Ghar Wapsi#Reception

The word ghar is of Hindi origin which means "home".{{cite news |title=A dictionary of Urdu, classical Hindi, and English |url=http://dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.7:1:1949.platts |access-date=3 December 2019 |work=dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu}} The word wapsi is of Persian origin which means "to return".{{cite web |last1=Platts |first1=John T. (John Thompson) |title=A Dictionary of Urdu, Classical Hindi, and English |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/platts_query.py?qs=wapasi&matchtype=default |website=dsal.uchicago.edu |access-date=3 December 2019 |date=1884}}{{Cite web |title=معنی واپسی {{!}} لغت‌نامه دهخدا |url=https://www.vajehyab.com/dehkhoda/%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%BE%D8%B3%DB%8C |access-date=18 March 2022 |website=www.vajehyab.com}}{{Cite web |title=واپسی - معنی در دیکشنری آبادیس |url=https://abadis.ir/fatofa/%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%BE%D8%B3%DB%8C/ |access-date=18 March 2022 |website=abadis.ir}}

This term indicates the belief held by the organisations facilitating such programmes that most of the Muslims and Christians in India have descended from Hindus, and hence are returning to their "home" through reconversion.{{Cite journal |last=Hassan |first=Riaz |date=21 September 2016 |title=Religious Fundamentalism in South Asia: Some Preliminary Considerations |url=https://www.isas.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/media/isas_papers/ISAS%20Working%20Paper%20No.%20238%20-%20Religious%20Fundamentalism%20in%20South%20Asia.%20Some%20Preliminary%20Considerations.pdf |journal=Institute of South Asian Studies}}

There have been multiple cases of individuals and communities applying for reconversion into their old faith. Kulkarni has given instances of reconversion in Maharashtra region from early modern times. He claims that there was also reluctance on Hindu society of that period to accept people back into the fold but upon pressure from rulers such as Shivaji, the reconversion was allowed. More serious objections were raised when a community desired to return to their Hindu caste after many generations. During Shivaji's rule a group of Panchkalshi converts wanted to return, however the caste council (Got Sabha) raised objections and Shivaji and later Sambhaji had to postpone decision on the matter.{{Cite journal |last=Kulkarni |first=A.R. |date=1970 |title=Social Relations in the Maratha Country in the Medieval Period |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44141073 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=32 |pages=231–268 |jstor=44141073 |issn=2249-1937}} The rules on reconversion became tighter under Peshwa rule in mid and late 1700s.

More than 8,000 people in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh converted to Hinduism from July 2014 - December 2014 under the Ghar Wapsi programme. According to a VHP official, 1,200 people converted to Hinduism in a Ghar Wapsi event in Hyderabad.{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/141228/nation-current-affairs/article/ghar-wapsi-boom-telangana-state-andhra-pradesh|title=Faith matters: 'Ghar Wapsi' boom in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh|work=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=4 January 2015|date=28 December 2014}} In October 2019, 500 Christian Dalits in Andhra Pradesh were convinced to become Hindu and promise to never go to church again.{{cite web|title=Andhra Pradesh, nationalists push Christians to mass conversion to Hinduism|url=http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Andhra-Pradesh,-nationalists-push-Christians-to-mass-conversion-to-Hinduism-48367.html|date=25 October 2019|access-date=31 October 2019|first=Nirmala|last=Carvalho|publisher=Asia News.it}}

In April 2017, at least 53 tribal Christian families converted to Hinduism as part of the RSS's "Christianity-free" block campaign in Arki, Jharkhand. And at least seven other Christian families underwent a Shuddhikaran (purification ceremony) in Kochasindhri village.{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Saurav|title=RSS converts 53 families in drive to make block in Jharkhand 'Christianity-free'|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rss-converts-53-families-in-drive-to-make-block-in-jharkhand-christianity-free/story-Um4Q7elItY4escQeynJHXM.html|access-date=18 September 2017|work=Hindustan Times|date=10 April 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Gupta|first1=Mohak|title=53 families converted to Hinduism: RSS in Jharkhand wants block to be Christianity-free|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rss-53-families-converted-hindus-jharkhand-christianity-free/1/926251.html|access-date=18 September 2017|work=India Today|date=11 April 2017}}

In March 2021, 181 Christians in Garhwa district were converted to the tribal Sarna religion.{{cite news|last=Singh|first=Sudhendra|title=ईसाई बने 181 लोगों ने की 'घर वापसी', पांव पखार कर सरना धर्म में हुआ स्वागत|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/jharkhand/ranchi/181-people-who-became-christians-returned-to-the-sarna-religion-in-garhwa-jharkhand/articleshow/81516738.cms|access-date=15 March 2021|work=Navbharat Times|date=15 March 2021|language=hi}}

