I do not celebrate the imposition of any religious ideology.

When Shivaji Maharaj departed from this world, a prominent Christian Missionary reportedly penned a letter to his queen in Europe. While glorifying Shivaji Maharaj’s character, the letter concluded that Shivaji would “rot in hell” for worshipping pagan (Hindu) gods.

Similarly, after Gandhi’s death, some Christian ministers claimed that, despite being inspired by Jesus, he would not enter heaven because he did not exclusively worship Jesus.

Many Hindu leaders visited Mother Teresa in Kolkata, but even as a courtesy, she never visited places like the Ramakrishna Mission or Mayapur Navadwip.

However, these instances do not lead me to reject Jesus as an inspiring personality. What pains me is the exploitation and prejudice propagated by certain missionaries. Their actions are often unjust and painful, but they do not grant me the right to harbor hatred toward Christians or good human beings of any faith. True goodness transcends religious boundaries. Religious individuals who embody virtue bring honor to their faith, even if their ideology appears radical.

I urge Christian missionaries to prioritize humanity over hatred for non-Christians. True love for Jesus—or any spiritual figure—cannot be expressed through hatred towards others. No spiritually evolved personality would wish for their followers to condemn others to eternal damnation simply for holding different beliefs.

I recently revisited my missionary school, which brought back positive memories—not because it was a missionary school, but because of the passionate teachers who imparted human values and responsibilities. Many of these teachers were Christians, yet they never attempted to convert us, nor did we resent them for their beliefs.

One English teacher, in particular, stood out. He was a strict disciplinarian, a retired Indian Army officer who had fought in the Sino-Indian War, and above all, a deeply humane person. Despite being a devout Christian, he once took us to the Raghavendra Swamy Mutt in Mantralayam during a scout camp and personally performed the pujas. He taught us invaluable life lessons and exemplified care and inclusivity.

I also remember my next-door neighbors, devout Christians, with whom we shared a warm relationship. I was a staunch Hindu, yet there was no attempt to convert one another, and our bond flourished on mutual respect. Similarly, in my ninth and tenth standards, I became good friends with a classmate who was the grandson of a missionary in Karnataka. Our friendship was never defined by religious differences but about shared experiences and camaraderie.

We even watched “𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘢𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘩” multiple times because of its inspirational portrayal of a teacher’s spirit. My objection has never been to Jesus or his teachings, but to missionaries with an agenda of conversion and superiority. I also oppose the European missionaries who created divisions among Hindus for their own gain.

I choose not to celebrate festivals that undermine my traditions or my people. I wish for the good Christians I have encountered to step forward and advocate for universal human values—care beyond faith, friendship beyond ideology, and love for Bharat beyond Vatican allegiances.

Let dharma prevail, for dharma transcends faith and belief. It is integral, universal, and inclusive, while nurturing individual faith in any tradition one follows.

– Govinda Das (ISKCON Member)