Thiruvananthapuram: The recent article published in Kesari, the mouthpiece of the RSS in Kerala, accusing Christians of being anti-national and attempting to establish a “Christian state,” is not only false but dangerously misleading. Written in the name of Hindu Aikya Vedi State Vice President E. S. Biju, the piece is an attempt to stir communal hatred and tarnish the social harmony that India has striven to build over decades.
Kesari claims that Christians are responsible for destroying local languages and spreading foreign culture. This is a blatant distortion of history. Christian missionaries in India have historically contributed immensely to the country’s linguistic, cultural, and social renaissance. Samuel Henry Kellogg, often called the father of modern Hindi, and numerous other missionaries helped document local languages, publish dictionaries and grammar books, and promote literacy across India. Christians were at the forefront of abolishing social evils such as child marriage, Sati, and caste discrimination. They have invested in education, healthcare, and social reforms that have modernized India, rather than undermined it.
The Kesari article also insinuates that Christians are anti-national and disloyal. This reckless claim ignores the reality of India’s history and constitution. At the moment of independence in 1947, India consciously chose to become a secular nation, rejecting the notion of a religious state as seen in Pakistan. Millions of Indians, irrespective of religion, fought for a nation that guarantees freedom of faith. Now, organizations like the RSS and their propaganda outlets are attempting to erode this foundational principle, sowing seeds of division for political and ideological gain.
E. S. Biju’s allegation that Christians are spreading foreign culture is also hypocritical. Hindu spiritual organizations freely propagate yoga, build temples abroad, and receive foreign funding without scrutiny, yet Christians are singled out for similar international engagement. Such double standards are unfair and intellectually dishonest.
Kesari’s portrayal of Christians as conspirators attempting treason is both shameful and ignorant. It dismisses centuries of social service, educational advancement, and humanitarian work carried out by Christian missionaries. From building schools and hospitals to publishing 85 dictionaries, 116 grammar books, and 45 newspapers over the past 150 years, Christians have contributed significantly to India’s cultural and social fabric. To deny this is to ignore the very foundations of modern Indian society.
The dangers of Kesari’s narrative go beyond misinformation. History has shown that inflammatory propaganda leads to communal violence. The article’s baseless accusations echo the rhetoric that preceded tragedies like the Kandhamal riots, lynchings, and attacks on clergy and missionaries. By vilifying an entire community, Kesari and Hindu Aikya Vedi are fanning the flames of intolerance, threatening peace in Kerala and across India.
India has a history of resisting communal exploitation. Humanity has repeatedly held accountable those who spread hatred for power. Those who attempt to rewrite history, smear communities, and incite distrust will not succeed in undermining the secular and pluralistic ethos of the nation. The truth about Christian contributions social, cultural, and educational cannot be silenced by propaganda.
In conclusion, the Kesari article is not just misleading; it is a calculated attempt to create fear, suspicion, and division. Christians in India are law-abiding citizens, contributors to the nation’s growth, and defenders of the values of tolerance, education, and social justice. Any attempt to portray them otherwise is an attack on the very soul of India, and it must be firmly condemned.