‘I peeled many onions to see God, but I found Him in my tears’

He was dark and masculine. Having his favourite God Murugan’s tattoo imprinted on his chest, he had certain godly charm, but uncertainty writ large on his wide face. He wanted a job. He left his home in a non-descript village at Kadayanallur in Tenkasi and wanted to return making some moolah in God’s Own Country where the desi youths had some kind of allergy for menial jobs.  

Life took a dramatic tu

rn soon after he started working at Muslim landlord Pichemuthaliyar’s hotel. His daughter fell in love with him and soon he was thrown out of job. He was made to flee from village to village with his Muslim wife.  Twenty-three years passed by; Ramalingam and his three-member family are now following Christianity. More than a religious decision, it was a choice of getting the much-needed protection and a job.

As Joseph alias Ramalingam bows down to pray Jesus, with Murugan’s tattoo still on his body, I was curious to know what’s his take on Ghar Vapasi (Home Coming). “I peeled many onions to see God, but I found Him in my tears.”   

The lesson: It’s not varied religions but his struggles that helped him find God.  For him, life was not just about faith but surviving each day.

Who’s coming home?

 The term Ghar Vapasi should have evoked poignant memories of good old days or nostalgia in everyone’s mind  instead of hatred and divisiveness. Is conversion and reconversion an individual’s choice or their political and social aspects making it more a public issue? Is there any genuine reason for predatory (missionary) religions supporting conversion and opposing one’s reclamation of old religious beliefs? Is a debate on conversion and reversion is uncalled for or can we find a win-win situation for all by introducing a law? 

This vexed topic is a double-edged sword for common man.  One cannot deny the fact that Semitic religions thrived on conversions. Muslim rulers promoted their faith and converted lakhs of people while the British did the same offering goodies and some sort of identity to the underprivileged in a caste-hierarchical society.

 We have come a long way; but aren’t we still peeling the onions? Though science and modern thinking bloomed, religious supremacy failed to fade. Can the state have a say on individuals’ choice of changing or sticking to their religious faith? Who can stop somebody moving from one place to another in a global village? The reasons could be personal, financial or religious.

NB: There is reaction for any action; both conversion and reconversion can stay, provided there is consensus.  Let there be a law to allow people to practice many faiths at a time and find their god or allow them to change it if they want. Let others live without any religion and in peace.