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No. 318-716-V-CON.-Whereas representations have been made to Government from time to time that Christian Missionaries, either forcibly or through fraud and temptations of monetary and other gain, convert illiterate aboriginals and other backward people thereby offending the feelings of non-Christians;

And whereas it has further been represented that Missions are utilised directly or indirectly for purposes of political or extra-religious objectives;

And whereas the Christian Missionaries have repudiated these allegations and have asserted on the other hand that their activities are confined solely to religious propaganda and towards social, medical and educational work;

And whereas the Missionaries have further alleged that they are being harassed by non-Christian people and local officials;

And as agitation is growing on either side;

The State Government consider it desirable in the public interest to have a thorough inquiry made into the whole question through an impartial Committee.

2. Government are accordingly pleased to constitute a Committee consisting of the following:-

Chairman.

 

(1) Dr. Bhawani Shankar Niyogi, M.A., LL.M., LL.D., ex-Chairman, Public Service Commission, Madhya Pradesh, and Retired Chief Justice, High Court of Judicature at Nagpur.

Members.

 

(2) Shri Ghanshyam Singh Gupta, B.Sc., LL.B., ex-Speaker, Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Durg.

 

(3) Shri Ratanlal Malviya, B.A., LL.B., M.P., Manendragarh.

 

(4) Shri Bhanupratapsingh Giri Raj Singh Deo, M. P., of Komakhan, Tahsil Mahasamund, District Raipur.

 

(5) Shri S. K. George, M.A., B.D., Professor, Commerce College, Wardha.

 

(6) Shri B. P. Pathak, Secretary to Government, Madhya Pradesh, Public Health Department.

Shri B. P. Pathak will act as Secretary to the Committee.

3. The Committee shall enquire into the questions mentioned in the preamble and report to Government what the facts are.  On a thorough review of the question from historical and other points of view, the Committee may also make recommendations to Government as to the action that Government should take to deal with the situation as disclosed by the inquiry.

4. The Committee is authorised to frame its own procedure for conducting the enquiry and is requested to submit its report to Government with all possible expedition.

Representations have been made to Government from time to time that Christian Missionaries either forcibly or through fraud and temptations of monetary and other gain convert illiterate aboriginals and other backward people thereby offending the feelings of non-Christians.  It has further been represented that Missions are utilised directly or indirectly for purposes of political or extra-religious objectives.  The Christian Missionaries have repudiated these allegations and have asserted on the other hand that their activities are confined solely to religious propaganda and towards social, medical and educational work.  The Missionaries have further alleged that they are being harassed by non-Christian people and local officials, As agitation has been growing on either side, the State Government consider it desirable in the public interest to have a thorough inquiry made into the whole question through an impartial Committee.

Government have accordingly constituted a committee consisting of the following to enquire into the question and to report to Government what the facts are:-

(1) Dr. Bhawani Shankar Niyogi, M.A., LL.M., LL.D., ex-Chairman, Public Service Commission, Madhya Pradesh and Retired Chief Justice, High Court of Judicature at Nagpur-Chairman.

 

(2) Shri Ghanshyam Singh Gupta, B.Sc., LL.B., ex-Speaker, Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Durg-Member.

(3) Shri Seth Govind Das, M.P., Jabalpur-Member.

 

(4) Shri Kirtimant Rao, B.A., M.L.A., Ahiri, tahsil Sironcha, district Chanda-Member.

 

(5) Shri S. K. George, M.A., B.D., Professor, Commerce College, Wardha-Member.

 

(6) Shri B. P. Pathak, Secretary to Government, Madhya Pradesh, Public Health Department-Member.

Shri B. P. Pathak, will act as Secretary to the Committee.

On a thorough review of the question from historical and other points of view, the Committee may also make recommendations to Government as to the action that Government should take to deal with the situation as disclosed by the inquiry.

The Committee has been authorised to frame its own procedure for conducting the enquiry and requested to submit its report to Government with all possible expedition.

Public are aware that by a Madhya Pradesh Government Resolution No. 318-716-V-CON, dated the 14th April 1954, published in the �Madhya Pradesh Gazette�, dated the 16th April-1954, a Committee has been appointed to enquire into the question of the activities of Christian Missionaries and their grievances.

The first meeting of the Committee was held on the 30th April 1954 in the Secretariat building.

Before the Committee decide on the line of action that they will take in the discharge of duties entrusted to them, it is considered that a sort of a preliminary survey of the problem may be made and with this end in view request the general public, both Christians and non-Christians, individuals and institutions and organizations to send to the Committee such information including any literature that they may have.  This will enable the Committee to determine the exact points involved, which may subsequently form the basis of a definite programme for enquiry.

The Committee wish to visit almost immediately certain areas which may not he easily accessible afterwards, in order to have a general idea of the problem before them.  The Committee will be grateful for suggestions from the public regarding the areas which the Committee should in the first instance visit.

All communications are requested to be addressed by name to Shri B. P. Pathak, Secretary to the Committee, Nagpur.

The attention of Government has been drawn to the criticism that his been expressed in certain quarters against the composition of the Committee recently appointed to investigate the Missionary activities in the State.  Especially, the representative character of Shri S. K. George has been questioned.

Government wish to reiterate-what they have already explained in their communique announcing the appointment of the Committee-that the purpose of the Committee is to conduct an impartial enquiry into certain complaints and counter-complaints regarding the Missionary activities in the State.  Therefore, in selecting the members of the committee, Government were anxious to have on it men of unbiased and impartial outlook, who would function more as judges than as advocates of one side or the other.  The persons nominated have been chosen on this principle, and the Chairman of the Committee is a retired Chief Justice of the High Court and the former Chairman of the Public Service Commission.

As regards Shri S. K. George, he is a devout Christian and a nationalist, belonging to the oldest Church in India-the Syrian Christian Church, and has been an educationist and a public worker of more than twenty years� standing.  He has pursued theological studies both in India and at Oxford and was also working in Shantiniketan.  He has published several books on Christianity.  Commenting on his appointment, one of the outstanding Christian leaders in the country described it as a �wise� and �correct� choice.

Government wish to make it quite clear that it is not their intention to interfere with, or curtail in any way the right of every individual to practise his religion.  Government trust that all sections of the people will co-operate with the committee in conducting this important enquiry.

Public are aware that the Committee appointed by the Government of Madhya Pradesh, to enquire into the activities of Christian Missionaries in this State undertook a tour of some districts in the State with a view to secure preliminary information regarding the nature of the problem.  In the course of these tours, various sections of the people were contacted and they gave information, oral as well as in writing, to the Committee.  The Committee received correspondence tram the Christians as well as the non-Christians and have also gone through some records of the State Government.  They have prepared a questionnaire which is being released separately to the general public.  Members of the public and representatives of the various Christian and non-Christian organisations and institutions are requested to furnish such information on the subjects referred to in the questionnaire, as may be in their possession, supported by documents, if any. Copies of the questionnaire will be supplied to anyone asking for it by the Assistant Secretary, Christian Missionary Activities Enquiry Committee, Secretariat Building, Nagpur-1.

The questionnaire is divided into seven parts and members of the public and representatives of organisations are requested to furnish replies to such of the questions only as concern them.  It also gives the terms of reference of the Committee and a note for guidance in replying the questions.

Copies of the questionnaire in Hindi and Marathi are under print and will be available for distribution shortly.

The Committee is anxious to submit their report to Government at an early date and shall, therefore, appreciate if replies to the questionnaire are sent before the due date, viz., the 1st January 1955.

The Committee trusts that the answers will be framed in the constructive spirit in which the questionnaire has been cast.