Muslim scholar embraces Hinduism

[Guest guest]

Muslim scholar embraces Hinduism

 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, April 6 (UNI) — Amid tight security and chanting

of mantras, young Muslim scholar Hassan Palakkode and two others,

including a woman, today embraced Hinduism at a ceremony held here

according to vedic rites.

 

After the "Ganapati havan" and purification ceremony, the trio,

Hassan Palakkode, Akbar and Jama, were formally converted to Hinduism

and adopted new names Kamala Hassan, Raju and Uma respectively. The

ceremony, organised by the state unit of the Shiv Sena, was held

under the leadership of Acharya Yogananda Swami. It was attended by

sanyasis from several ashrams.

 

A large posse of policemen stood guard outside the venue, near the

famous Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple, as Hassan, who completed a

course to be eligible to become a maulvi, had attracted the wrath of

Muslim fundamentalists for writing "secular" articles and questioning

polygamy. He is reportedly facing threats to his life after he

announced his decision to embrace Hinduism.

 

While the woman, Jama, is a Christian married to a Hindu, Akbar is

Hindu-converted Muslim.

 

Thirty-year-old Hassan is the first Muslim intellectual in the state

to change faith. His adoption of a new name Kamala Hassan evokes

memories of a recent high profile conversion in the state-that of

noted writer Kamala Das into Surayya.

 

Mr Hassan said though he had embraced Hinduism, he would never force

his parents, wife, children or brothers to change faith. He would try

his best to cooperate with them.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000407/nation.htm#13