Between 2011 and 2014, about 8,000 Christians in Punjab were converted to Sikhism. Most of the reconversion was done in the Hoshiarpur district, followed by Amritsar and Batala.{{cite news |title=In Punjab, Sangh works for 'return' to Sikhism as well; SAD fumes |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/in-punjab-sangh-works-for-return-to-sikhism-as-well-sad-fumes/ |access-date=27 December 2019 |work=The Indian Express |date=22 December 2014}}

In September 2022, about 500 Christians reconverted to Sikhism in the Amritsar district. 56 families were reconverted to Sikhism from Christianity in the border area villages of Punjab.{{cite web|url=https://m.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/500-from-border-belt-reconvert-to-sikhism-433998|title=500 from border belt who had embraced Christianity reconvert to Sikhism|website=The Tribune|access-date=23 September 2022|date=22 September 2022}}

More than 100 tribal Christians were converted to Hinduism in the West Bengal's Birbhum district.{{cite news |last1=Bhabani |first1=Soudhriti |title=Ghar Wapsi: More than 100 tribal Christians converted to Hinduism in West Bengal |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/east/story/ghar-wapsi-drive-reconversion-vhp-tribal-christians-converted-to-hinduism-jugal-kishore-praveen-togadia-west-bengal-237786-2015-01-29 |access-date=28 March 2022 |work=India Today |date=29 January 2015 |language=en}}

On 15 February 2018 an Organisation called Hindu Samhati led by Tapan Ghosh organised “Ghar Wapsi” with 16 members of a Muslim family, who had “been re-converted to Hinduism”, being showcased on the dais of rightwing outfit Hindu Samhati.{{cite news |title=Tapan Ghosh: 16 of a family put on display at Bengal 'ghar wapsi' event |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/16-of-a-family-put-on-display-at-bengal-ghar-wapsi-event/articleshow/62924729.cms |access-date=28 March 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=15 February 2018 |language=en}}

During Agra religious conversions 2014, it was claimed that 100 – 250 Muslims converted to Hinduism. In May 2017, RSS performed conversion of at least 22 Muslims, including women and children, into Hinduism in a secretive ceremony at an Arya samaj Temple in Ambedkar Nagar district of Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh.{{cite news|title=Ghar Wapsi: 22 Muslims convert into Hinduism in Faizabad, UP|url=http://www.oneindia.com/india/ghar-wapsi-22-muslims-convert-into-hinduism-faizabad-up-2440808.html|access-date=18 September 2017|work=Oneindia|date=22 May 2017}}

In Bulandshahr, more than 100 Christians converted to Hinduism in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Rajpoot |first=Dharmendra |date=25 December 2022 |title=Ghar Wapsi: 100 converted back to Hinduism in UP |url=https://newindian.in/ghar-wapsi-100-converted-back-to-hinduism-in-up/ |access-date=22 January 2023 |website=THE NEW INDIAN |language=en-US}}

In January 2019, 96 Tribal families that converted to Christianity 9 years prior, underwent Ghar Wapsi to reconvert back to Hinduism. The event took place in Kailashahar in Unakoti district in Tripura. The event was done by the Hindu Jagaran Mancham, an affiliate of the RSS, and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).{{cite news |last1=Deb |first1=Debraj |title='Ghar Wapsi' bid in Tripura: 96 Christians 'reconverted' to Hinduism |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/tripura/ghar-wapsi-bid-in-tripura-96-christians-reconverted-to-hinduism/ |access-date=28 March 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=21 January 2019 |language=en}}

In 2015, about 35 people were reportedly converted to Hinduism at an event organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Alappuzha.{{cite news |title=VHP holds 'ghar wapsi' for 35 tribal Christians in Kerala |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/vhp-holds-ghar-wapsi-35-tribal-christians-kerala-17688 |access-date=28 March 2022 |work=The News Minute |date=5 January 2015 |language=en}} In 2015, 35 people converted to Hinduism in Kottayam district. They were Dalit families who had converted to Christianity a few generations back.{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/35-reconverted-in-kottayam-district/article6899926.ece |title=35 'reconverted' in Kottayam district |access-date=28 March 2022 |newspaper=The Hindu |date=16 February 2015}}

In 2021, 209 Christians converted to Hinduism, while 32 Muslims converted to Hinduism.{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/apr/02/at-47-hinduism-biggest-gainer-in-religious-conversion-in-kerala-2284660.html|title=At 47%, Hinduism biggest gainer in religious conversion in Kerala|first=M S|last=Vidyanadyan|date=2 April 2021|access-date=17 November 2021|work=The Indian Express}}

In 2015, first Ghar Wapsi happened in Tamil Nadu where 18 Dalit Christians reconverted to Hinduism by a ceremony done by the Hindu Makkal Katchi.

