In a notable event in Anglong, Assam, 70 members of the Tiwa community participated in a re-conversion ceremony to embrace Hinduism once again. This ceremony, part of a “Ghar Wapsi” initiative, took place in Keyabat village within West Karbi Anglong’s Hamren subdivision, organized by the Hindu Suraksha Samiti. Narayan Radu Kakoti, the head of the Assam unit for Hindu Suraksha Samiti, highlighted the vulnerabilities of the tribal populations in Assam’s p
lains and hill districts to conversion efforts by Christian missionaries. Kakoti expressed concerns over the historical attempts since 1951 by Christian missionaries to convert Hindu tribal communities to Christianity. He emphasized the recent trend of these communities seeking to revert to their ancestral faiths, underscoring the importance of preserving their original religious beliefs and cultural identity.
During the re-conversion event in Koyabat village, it was announced by the Karbi Samaj, a socio-economic organization for the Karbi tribals, that approximately 100 Karbi Christians are anticipated to return to their ancestral tribal religious beliefs shortly. Kakoti mentioned ongoing efforts to unite tribal communities across the Northeastern states to counteract what he described as the “evil designs” of Christian missionaries targeting vulnerable tribal groups. He revealed plans for a large gathering in Guwahati on March 12, 2023, under the Janajatiyo Suraksha Manch, where leaders will address tribal participants from various Northeastern states.
The Hindu Suraksha Samiti has set a goal to convert Christian tribal converts back to Hinduism by the year 2025. This movement gains additional significance in light of comments made by Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, at the Jonbeel Mela in Morigaon this January. The Chief Minister urged the Tiwa community to stay true to their cultural and identity roots, cautioning against the increasing trend of religious conversion and stressing the importance of maintaining their ethnic heritage.
