Stop The Campaign To Ban "CHRIST PARICHAY"

"Stop the publication of the book 'Christ Parichay' by Ganesh Damodar (Babarao) Savarkar", demands The United Christians Council, a NGO.

Ganesh Damodar (Babarao) Savarkar was the brother of VD Savarkar and one of the five founders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)". A Mumbai-based Trust is re-issuing the book this month.

Indiatoday.in reports that in his book, Babarao Damodar claims that Christianity is a sect of Hinduism; Christ's real name was Keshao Krishna; He even had a dark complexion and his mother tongue was Tamil; Christ's sacred thread ceremony (janeyu) was held when he was 12, according to Brahmin tradition; He even wore a sacred thread; Christianity was never a separate religion and it was a Hindu cult; The present day Palestinian and Arab territories were a Hindu land; Christ travelled to India and learnt yoga; He was given medicinal herbs and plants for his recovery from the 'deathbed'; Christ also was taken to Kashmir; It was in Kashmir that Christ prayed to Lord Shiva and spent the last days of his life in the Himalayas.

Demanding ban on controversy-generating books is the favourite pastime of us Indians - whether Hindus; Muslims; Sikhs; Christians; Budhists or any of the other religionists. At the forefront of the 'ban-the-books-gangs' are those who have no idea why they are demanding a ban; and they simply do not care. They consider themselves to be the protector of the faith they profess. Protector they are not. Rabble-rouser they are. They do more harm than benefit to their religion.

Great religions are based on sublime spiritual teachings by their great founder 'Gurus' or 'Prophets'. All the great religions are growing from strength to strength. These religions have been around for centuries and shall be around till eternity. If we revere Gurus and Prophets, and have faith in the eternality of their teachings, how does it matter if; a Hindu Godess is depicted in an unconventional way; someone draws a potrait of Prophet Muhammad; a fictional book has a chapter that tells that Jesus made love to Mary Magdalene; the leader of a sect likes to dress like one of the Sikh Gurus or a Sikh gentleman is made to remove his turban for security check; and so on. Intolerance is a double-edged sword.

Christians should abhor intolerance; believe in the strength of their faith and; welcome publication of 'Christ Parichay'. Should read it and be amused.