04-21-2005, 10:09 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->National Convention on Census 2001: Emerging Challenges
Programme
An Overview
Data on the religious profile of Indian population as observed in
Census 2001 raises several issues of great national concern. During
1991-2001, unusually large changes have taken place in the religious
demography of India. The changes are especially drastic in the areas
lying to the east of the Purnia region of Bihar. Indian Religionists
have now turned into a minority in a wide belt comprising of Purnia
region of Bihar, parts of Santhal Pargana region of Jharkhand,
northern districts of West Bengal, and most of lower Assam and
Cachar. <b>Muslims now constitute 46 percent of the population of this
belt that passes through the exclusively Muslim territory of
Bangladesh. The region further east of this belt, comprising of the
northeastern states excluding Assam, now has 46 percent Christians
in its population; Indian Religionists form a minority in these
states also. </b>
This phenomenon of Indian Religionists being turned into a minority
in the whole of eastern India, starting from Purnia region of Bihar
to the easternmost tip of Arunachal Pradesh, is the culmination of a
process that had started in the earlier half of the twentieth
century, but which seems to have gained renewed momentum during the
last two decades.
Indian Religionists are under great pressure in the other border
regions of India also. In Kashmir valley in the north they have a
miniscule presence now; and in the western coastal strip starting
from Kanniyakumari of Tamilnadu and running up to Goa, Indian
Religionists are in a minority in several districts, and are rapidly
losing in their share of the population to either the Christians or
Muslims. The coastal belt of southern Karnataka seems to be rapidly
joining with the northern districts of Karnataka, Hyderabad region
of Andhra Pradesh and Marathawada of Maharashtra to form a large
belt of high Muslim presence and growth that runs all the way from
northern Kerala to central India.
Census data of the last two decades, and especially of 1991-2001,
indicate that the changes are not confined to the border regions
alone; proportion of Christians and Muslims is rising almost
everywhere.
When we look at the Indian region as a whole, including Indian
Union, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the change in the religious profile
seems even more drastic. The trends of the last about 120 years
indicate that Indian Religionists in the Indian region are almost
certainly going to be reduced to a minority in the latter half of
the twenty-first century.
Such sharp changes in the religious profile of a nation have varied
socio-economic and strategic implications. It is in our national
interest to honestly and seriously discuss the data on changing
religious profile of India, its multidimensional implications, and
to explore ways of modulating and controlling this process, which
has the potential of tearing apart this ancient nation.
"National Convention on Census 2001: The Emerging Challenges" has
been called with this purpose in mind. It is expected that about 200
concerned citizens, scholars and activists representing different
states of India shall attend the Convention; and, several well-known
observers and analysts of the changing religious demographic trends
shall discuss different aspects of the issue.
<b>Programme</b>
Dates: April 26-27, 2005; Tuesday and Wednesday.
Venue: V. K. Krishna Menon Hall, Bhagwan Das Road, Opp. Supreme
Court Complex, New Delhi â 110 001
April 26, 2005, Tuesday
Inaugural Session
10.00-11.15 a.m.
Session I: Demographic Imbalance in India
11.30 a.m.-1.00 p.m.
Session 2: Socio-cultural and Economic Impact of Demographic
Imbalance
02.00 p.m.-3.30 p.m.
Session 3: Demographic Imbalance and National Security
04.00 p.m.-5.30 p.m.
Session 4: Panel Discussion on Changing Religious Demography of India
April 27, 2005
Session 5: Global Trends in Religious Demography
9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.
Session 6: Sharing of Experiences and Possible Solutions concerning
Demographic Change
11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
Session 7: Facing the Challenges/ Steps towards a Solution
02.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.
Concluding Session
04.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Programme
An Overview
Data on the religious profile of Indian population as observed in
Census 2001 raises several issues of great national concern. During
1991-2001, unusually large changes have taken place in the religious
demography of India. The changes are especially drastic in the areas
lying to the east of the Purnia region of Bihar. Indian Religionists
have now turned into a minority in a wide belt comprising of Purnia
region of Bihar, parts of Santhal Pargana region of Jharkhand,
northern districts of West Bengal, and most of lower Assam and
Cachar. <b>Muslims now constitute 46 percent of the population of this
belt that passes through the exclusively Muslim territory of
Bangladesh. The region further east of this belt, comprising of the
northeastern states excluding Assam, now has 46 percent Christians
in its population; Indian Religionists form a minority in these
states also. </b>
This phenomenon of Indian Religionists being turned into a minority
in the whole of eastern India, starting from Purnia region of Bihar
to the easternmost tip of Arunachal Pradesh, is the culmination of a
process that had started in the earlier half of the twentieth
century, but which seems to have gained renewed momentum during the
last two decades.
Indian Religionists are under great pressure in the other border
regions of India also. In Kashmir valley in the north they have a
miniscule presence now; and in the western coastal strip starting
from Kanniyakumari of Tamilnadu and running up to Goa, Indian
Religionists are in a minority in several districts, and are rapidly
losing in their share of the population to either the Christians or
Muslims. The coastal belt of southern Karnataka seems to be rapidly
joining with the northern districts of Karnataka, Hyderabad region
of Andhra Pradesh and Marathawada of Maharashtra to form a large
belt of high Muslim presence and growth that runs all the way from
northern Kerala to central India.
Census data of the last two decades, and especially of 1991-2001,
indicate that the changes are not confined to the border regions
alone; proportion of Christians and Muslims is rising almost
everywhere.
When we look at the Indian region as a whole, including Indian
Union, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the change in the religious profile
seems even more drastic. The trends of the last about 120 years
indicate that Indian Religionists in the Indian region are almost
certainly going to be reduced to a minority in the latter half of
the twenty-first century.
Such sharp changes in the religious profile of a nation have varied
socio-economic and strategic implications. It is in our national
interest to honestly and seriously discuss the data on changing
religious profile of India, its multidimensional implications, and
to explore ways of modulating and controlling this process, which
has the potential of tearing apart this ancient nation.
"National Convention on Census 2001: The Emerging Challenges" has
been called with this purpose in mind. It is expected that about 200
concerned citizens, scholars and activists representing different
states of India shall attend the Convention; and, several well-known
observers and analysts of the changing religious demographic trends
shall discuss different aspects of the issue.
<b>Programme</b>
Dates: April 26-27, 2005; Tuesday and Wednesday.
Venue: V. K. Krishna Menon Hall, Bhagwan Das Road, Opp. Supreme
Court Complex, New Delhi â 110 001
April 26, 2005, Tuesday
Inaugural Session
10.00-11.15 a.m.
Session I: Demographic Imbalance in India
11.30 a.m.-1.00 p.m.
Session 2: Socio-cultural and Economic Impact of Demographic
Imbalance
02.00 p.m.-3.30 p.m.
Session 3: Demographic Imbalance and National Security
04.00 p.m.-5.30 p.m.
Session 4: Panel Discussion on Changing Religious Demography of India
April 27, 2005
Session 5: Global Trends in Religious Demography
9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.
Session 6: Sharing of Experiences and Possible Solutions concerning
Demographic Change
11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
Session 7: Facing the Challenges/ Steps towards a Solution
02.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.
Concluding Session
04.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->