Our experience in the North-East too is not very different. A region that had such rich cultural integration with the rest of India that dates back to the times of Mahabharata today spawns loads of anti-national and separatist movements. It is a well-known fact that secessionism in the North-East is a gift of local missionaries.
Religious conversions that affected cultural identity of peoples had dangerous consequences for nations. Very rarely that one would come across Kerala-type experiences. Experience elsewhere is just the opposite. Conversions world over meant not just change of religion, but change of culture too.
It may be noted that a major lobbying by the church groups was responsible for inclusion of Right to Conversion as an individual right in the UN Charter of Universal Human Rights. There was very little participation from the Eastern world in formulating this Charter
Conversion meant much more than mere change of mode of worship. It cut at the root of their cultural identity. That is why 150,000 South Koreans took to streets last month protesting rising conversions and increasing influence of Christianity.
