In the Kondagaon district of Chhattisgarh, several tribal families who had earlier converted to Christianity under the influence of missionaries are now returning to their ancestral Sanatan Dharma through a Ghar Wapsi ceremony. On May 6, 2025, ten families from Pitichua village in Baderajpur block, Keshkal Assembly constituency, publicly renounced Christianity and embraced their native faith. Among those who returned were three children, symbolising a collective resolve to reclaim their cultural and religious roots.
These families revealed that they had been lured into conversion through false promises of healing. The missionaries claimed that “holy water” and prayer could cure diseases, exploiting the families’ desperation and faith.
One of the returning members, Gaindlal Markam, recounted his ordeal: his young son was suffering from a respiratory illness, and after several unsuccessful visits to doctors, someone directed them to Christian missionaries.
“They prayed over us, gave us water to drink, and for a while, my son seemed better,” Gaindlal shared. “But the illness soon returned. That’s when we realised we had been misled.” The missionaries handed them Bibles and instructed them to follow Christian practices, but Gaindlal stated that these changes brought no lasting improvement.
Shankar Markam, block president of the tribal society, strongly condemned the missionaries’ tactics. “They exploit the innocence of tribal people, offering false hope of healing, financial aid, and problem-solving—all as a pretext to convert. It’s a well-planned trap,” he remarked. He further praised both the caste census initiative by the central government and the Chhattisgarh government’s proposed anti-conversion law, emphasising that such measures would curb the unchecked activities of missionaries and help preserve tribal roots and identity.
Another individual who returned to Sanatan Dharma narrated how converting to Christianity led to social isolation. “We faced exclusion from community events and traditional rituals like weddings. It caused us immense stress,” he said. After nearly 18 months of feeling alienated, his family decided to return to their native faith, a move that brought them peace and was warmly welcomed by their community.
Senior tribal leader Rangeelal Markam made serious allegations against the missionaries, accusing them of preying on the uneducated and economically vulnerable. “They fool people in the name of holy water and prayer. But the truth is, neither their prayers heal nor do they change lives,” he asserted. He highlighted that the tribal community is now increasingly aware of these deceptive practices and is actively engaged in Ghar Wapsi, bringing people back to their original faith.
The Chhattisgarh government, led by CM Vishnu Deo Sai, has taken a firm stance against forced religious conversions and is preparing to introduce a stringent law to curb illegal conversions. Tribal leaders believe that this decisive step will play a crucial role in preserving their cultural and religious heritage while protecting vulnerable communities from predatory conversion practices.
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