[Assam] Conversions will distort the Mishing tribe

[Manoj Das]

I ditto!

On Fri, May 30, 2008 at 1:04 PM, Bijoy Kumar Pait <bkpait at hpcl.co.in> wrote:

>
>
> Except individual willingness, I strongly condemn conversions of Mishings
> to Christians.
> Well Donyi(means the Sun) and Pollo(means the Moon) which is part of our
> Hinduism!??????
>
>
>
>
>
> BKPait
> Manager: ISOM
> 7886
>
>
> >>> "Manoj Das" <dasmk2k at gmail.com> 5/30/2008 9:28 AM >>>
> Dear Rajenda and Ajantaba
>
> A few years back I met a Jaintia lady. She was educated, rich, modern but
> agitated at the loss of heritage due to conversion into Christianity. I
> said, Christianity gave you education, status, enlightenment and
> civilization. She tersely commented that in exchange they lost their
> millennium old culture, way of life and heritage; same as Mr. Rongmon Pegu
> is lamenting.
>
> Mishings are not strict Hindus, they maintain their way of life. They
> normally bury their dead unlike the typical Hindus. They also continue to
> pray Dony Pollo, their traditional Gods. You are right in saying that Naga,
> Mizo and Khasis have better identities now because of their Christianity.
> But those who go by the book, preach that the tribes should shun their
> rituals. Identity and civilization will come anyway; the cost of a quick
> entry through conversion may be more in the long run. In any case its a
> matter of study or research! Off hand- difficult to comment.
>
> -manoj
>
> On Fri, May 30, 2008 at 6:43 AM, Rajen & Ajanta Barua <barua25 at hotmail.com
> >
> wrote:
>
> > I think the writer is confused about religion and heritage
> > If the Mishings are Hindus now, they must have been converted to Hinduism
> > at one time. Somebody must have converted them to Hinduism taking
> advantage
> > of their ignorance. They have every right to converted to some other
> > religion such Islam, Christianity etc. If they get econmic upliftment
> > because of that the better.
> >
> > And what does the writer try to mean by
> > "I would request my community members to learn from the mistake of our
> > neighbouring states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram where inspite of
> > having seperate states, the tribes have lost their identity."
> >
> > I don't understand how the Khasis, Nagas, Mizos have lost their
> identities.
> > I think they have better identities now because of their Christianity.
> > Rajen Barua.
> >
> > From: bg
> > Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 12:36 AM
> > To: assamnet
> > Subject: [Assam] Conversions will distort the Mishing tribe
> >
> >
> > Conversions will distort the Mishing
> > tribe<http://www.assamtimes.org/Social/1484.html>
> >
> > Sir,
> >
> > It is sad to note that taking the advantage of the poverty of the Mishing
> > community in Majuli, Dhemaji and Jonai, numerous Mishing families are
> been
> > converted to Christianity by opportunistic Christian missionaries. I am
> an
> > ordinary citizen and can do nothing. As such I thought of writing this
> > letter to your newspaper so that I might create an awareness among the
> > Mishing tribe of Assam.
> >
> > I would request my community members to learn from the mistake of our
> > neighbouring states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram where inspite of
> > having seperate states, the tribes have lost their identity.
> >
> > Our own traditions are no way inferior to the rich Vatican City or Pope.
> > The
> > poverty in Mishing councils is because of the corrupt politicians among
> us
> > like Bharat Narah, Bhuban Pegu etc., not our customs, beliefs and
> rituals.
> >
> > Missionaries can give us money and English education, but cannot return
> our
> > identity when it will be lost by following Christian rituals and alien
> > traditions in our day-to-day lives.
> >
> > If religion is lost, heritage is lost. When heritage is lost, identity is
> > lost.
> >
> > It is time influential socio-cultural organizations of the Mishings, our
> > students' union and Mahila samitis launch rigorous awareness drive among
> > the
> > gullible Mishings or the Mishings will go 'missing' from the cultural map
> > of
> > Assam.
> >
> >
> > Yours sincerely,
> >
> > Rongmon Pegu
> > Dikhoumukh
> > Sivasagar
> > Assam
> >
> > http://www.assamtimes.org/Social/1484.html
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>
>
>
> --
> Manoj Kumar Das
> C 172 GF, Sarvodaya Enclave
> New Delhi 17 India
> 0091 9312650558 (HP) 9910972654
>
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-- 
Manoj Kumar Das
C 172 GF, Sarvodaya Enclave
New Delhi 17 India
0091 9312650558 (HP) 9910972654