Following the re-conversion of 470 families of Lambani community from Christianity to Hinduism at Rolli Tanda of Basavanabagewadi taluk on February 1, the message from the community is loud and clear: “We have no objection if people from our community convert to any religion, including Christianity; but what we want is that they fully embrace that religion, including getting their names changed. We will not appreciate half-hearted conversions among Lambanis.”
This is the opinion that emerged largely during The Hindu ’s visit to Rolli Tanda on Friday.
Dara Singh Rathod, who was recently appointed taluk head of the Vishwa Hindu Parishat (VHP), said that the community was more worried in view of the half-hearted conversions by the Lambanis. Mr. Rathod said that those who converted to Christianity did not want to worship Sevalal as their deity but sought all benefits offered to the community by the government under the Scheduled Castes category.
“When they want a different religion and a different god, then they should not seek our share of benefits too,” Mr. Rathod said.
On the unique dilemma the community was facing while dealing with half-hearted conversions by Lambanis, he said that as per their religion, the community cremates a married person upon his death but buries one who has remained unmarried throughout his life, on his death. “In one such recent case, a family that had converted lost a member. But it was confused whether to bury or cremate the dead. Even the entire community was hesitant in taking action and none of them visited the family of the dead. Finally, the family members agreed to reconvert to our religion, after which, the community members performed the cremation,” he said.
Another community member Basavaraj Pawar said that the community which has a rich tradition and heritage would lose its unique identity, if people converted to other religions.
About the Ghar Vapsi at the tanda, he asserted that the community only wanted to convince the fellow members to retain their own identity and remain in the community.
On the role of the VHP, Mr. Basavaraj Pawar said that the Hindu outfit only spent money for bringing migrants belonging to the community from Goa and arranging a function to reconvert them to their old religion.
