An Interview with Anand Mahadevan

India is presently facing great communal disharmony, especially (though not only in) Orissa. During this volatile time, Anand Mahadevan, the editor of Outlook Business, wrote with great boldness and honesty about his conversion to Christianity (Click here to read it).

Greatly edified by his story & his convictions especially given the scenario, I asked Mr. Mahadevan to share some more details with our readers:

During this time of great communal disharmony, fueled by Hindu extremists claiming forced conversions to Christianity, what made you speak out about your own conversion from Hinduism to Christianity?

First, I would chose not to use the words `Hindu Extremists.’ I would prefer to refer to them as my Hindu friends, no matter how they act. I hope they see that violence and unlawfulness finds no place in the Hindu dharma. Two things made me speak up. First, there was a wrong perception that the poor, illiterate and backward caste people were being tricked or financially induced into converting. By speaking out, I wanted to break this myth and show that the rich, educated and the upper caste also chose to follow and worship Jesus. It is a personal choice. And both rich and poor, educated and uneducated, upper caste and lower caste and all mankind has a moral, and constitutional right to chose their faith. Jesus came to take away the sin of all mankind. Second, I was moved by passages from the Bible about Nicodemus. He first came to meet with Jesus in secret; in the dark of the night. But later, he stood up and acknowledged Jesus, first amidst the pharisees and he also came with Joseph of Arimathea to claim the body of Jesus after his crucifixion. I was inspired by Nicodemus and his decision to go public with his faith.

Many of the comments on your article at Outlook are anti what you wrote. Has writing the article changed you in anyway?

One of the joys of knowing Jesus is that it becomes easier to love. I have seen the many comments that have criticized me, my faith, my conversion and my decision to speak out. I respect all the people who have criticized me. I respect their right to hold their point of view. I respect their right to criticize me. Writing the article has not changed anything. What I wrote was heart felt. I wrote it in faith. And I will stand by what I wrote in faith.

(protests against anti-Christian violence in Orissa)

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Religion or Spirituality?

September in Mumbai India, especially in the lovely suburb of Bandra in which I live, is associated with the feast of Mother Mary. Scores of people, thousand upon thousands seemingly, descend on us to pay patronage to our Lady of the Mount either by making the 9 days novena or simply to pay a visit to our Bandra Basilica and offer up candles – many of them in different shapes (houses, body parts etc) to pray for specific needs.

While many admire the “simple faith” of many people who do these things, lots of people criticize them as having “no real faith” and only running to follow religious dictates with no personal spirituality of their own.

Many such critics put down religion and “religious spirits” and claim “the rituals are not important, the personal faith is”

I often have had discussions with people on this exact same topic – and it saddens me how more and more “born again” Christians leave the Catholic Church for this reason.

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