on Jun 12, 2008 06:26 PM Permalink
even conversion will NOT give equality as Dalits find after 50 years now..!!
RE:Tony D'Souza
by Kris iyer on Jun 12, 2008 06:35 PM Permalink
Neharika, The topic is "forced or strongly induced conversions". "DS" has referred to the author Tony D'Souza's account of Portughese behaviour in the 16, 17 and 18 centuries in Goa. They brought strong African slaves to round up entire Hindu villages, then they would rub into the mouths of Hindu men and women, a freshly killed pig's meat. Then kept them imprisoned, without food or water until they converted to Roman Catholicism. Your point is: If there is no discrimination then there would be no conversion. Fine. But did you know that Dalits who converted to Christianity and Islam are still discriminated on "caste" grounds? Did you know that in Pakistani society, very muslim, there are Dalits? So, conversion does not necessarily enhance the life of the Dalits. On the contrary, in Hindu society, the reform process has proceeded so much that in some areas, the Dalits are politically so powerful, they are able to "discriminate" against other castes. You have to visit rural areas of India to see for yourself what I mean.