In 2020, 144 tribal Hindus who converted to Christianity many years ago converted back to Hinduism in Dang district, Gujarat by the Agniveer organisation.{{cite news |title=Gujarat: 144 tribals 'reconverted' to Hinduism in Dang|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gujarat-144-tribals-reconverted-to-hinduism-in-dang-6235405/ |date=26 January 2020 |newspaper=Indian Express |department=City: World |agency=TNN |access-date=26 January 2020}}

In 2021, 1,200 people were reconverted to Hinduism from Christianity in Chhattisgarh's Jashpur.{{cite news |last=Mallick |first=Avdhesh |date=20 November 2021 |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/chhattisgarh-1200-people-reconvert-to-hinduism-under-ghar-wapsi-abhiyan |title=Chhattisgarh: 1200 people reconvert to Hinduism under Ghar Wapsi Abhiyan |work=Free Press Journal |access-date=4 April 2022}}

In January 2023, 1100 people were converted to Hinduism from Christianity in the presence of BJP's Chhattisgarh state minister Prabal Pratap Singh Judev{{Cite web |date=25 January 2023 |title=Chhattisgarh: 1,100 Christians converted to Hinduism in "ghar wapsi" ceremony, by BJP Sec |url=https://sabrangindia.in/article/chhattisgarh-1100-christians-converted-hinduism-ghar-wapsi-ceremony-bjp-sec |website=SabrangIndia |access-date=27 January 2023}}

Secular groups{{Which?|date=November 2024}} and political parties are critical of Ghar Wapsi, when it is done with the state's support, as they say that it threatens freedom of religion in the country.{{cite journal|title=Coming Home (Ghar Wapsi) and Going Away: Politics and the Mass Conversion Controversy in India|journal=Religions|volume=10|issue=5|pages=313|author=Rajeshwar, Yashasvini|author2= Roy C. Amore|date=9 May 2019|doi=10.3390/rel10050313|doi-access=free}}

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• Shuddhi
• Dayanand Saraswati
• Swami Shraddhanand
• 2014 Agra religious conversions
• Love Jihad
• Netaji Palkar
• Bukka Raya I

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{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Jaffrelot |first=Christophe |chapter=Militant Hindus and the Conversion Issue (1885–1990): From Suddhi to Dharm Parivartan. The Politicization and Diffusion of an "Invention of Tradition" |title=Religion, Caste and Politics in India|year=2011|publisher=C Hurst & Co |isbn=978-1849041386 |pages=144–169 }}
• {{cite journal |last1=Sikand |first1=Yoginder |last2=Katju |first2=Manjari |title=Mass Conversions to Hinduism among Indian Muslims |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=29 |pages=2214–2219 |number=34 |date=20 August 1994 |jstor=4401654}}
• {{cite journal |first=Iris |last=Vandevelde |s2cid=144627380 |title=Reconversion to Hinduism: A Hindu Nationalist Reaction against Conversion to Christianity and Islam |journal=South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies |volume=34 |pages=31–50 |number=1 |doi=10.1080/00856401.2011.549083|year=2011 }}
• {{cite journal|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|volume=50|date=3 January 2015|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24481234|last=Katju|first=Manjari|number=1|jstor=24481234|title=The Politics of "Ghar Wapsi"|pages=21–24}}
• {{cite journal|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|volume=50|date=14 March 2015|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24481481|last1=Vijayan|first1=P K|first2=Karen|last2=Gabriel|number=11|jstor=24481481|title=Hindutva's Psychological Warfare: The Insidious Agendas of "Ghar Wapsi"|pages=22–24}}

• [http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-politics-of-othering/ The politics of othering], Charu Gupta, Indian Express, 20 December 2014.
• [http://www.firstpost.com/india/ghar-vapsi-civil-society-needs-to-challenge-rsss-conversion-agenda-1848629.html Ghar Vapsi: Civil society needs to challenge RSS's conversion agenda], Firstpost, 14 December 2014
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150201221643/http://carnegieendowment.org/2015/01/07/reconversion-paradoxes 'Reconversion' Paradoxes], Christopher Jaffrelot, Indian Express, 7 January 2015
• [http://www.reddit.com/r/GharWapsi r/GharWapsi], Ghar Wapsi Subreddit

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