Vatican's latest marketing strategy

Vatican seems to have unleashed its latest marketing strategy. Pronounce Sainthood on a nun, who died 62 years ago!!! The reason seems to be more interesting. A boy seems to be cured of his deformity after praying all-night in front of her tomb. As usual, the televisions have started to scream from the top of the roof. Vatican certainly seems to be jolted by the resistance in Kandhamal.

Well, lets just have a peek at the past. The violence in Kandhamal brought to the forefront the forceful conversions happening in many parts of India and also the resistance to it. Also many Indian Chritians are not able to identify themselves with a Pope who lives elsewhere and his English culture. Vatican seems to be forced to find a comprehensive to answer many of these questions. It found an answer in Sister Alphonsa, a nun who died in 1946. Why not make an Indian saint so that Indians could worship one of their ancestors? This also helps Vatican retain the religious strings of many jolted Indian Christians, who were forcefully converted. Needless to say that the present government would not neglect the orders of Vatican, given the fact that a minister has attended the proceedings in Vatican.

Afterall, its the number game everywhere. What are you harvesting in India, Mr.Pope? Human belief? A closer look at the Indians who get converted forcefully or willfully throws a different light. They get converted to Christianity. But never live or die as Christians. Mariamman might be replaced by Virgin Mary; Ghee lamps may be replaced by candles; Swastik might be replaced by the Holy cross. But not their culture. Is carrying Paal Kudam and Kavadi to Velankani a ritual proposed by Vatican? Is worshipping Virgin Mary under a Neem tree proposed by Vatican? Why do converted Christians still wear a Thali, part of Christian custom?Well, God who is worshipped might have changed but not the belief. These people are not Christians but Hindus who worship or try to worship Jesus. All these people are still very much a part of Hindu society because Hinduism never forces you to worship a particular God.

Hinduism never forces you to believe in any God neither advocates to follow a particular scripture. The holy soul (Atma) can worshipped in any form such as Shiva, Vishnu, Skanda, Ganesha or even Jesus in Hinduism. Hinduism is not just a religion which advocates a God but a way of living. If Vatican's game is just to increase the number of Christians, well you might have won but neither will their beliefs change nor their ideology. Christians are still an integral part of the mainstream Hindu society.