Harish Shah (Wed Nov 3 1999 3:59 IST)
Hello Mr Chari why don't you show your disapproval to the Shiv Saianks who plan to create a riot when the Pope arrives in Delhi?

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:1 IST)
Harish Shah:The reports about Shiv Sena has not been confirmed. I am sure they will not do anything that would amount to taking law into their hands. However, I feel they are free to lodge their protests in a lawful manner.

Pramod (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:0 IST)
Charisaab: Can you tell me what is this inquisition? Is it only in Goa, or all over the world?

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:8 IST)
Pramod: When the portuguese established their rule in Goa, the church took over the role of administering religion there. Inquisition was the method used to convert the Hindus into Christians. Harsh punishments were meted out to those who would refuse. There are more details in a book 'Inquisition into Goa' by AK Priyolkar.

Rony (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:2 IST)
Mr Chari, isn't it a fact that your assertions on Hindu rights have been the most important reason for visciating the communal atmosphere in India. After Ayodhya demolition the worst riots followed? And everytime you say something there is tension in the air. When will all these end?

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:11 IST)
Rony: The riots cannot be related to the Ayodhya incident. The whole incident needs to go into details bur the riots were instigated by a section of one community only after the then Prime Minister announced that a masjid has been demolished. Earlier, two prime ministers had allowed worship by Hindus in Ayodhya. Anyway, what is wrong if the majority community in any country decides to assert their rights rather aggressively?

Tutu (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:2 IST)
By opposing pope's visit what political message you want to give to the rest of the world??

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:13 IST)
Tutu: Oppossition to the Pope's visit is not political. Our idea is to bring out certain facts relating to the church, the activities of the Vatican and the role of church in India in conversion. This is not a political opposition, therefore, there is no question of political mileage.

KK (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:8 IST)
Mr Chari, is there any difference between the RSS, BJP, VHP etc. If so please explain?

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:16 IST)
KK: The RSS was founded in 1925. The VHP and the BJP came much later. It is true that the BJP and the VHP share some of the core ideologies of the RSS. But constitutionaly they are different organisations. For more details you should read some books by the RSS or refer to organiser website www.organiser.org

Sneha (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:3 IST)
Hello sir. Is it true that there are more Christians in India than the government census says? Why is it so?

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:18 IST)
Sneha: It is true that there are more christians in India than what has been said in the government census. Details of this is available in an article titled 'Crypto Christians' by Rajendra Chadda in the October issue of Organiser.

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:20 IST)
Mann: It is wrong to say that RSS leaders are always Chitpavan Brahmins. In fact, none of the Sarasanghchalaks of the RSS so far were Chitpavan Brahmins and RSS does not believe in such caste equations.

Mann (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:11 IST)
Is it true that RSS leaders are mostly Chitpavan Brahmins from Maharashtra and Rajju Bhaiyya is the only exception. Why sir?

abdul (Wed Nov 3 1999 3:55 IST)
I would like to know whether you have been educated in a missionary school. If so, how do you justify your criticism, indeed, the Hindu hardliners' criticism of the Pope's visit ? Haven't Christians in India given food to poor Hindus and educated Hindus of all denominations whereas you people have simply watched from the sideline> Do take the trouble of commenting. Thanks.

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:25 IST)
Abdul: Although I have not been educated in a Christian school, I have great admiration for the social activities undertaken by some of the Christian organisations. But it should also be noted that they had and continue to have an ulterior motive that is of conversion behind all the social activities. Hindus have also been doing yeoman service in the field of education and other social activities. The Ramkrishna Mission, the Vivekananda Kendra, the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Seva International are just some of the few who are engaged in social activities. The Vidya Bharati runs more than 60,000 schools in north India alone.

Kokila (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:5 IST)
Mr Advani, Mr BP Singhal and several other Christian leaders have said that they had their education in missionary schools. Same is the case with the children of several other leading BJP leaders. After all that why is such a hue and cry against their educational organisations?

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:30 IST)
Kokila: The church established a number of educational institutions during the British rule when land was made available to them at the rate of Re 1 per acre (St Stephens College, Madras). After independence, taking advantage of Article 30 of the Constitution, the church continues to establish educational institutions dubbing them minority institutions. Unfortunately, this facility is not available to the Buddhists, Jains or even Sikhs. Article 30 discriminates between Indians on the basis of religion which is ultra virus to the Constitution. Either it must be scrapped or provisions be extended to all Indians irrespective of caste, creed, sex or religion.

