Coerced Conversion Of Faith : A Sikh Perspective

All religious people are likely to agree that the concept of religion emerged to bring about a peaceful and cooperative human society in the world. Instead, human society has grown to be divisive and is infused with hatred for one another; each trying to copyright the concept of God. Coercive conversion of faith also arises out of this conflict. However, there is always a manipulative political system pulling the strings in the background, intensifying this divisive sentiment.
I need to highlight here that converting to another religion ‘out of free will and conscious choice’ is every person’s fundamental right, but I am discussing the situation where this right is compromised.   
We might distinguish ourselves as humans against other animals, but the fact remains that we too are an animal species in the jungle of life. The real distinction between us and other species lies in the fact that we are blessed by the Almighty with the conscience to make the right choice out of free will. And because of this advantage, God expects us to evolve as a civilised society by judging the wrong from the right, by choosing humane morality over animalistic base instincts, by being progressive rather than stagnant, by exploring the spirituality from within rather than bewildering outside, and by connecting with our Maker as spirit than be lost in materialism.
But alas! human beings took a wrong turn a long time ago by inventing a system of artificial inequality in the name of human society, under the pretext of evolving and civilisation. Monarchies, tribal hierarchies, political powers, and capitalism manifested out of this system, with innumerable variants of the infectious strain. Greed is the root of such degeneration. Anyway, the psychology behind the creation of manmade social structure is an encyclopaedic topic, but the above description shall suffice for the subject matter of my article, which aims to expose how religion is being used as a weapon against minorities with special focus on intolerance existing in the Indian society.
I have previously written at length about bigotry and prejudice promoted in India by the right-wing Hindu Tavi (extreme Hindu majoritarianism) organisation called the RSS (Rashtriya Swayam Sevak). I have also discussed the Caste system, Sati system, exploitation of women, and religious intolerance against all minority groups in the previous posts. So, in this article, I shall dive straight into the current issue of religious prosecution against the Sikhs through new methods.
Having tried all other methods of attack on the community, be it genocide, unlawful imprisonments, rapes, street lynching of Sikhs, etc. the autocratic regime has churned a new concoction to uproot not just the Sikhs but Sikhism itself. The focus of the Brahminic (Brahmin being the so-called uppermost caste amongst Hindus) mindset is more on how to convert Sikhs ‘out of’ their strong faith, rather than what alternative they could be forced to convert ‘into.’
If a fake magic trick were to be a bullet, conversion of faith would be the rifle itself.
Over decades, the Hindu Tavi Governments have invented many pseudo-religions, like Radha Swamis, Nirankari ^{(Misusing the term from Guru Granth sahib deliberately to tantalize Sikhs),} fake saints and cults to convert Sikhs out of Sikhism, but the results remained unsatisfactory for the conniving regime as the Sikhs inhaled every storm.
So, in the latest attempt, the deep state has conspired to use a well-established and globally recognised religious institute of Christianity in a desperate attempt to extinct Sikhism. I see the juxtaposition straight away- using a peaceful religion to destroy another peaceful faith.
Before proceeding I would like to stress that Sikhs are not opposed to anyone converting into any other faith, provided it is done willingly.
One could see converted Sikhs in all colours and races around the world, for example, in India itself, the USA, the UK, Canada, and many other Western countries. But admittedly, the number might not be as high as amongst a few other conversions of faith, and the prime reason for this could be that Sikhism is one of those religions that has no history of converting other people by force or even by using its referent power, or through vociferous propaganda. Along with this, India’s occupation of Sikh land is affecting their right to faith in Panjab itself, leaving aside spreading the peaceful message across the world. Yet, Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world, and that is God’s blessing. No wonder, the Brahminic regime has been obsessively vindictive to erode the faith.
The fundamental principles of Christianity share the factor of free will and non-coercive conversion with Sikhism. The ‘forced’ element entered into the converting process when religions became more political than spiritual. As a result, there has been too much interference by the monarchies and the governments, as well as corporations and influential people; no wonder religion has been distorted in many of its original aspects. However, it does not diminish the responsibility of the followers to safeguard their individual religion from such attacks and mutation. Otherwise, corrupt politics and the bourgeoise elite would swallow the aggregate religious identity.
Going back to the topic, it’s also worth noting here that Christians too are victims of discrimination in India and hundreds of churches have recently been destroyed. The shameful case of public rapes of Christian women in the Manipur district of India has already been mentioned in the previous post.
The agenda to force Sikhs to convert out of their own faith into Christianity means that a minority religion has been selected to be used against another minority religion.
But we need to stick together not to let such evil plans succeed.
The Hindu Tavi extremist mindset has engaged a multi-advantageous scheme:  
1) Christianity is an established Global religion and thus, it won’t require resources to legitimise it, as in the case of other pseudo-religions created before in India and failed. 2) If there would be any resistance by the Sikhs against conversion to Christianity, the Hindu ruling power would unleash the propaganda that Sikhs are fighting with Christians which would instigate Christians around the world, influencing anti-Sikh sentiment at a large scale. 3) Within India, Sikhs would psychologically feel surrounded on all sides- not just by the right-wing Hindu Tavi intolerance but also by other religions turning against them, which might force them to denounce their own religion at a larger scale and accept another.
Amidst such corrupt majoritarian politics, it can’t be blindly accepted that all these ‘newly on the scene’ pastors, preachers or bishops are genuinely Christian themselves. I tell you the basis of my scepticism- many RSS imposters have infiltrated into the Sikh institutes too, like some Gurdwaras and Panjab political parties. Fortunately, Sikhs have a simple measuring yard to recognise a genuine Sikh (most times) – By perceiving his/her character as set by Gurus’ standards. But sometimes, even Sikhs struggle to see through an imposter till it’s rather late. However such calculated loss is accounted for when a community is fighting for independence.
