The kerala Story's main theme is the religious conversion of Hindus and Christians to islam, a topic that few people cared to discuss. Although the Islamic preachers and storytellers never concealed their aim, their liberal-secular supporters refused to discuss it or allow others to. They benefit financially from Muslim communalism and are content with the electoral advantages brought about by Islamic radicalism. Because they lack the moral character to admit the troubling fact, they also lack the resources to study the phenomenon.
The movie, as expected, has sparked a hornet's nest. Exposure to a known fact always has such an effect.
The biggest criticism leveled at The kerala Story was the now-retracted statistic that 32,000 girls were converted in the state to become warriors for ISIS. Three girls who converted and joined isis are now mentioned by the movie's creators. Beyond this disagreement over figures, there hasn't been any significant impugnation of falsity. There is no disputing the fact that the movie's central thesis is true. There is no charge for spreading incorrect information. Instead, some are speculating as to why this reality is being told. The movie raises awareness of the issue of religious conversion and its effects in a politically awkward way.
There is no doubt that conversions of females occurred in Kerala. Additionally, neo-converts—even girls—were dispatched on jihadi missions abroad to fight for ISIS. In these missions, no women were hired for combat duties. These women were jihad prostitutes who catered to the comfort needs of jihadi men. We became aware of the tale when some of them requested the indian authorities to extradite them from Taliban prisons in Afghanistan.
What was the Muslim community's and the liberal-secular intelligentsia's response when this news was released? Were they simply mortified by the disclosure or were they horrified beyond belief? They either dismissed it as an isolated incident or, realizing it was the tip of an iceberg, fought to stop the situation from becoming further radicalized.
Is it a secret that converting someone to islam is regarded as one of the highest virtues? Without widespread approval of conversion and jihad in Muslim society, could people—even girls—be converted and sent on jihadi missions? Did the audience respond to the movie about it the same way back then? No, they didn't, thus it is necessary to reflect and comprehend what is happening.
Why Convert? The fundamental idea behind conversion is that one's own religion is the only source of truth and everything else is erroneous. As a result, it becomes everyone's responsibility to convert them to the "true" faith. If persuasion fails and the circumstances permit, force, temptation, or deception may be used to persuade the unheeding. The majority of historical conversions—a racist concept—have taken place as a result of violence or conquest. With the exception of Southeast Asia, the majority of where islam has spread is where Muslims have conquered. Although Sufi mystics played a significant part in converting people, they were unable to do it without the protection of the Islamic sword since they had to make people accept Muslim rule and the religion of the king. This was Islam's equivalent of the "Cross Following the Flag."
The Community of Converts The conversion of their ancestors may be seen today by the descendants of converts—roughly 80–90% of indian Muslims—as a supernatural blessing that spared succeeding generations from hellfire and guaranteed eternal bliss. However, the method by which this blessing was acquired is likewise a historical event. The foundation of identity politics may be seriously undermined if the story were to be told. Suppressing memories and obscuring history shapes communal awareness.
History of Conversion Since conversion historically followed conquering, the topic will continue to be divisive in India. It was seen as an insult added to injury by both the conqueror and the captive, whether it was accomplished through persuasion, temptation, or compulsion. Even 75 years after the Partition, the effects of these conversions may still be seen in the rise of separatist politics and religious radicalization.
Politics of Conversion There has been a change in approach to Dawah, or preaching and proselytizing, as the era of Islamic conquest is finished and wholesale conversion is no longer possible. Groups used to convert, but today individuals do. Sometimes, young women who are in love change. The community that loses a member views such conversion as poaching. Its political significance is beyond dispute. In India, changing one's religion entails more than just altering one's sense of the divine, vocabulary for prayer and worship rituals. Above all else, it represents a shift in the community and a change in allegiance.
Conversion from Islam The finest resource for understanding the political significance of religious conversion is Islamic jurisprudence. It states that a Muslim who changes his religion is guilty of apostasy and must be put to death. It is justified on the grounds that changing one's religion entails more than just changing one's own faith. It is as serious an issue as a soldier deserting to the enemy camp and amounts to treason to the Islamic state. This perspective sees faith groups as rival armies and religions as political ideologies. Therefore, the conversion campaign is the continuation of war through a different method. A new convert to islam is a religious success that the neighborhood rejoices in.
Ethics of Pluralism A pluralistic and secular society cannot permit such plots by one community against another. A minority community, in particular, cannot tolerate such persistent invasions into the majority because they could trigger a response that results in reverse conversion.
The Muslims were not an ongoing religious movement after the Prophet. They developed into a race centered on religion. Thus, attempting to convert non-Muslims to islam is as absurd as attempting to convert indians to Arab culture. It leads to identity uncertainty, which breeds severe fanaticism.
The Muslims would do better to acknowledge that all religions hold the same level of truth in a pluralistic country like India. If they are unable to do so, they should at least acknowledge that other people's religions are just as authentic to them as islam is to a Muslim. Therefore, attempting to convert others is unacceptable, just as does trying to change someone's gender or skin tone.
It's time for Muslims to give up the medieval concept of conquest and conversion in their own self-interest. If they didn't, this dream might become a nightmare.
Everyone should keep in mind the adage, "Don't do unto others as you would not have done unto you."
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