Aury (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:5 IST)
Aury (Wed Nov 3 1999 3:56 IST) Hi Mr Chari. I travelled across India during the last elections. I found a striking thing: wherever Muslims are a sizeable population the RSS is very strong. And wherever Christians are in a sizeable population, it was not so (mostly locally assertive groups or Communists). Arent the present spate of attacks an attempt to grow in Christian areas? (I research on Indian polity here in the US)

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:33 IST)
Aury: Your findings need to be supported by more facts. It might interest you to note that in the recent elections BJP has won in all the seats reserved the tribals including the ones in Gujarat and Orissa where it was alleged that atrocities were committed on Christians.

Syam (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:15 IST)
Mr Chari, why is it that your RSS leaders always remain behind the curtains. We hardly know of anyone. Why such secrecy. Also, is it true that they are all bachelors?

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:36 IST)
Syam: Not all RSS leaders are bachelors, only those who are pracharaks are. They dont remain behind the curtains as you have said and for your record one of them is right here chatting with you.

Farida (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:13 IST)
Will the high caste Hindu's apologise to the SC and ST who they osctracised for years?

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:39 IST)
Farida:It is wrong to say that the SC and ST were ostracised for years. Anyway, this does not apply to the tribes at all. About scheduled caste, the question of apology does not arise now if you carefully read the reform movement that has taken place within the Hindu society. Almost all our saints and religious leaders belonged to the so-called lower class starting from Manu to Ambedkar.

Danny (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:18 IST)
Mr Chari but WHY ARE YOU OPPOSED TO CONVERSION? are you so scared that you will lose your power as religious leaders if there are too many conmversions? HOW CAN YOU COME BETWEEN SOMEONES GOD when you are just a human being?

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:43 IST)
Danny: The answer lies in your question. Hinduism does not believe in having agent between God and His devotees. Christianity cannot function without the office of the church presided over by the Vatican. A Hindu is naturally secular in the real sense of the term not as it is understood politically today. For a Hindu, all methods of worship are like different streams joining the same sea. Christianity does not believe in this. It would be nice if you can get a copy of the book by Swami Abhayananda titled 'Why a Hindu accepts Christ but rejects Christianity.'

Chadrashekar (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:28 IST)
Can you tell me clearly if Nathuram Godse was ever a RSS member?

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:46 IST)
Chandrashekar: Nathu Ram Godse had close connections with the RSS. Around 1935, he lost his contacts with the RSS and later when he started his own paper he even turned a bitter critic of the RSS. Therefore, he was not a member of the RSS. Meanwhile, if you know more about the RSS you would appreciate that the RSS does not have any membership at all.

Neena (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:20 IST)
The RSS betrays a complete lack of respect for women. Are there any women in your organisation. Like the colonial Roman Catholic Church you too seem to detest marriages. Also, your calls for a return to the castiest mold of life, where women are pushed into smoke filled kitchens. IS in't it time that you reviewed your views on women?

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:54 IST)
Neena: I am afraid you are terribly wrong on facts. RSS has the highest regard for women, in fact, we worship Mother India. It is also wrong to say that we detest marriages. For women, there is an organistion called Rashtra Sevika Samiti which runs almost on the lines as that of the RSS.

abhi (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:49 IST)
i want to ask one question-in our country we are enjoying democracy--every one has constitutional right to worship the religion whichever he/she likes.now if pope is visiting our country why vhp is making a lot of noise?let them celebrate their religion in their own way.

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:56 IST)
Abhi: This is exactly is our viewpoint also. We dont agree with the Pope when he says that his religion alone is the true religion and that you gain salvation only through Christianity. I wish you would address your question to the Pope and manage to get an answer from him. We expect him to admit that truth is the same and different religion say it differently.

Congman (Wed Nov 3 1999 4:25 IST)
Why do you people wear funny looking khakhi shorts? What is the reason?

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 5:0 IST)
Congman: The uniform of the RSS was introduced sometime around 1927, two years after the RSS was formed. The RSS uniform then was influenced by the army and Hardikar's Rashtra Sewa Dal which also had the similar Khaki uniform. The RSS uniform has undergone a lot of change. Anway, you should be glad that the RSS is more popular by their uniform. Anyway, we would welcome your suggestion for a change.

Mr Seshadri Chari (Wed Nov 3 1999 5:1 IST)
Thank you, everybody. We are out of time now. Till we meet again, a Happy Diwali to all of you out there!