M.K. George S.J.
In today’s post-truth world, politicians—and even some religious leaders—manipulate public opinion through myths disguised as facts. Unless ordinary citizens challenge these narratives, we risk losing the foundations of a democratic and humane society.
One of the most persistent myths in India is the claim that Christians engage in forced conversions. Despite the lack of credible evidence, twelve states have enacted increasingly stringent anti-conversion laws. Legal experts point out that existing legislation already covers coercion and fraud, raising serious questions about the real purpose of these new laws.
Meanwhile, some political leaders not only ignore violence against Christians but at times even encourage it. Credible organisations report between 834 and 840 attacks on Christians last year—834 according to the United Christian Forum, and 840 according to the Evangelical Fellowship of India, of which 640 were verified.
Together, these laws and acts of violence erode the constitutional guarantees meant to protect every Indian citizen.
What the Data Actually Shows
Government statistics show that the Christian population in India has remained remarkably stable.
- 1951: 2.33%
- 1971 peak: 2.60%
- 2011: 2.30%
If forced conversions were widespread, these numbers would not remain flat for seventy years.
Lived Experiences
Many leaders of vocal anti-conversion groups were themselves educated in Christian institutions. Not one has ever claimed they were pressured to convert. Instead, they frequently describe their Christian educators as tolerant, inclusive, and intellectually formative.
One of the most persistent myths in India is the claim that Christians engage in forced conversions. Despite the lack of credible evidence, twelve states have enacted increasingly stringent anti-conversion laws. Legal experts point out that existing legislation already covers coercion and fraud, raising serious questions about the real purpose of these new laws.
In the same vein, Shashi Tharoor once reflected: “It is remarkable how much one order [the Jesuits] has done to educate and train millions of Indian children… We were absolutely free to express our beliefs and views. These teachers taught me to question the answers—and later to question the questions.”
What Constitutional Experts Say
Former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court A.P. Shah has repeatedly stated that anti-conversion laws are built on unproven allegations and violate constitutional freedoms, calling the panic around forced conversions “politically manufactured.”
Silence is deadly. Now is the time to speak-beginning with our friends, neighbours, and communities.
Former Supreme Court Judge Markandey Katju described claims of mass forced conversions as propaganda lacking statistical evidence. Justice Rohinton Nariman criticized these laws for producing no convictions and no substantiated data.
What Journalists Have Found
In an investigation for Truth vs Hype, Sreenivasan Jain concluded: “Not a single example cited in the petition comes under the ambit of ‘forced conversion.’ One example is completely fake.”
Rajdeep Sardesai reported from Chhattisgarh that Christian tribals lived in fear of right-wing groups who ostracised them and even prevented burial rites unless they “re-converted” to Hinduism. He noted that “ghar-wapsi” programmes have been systematically organised for years.
The Political Agenda Behind the Myth
The uproar over forced conversions serves a clear political goal. Right-wing groups depend on defining enemies to consolidate power. In India, they have targeted Muslims, Christians, and communists.
Political scientists observe that right-wing populism thrives on an “us vs. them” narrative—constructing a virtuous in-group and blaming out-groups for social problems. Scapegoating minorities strengthens internal cohesion, legitimizes strong leaders, and paves the way for exclusionary policies.
We must speak openly about the myth of forced conversions, affirm our constitutional right to practice and propagate our faith, and challenge dangerous narratives with patience and clarity. Our goal must always be to educate, not demonise.
This strategy is global. A Pew-linked report shows strong right-wing populist performances in elections across more than sixty countries in 2024. Their playbook is consistent:
- promote nationalism and cultural conservatism
- claim to fight corruption
- centralize authority under a strong leader
- use law-and-order rhetoric to expand power
- exert influence on media and judiciary
- suppress dissent
- employ economic populism
- mobilize emotions through symbolic politics
History’s most extreme example remains Nazi Germany.
Analysts note that the rise of right-wing politics globally is driven by economic insecurity, cultural backlash, and deepening distrust in institutions. Globalisation left many behind; rapid social and demographic changes intensified perceived threats. Social media amplified polarisation and anti-establishment sentiment, enabling right-wing narratives to spread quickly and mobilize discontent.
Time to Act
The response must begin with ordinary citizens. We need to speak with our neighbours—across caste, class, religion, or gender—to raise awareness and defend our shared civic values.
African theologian Stan Chu Ilo, writing about Nigeria when President Trump threatened to send troops to “protect persecuted Christians,” warned: “Trump and America cannot save Nigerian Christians… Aligning with the American religious right would be a tragic mistake.”
Right-wing forces will not save us; they may co-opt or harm us. Our hope lies instead in our faith and in courageous, honest action. The Social Teaching of the Catholic Church offers a clear path toward a community grounded in love, justice, inclusion, and dignity – the exact opposite of the divisive politics shaping much of the world today.
Indian Christians can learn from this. Right-wing forces will not save us; they may co-opt or harm us. Our hope lies instead in our faith and in courageous, honest action. The Social Teaching of the Catholic Church offers a clear path toward a community grounded in love, justice, inclusion, and dignity—the exact opposite of the divisive politics shaping much of the world today.
Start the Conversation
We must speak openly about the myth of forced conversions, affirm our constitutional right to practice and propagate our faith, and challenge dangerous narratives with patience and clarity. Our goal must always be to educate, not demonise.
Silence is deadly. Now is the time to speak—beginning with our friends, neighbours, and communities.
As Margaret Wheatley reminds us: “The most powerful tool for change is conversation. Through dialogue, understanding grows, and action becomes possible.”
