Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that the trend of religious conversion among many of the indigenous and tribal communities of the state have led to dilution of their traditional beliefs and practices.
Sarma said indigenous and tribal faith and culture of the State have been prevalent for thousands of years and that all should come together to ensure these heritages are preserved for eternity without any dilution.
“The religious conversions have led to near extinction of many indigenous faith across the world. The current dispensation in the State has been working relentlessly towards towards preservation and propagation of indigenous and tribal beliefs and culture,” Sarma stated.
He also made a fervent appeal to the caste Hindu and Christian denominations to refrain from sanskritization and christianisation attempts through various means, including that of allurement through material and similar offerings.
Religious conversions have led to near extinction of many indigenous faith across the world, the Chief Minister said, adding that he was, however, not opposed to persons converting to another religion on his or her own free will and informed choice. There is ample space in society for diverse faiths to grow and develop together, he added.
Sarma on Sunday attended a function held at the Guwahati to distribute grants-in-aid of Rs 10 lakh each to 18 organisations working in the field of indigenous and tribal faith and culture, Rs 5 lakh each to 73 places of worship related to indigenous and tribal beliefs and an amount of Rs 2 crore to the Garchuk-based All Bathou Mahasabha.