A Feminist View of Conversion: Coercion Versus Consent
According to Raphael Lemkin, genocide is “… the destruction of a nation or an
ethnic group… generally speaking genocide does not necessarily mean
the immediate destruction of a nation, except when accomplished by
mass killings of all members of a nation. It is extended rather to
signify a coordinated plan of different actions aiming at the
destruction of essential foundation of the life of national groups, with
the aim of annihilating the groups themselves.”
One’s identity is closely tied to one’s faith, thus conversion is also a type of genocide, although not overtly mentioned by Raphael Lemkin. The following is an excerpt from The Diary of 1947” by Nirmal Kumar Basu, who was Gandhi’s Secretary in 1946 and traveled in Noakhali with Gandhi.
Before I give an account of conversion in East Bengal in 1947, I have to say how feminists see sexual violence. According to Mackinnon, sexuality operates via laws, taboos, and prohibitions. Someone made those laws, the powerful, and others follow them. Under these circumstances, the distinction between “coercion” and “consent” is arbitrary. The following incidents are taken from Noakhali and surrounding areas in East Bengal during the partition of India when there was widespread killing, looting, sexual violence on Hindu women and forced conversion. In addition, the Muslim League Government and its offices, who were all in favor of the creation of Pakistan, did not protect the Hindu minority of East Bengal. So, as Mackinnon says, the distinction between “coercive conversion” and “consensual conversion” is arbitrary. For all operated on the basis of power structures that were overwhelmingly opposed to the Hindu minority, their faith, identity, and existence. One has to read the following incidence in these contexts.
Village –Debnagar
Pakistan Zindabad
Hereby all the common Muslim brothers are informed, Gaurhari Kaviraj, a Hindu, resident of Debnaga voluntairyly read the Kalima and converted to Islam. And donated Rs. 200/ to our Commiitee (Muslim League). All of their previous Hindu names have been converted to Muslim names. Kaviraj’s present name is Muhammed Noor Islam Chaudhury. Kaviraj’s daughter has been given in marriage to a Muslim, Abdul Wahab, son of Leda Miya. We fully believe that the following undersigned have brought honor to the above Noor Islam Kaviraj. Do not doubt his medicines.
The Individuals Who Converted:
Previous (Hindu) names: New (Muslim) names
Sri Swarup Bhowmick Sharafat Ali Bhuiyah Debnagar
Sri Nityananda Kaviraj Noor Muhammed Patari Debnagar
Alilel Rahman Debnagar
Achlama Miya Sang Bholachokh
Eyar Ali – Sang Bishnupur
Abdur Rahman Pal — Sang Debnagar
Leda Miya
Passport — original in possession of Srujukta Debtosh Dasgupta
Golam Rahman father Abdur Rahman.
The above individual has adopted the holy faith of Islam on October 15, 1947. His previous name was Satyendranath Majumdar (Hindu). At present his name is Golam Rahman (Muslim).
It should be publicized that he has adopted Islam together with his entire family.
Sincerely,
(Ind) Moh. Hamid Ulla
Kesharkhil
Village Aybpur
