It was no baptism by fire although it was the high point of the Vishal Hindu Sammelan organised at the Peth Yatra Maidan by the newly-formed Dharma Raksha Samiti. Thirty-seven adivasis from the villages of Kayre-Sadadpada, Rajbari and Naalsheth in Peth taluka quietly lined up before 'Shankaracharya' Vidyashankar Bharati of Karveer Peeth and with a sprinkling of holy water, the presentation of a saffron cloth and a flower, their "reconversion" to Hinduism was complete. But, says day-old reconvert Laxman Kule whose stomach ailment persists despite hopping religions, "It makes no difference."
The rhetoric at the ceremony was all fire and brimstone. And a six-point resolution was passed by the saffron salvation army the 'Shankaracharya', Acharya Nagrajbaba of the Manubhav Panth, Acharya Saikarbaba and Swami Aseemanand of the VKP in Dangs. Each endorsed with the chanting of "Om": Christian missionaries must be banned. Unauthorised churches should not be protected by the government. Converted tribals should reconvert and those who don't should...
