Coming Home (<i>Ghar Wapsi</i>) and Going Away: Politics and the Mass Conversion Controversy in India

Abstract

This article addresses two recent socio-religious trends in India: mass conversions to Hinduism (Ghar Wapsi) and mass conversions from Hinduism. Despite officially being a secular nation, organizations allied with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are actively promoting mass conversions to Hinduism. Other religions organize mass conversions, usually of Dalits, away from Hinduism and its legacy of caste discrimination. While several states have controversial laws placing restrictions on mass conversions from Hinduism, mass conversions to Hinduism are often seen as being promoted rather than restricted.

Keywords

• Hindutva
• religious conversion
• ghar wapsi
• mass conversion
• India
• Dalit