West Singhbhum: In a notable development, hundreds of people from tribal (Adivasi/Janjati) community have reverted to Sanatan fold in Parlipos village of Goilkera block of Jharkhand.
Around 200 people belonging to 68 families reverted to Sanatan in a Ghar Wapsi ceremony held under the 56th free health checkup camp in Goilkera. Those returned to the religion of their ancestors reportedly embraced the other religion under the influence of fake promises made by people promoting conversion.
The returnees were welcomed by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sadanand Ji Maharaj, who by offering them sacred Gangajal announced their re-integration into the religion of their ancestors. The program was organised by Vishva Kalyan Ashram.
Notably the Shankracharya has addressed many public gatherings of the people from Vanvasi community in several villages of the district lately. It is being said that those returned to the Sanatan fold were inspired by the message of Shankracharya.
It must be noted here that conversion of Janjatis in tribal dominated pockets of states such as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha has been a major issue since long, with local Hindu activists often hitting the streets raising concerns over the rampant conversion in remote localities.
The activists claimed that those promoting conversion are luring innocent people from the community into conversion by promising them job, healthcare, financial aid and free education for children.
Conversion of Janjatis in large numbers has also fueled a significant chunk of people from the community to demand for a de-listing exercise to delist those from the community who have embraced any other religion and are still availing the benefits of the reservation, reserved exclusively for the Janjatis.
Scores of such rallies have been organised in the tribal pockets of the aforementioned states in the last few years, underscoring the growing resentment among the Janjatis over conversion.
Meanwhile Ghar Wapsi campaigns are also being run to facilitate those who have embraced any other religion under the influence of groups and individuals promoting conversion and willing to reunite with Sanatan Dharma.