With all humble respect for Christianity and its principles, I shall quote Mathew 24:11: “And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray”.  
Before I describe the kind of magic tricks used in an attempt to entice a captive audience for conversion in Panjab, let me first describe how the ground was laid to corner the Sikhs.
As anywhere in the world where a large percentage of people have converted to another religion, poverty is prevalent. We all know that, whether we accept it or deny it. Similarly, over decades the Indian Government has been working diligently to erode Panjab financially- be it by rerouting their water to the other states without paying Panjab a dime and causing soil erosion, or it is to lowering the standard of education in the Panjab schools by diluting the curriculum, or by creating selective unemployment for Sikhs and filling positions with relocated Hindus from other states in Panjab, so on and so forth. When such circumstances are artificially induced, it affect the masses of that area psychologically, financially, and socially, creating depression and despondence. What was once the ‘bread basket’ for the country is reduced to the desperation of farmers who are committing suicide on a daily basis. From the perspective of the callous authoritarian regime, such ground is fertile enough to sow a canker of hatred and control.
Now, that we’ve understood ‘why’ Christianity has been chosen as the means for Sikhs to discard their own faith, and ‘what’ situation has been created to coerce them out of Sikhism, I shall describe concisely ‘how’ the drama is being enacted.  
To quote from the bible about miracles, Mathew 12:38-40 says, ‘No miracle on demand’.
My understanding of this verse is that God shall not perform miracle just because you ask him to. A miracle is neither a performance nor an exhibition of ego-power. This was the reason that Jesus sacrificed his life, rather than save himself by performing a miracle. This is exactly the case with the Sikh Gurus sacrificing their own life to set an example of resilience and courage for the rest of us. 
Also to add, Guru Nanak says, “Ridh Sidh Ja Ku Faree Tab Kahu Siu Kiya Kaj. Tere Kehne ki Gat Kiya Kahu Meh Bolat Hi Badh Laaj.”
I interpret this in English as: ‘If you have magical powers, then why do you need to work for anything (including praying or charity or any of God’s willing tasks)?’ Guru Nanak adds concerning the fake preachers and miracle performers, ‘What shall I say to the claims of performing miracles? I am even ashamed to have a conversation with such a person.’ 
In both the above quotes the message is the same: ‘Beware of fraudsters’! In addition, it’s only the Almighty’s omni-power that could perform miracle. Almighty means the lord without physical entity and that which is absolute spiritual energy and spiritual power- which is called ‘Nirankar’ in Sikhism. Look around at the world as God’s creation, and ^{look within yourself in the image of the same universe- This is the real miracle of the Almighty Lord.
Anyway, it’s a vast subject on its own, but to encase it concisely within the scope of this article}, I would focus on how the relationship between miracles and conversion of faith has been yoked together by the manipulative Indian polity. Along with personal experiences, thanks to ^{social media enough has been posted for the worldview} by the witnesses to expose the blasphemy of ‘playing God’ by the so-called pastors.
Examples might vary from a pastor sprinkling water ^{(claiming it to be holy but seem questionable)} on a person who reacts with uncontrollable trembling of the body and claims to have seen God’s light or in fact praising the preacher as being the true representative of God!! In another enactment, a pastor might place his hand on a disabled person’s head and after what might look like a violent convulsion, miraculously he/she suddenly gets life back in their limbs!! There have also been claims that a few pastors could bring people back from the dead!!
It seems to be the fake miracle brigade pretending to be church preachers that is distributing counterfeit religious certificates. It’s a magic trick, a show of ego and categorically a blasphemous act; in the process, it’s also disrespectful to a great religion like Christianity, in my view.
The circumstances created by the despotic regime are blackmailing people psychologically into adopting another religion in Panjab. This can’t be God’s work.   
True miracle defies nature and is a divine act, hence, can only be performed justly and morally by God himself.
Despite engaging in all the nefarious tricks, the Hindu Tavi regime is still frustrated since not many Sikhs have been bamboozled by the whole charade and Sikhism is still very much standing tall and strong. Yes, admittedly minority who have been victims of circumstances, as described above, have chosen to convert, but for the wrong reasons. One has the right to choose whichever path to connect spiritually, but doing the ritual for material incentive or out of fear is immoral at all levels.
If one religion offers incentives like admission to children in good schools, financial benefits towards medical care, affiliation to certain social and exclusive clubs, etc. it can’t be deemed as religious conversion. It seems more like a business transaction in which the buyer (the converted party) and the seller (the converting group) both benefit mutually. I do not see any hint of charity in providing these incentives to the desperate people, where there is an ulterior motive behind the seeming generosity. Equally, the receivers of such misplaced welfare are insincere in their intentions too.
In the case of India, the good name of one religion is being used against the other. In the unlikelihood, even if all Sikhs converted to Christianity, Christianity itself remains under the control of the Brahminic regime in India. Heads or tail, autocracy wins; not Sikhs but not Christians either. I hope Christians and Sikhs would stand together against such an assault on their individual faith by the un-godly dictatorship.
I would also sincerely appeal to the extremist Hindu Tavi ideology to consider converting out of their narrow-mindedness and convert to the peaceful morality of humankind. 
At the same time, may the Sikhs convert out of oppression and into emancipation. Amen.  

For further Reference :    https://www.youtube.com/@satlujtv, https://www.youtube.com/@PoliticsPunjab  ,   https://www.youtube.com/@TV84Official