Why in News?

The Arunachal Pradesh government is framing rules to implement the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978, which has been dormant for 46 years.

The move has reignited debates on religious freedom, indigenous culture, and state intervention in faith matters.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• What’s in the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act?
• Why was the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act Introduced?
• Why has the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act Remained Dormant?
• Why is the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act Back Now?
• Conclusion

What’s in the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act?

• Enacted: 1978 by Arunachal’s first Legislative Assembly.
• Purpose: To prohibit religious conversion by force, inducement, or fraudulent means.
• Penalties:
  • Imprisonment up to two years.
  • Fine up to ₹10,000 for forced conversions.
• Reporting requirement:
  • All conversions must be reported to the Deputy Commissioner.
  • Non-compliance penalizes the individual performing the conversion.
  • The Act remained dormant due to the absence of implementation rules.

Why was the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act Introduced?

• Diverse ethnic communities: Arunachal has a rich tapestry of indigenous beliefs, including Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, and polytheistic practices like Donyi Polo worship.
• Missionary inroads:
  • Christianity entered Arunachal in the 1950s, later than other northeastern states, due to colonial isolation policies and difficult terrain.
  • First church was established in 1957 at Rayang village.
• Debates on conversion: Conversion led to socio-cultural changes in tribes like the Adi, Nocte, and Nyishi, sparking discussions on preserving indigenous cultures in the Assembly.

Why has the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act Remained Dormant?

• Opposition by Christian groups:
  • The Arunachal Christian Forum (formed in 1979) has consistently opposed the Act, calling it “anti-Christian” and prone to misuse.
  • Christianity now constitutes 30.26% of the population (2011 Census), the largest religious group in the state.
• Political sensitivities: Successive Chief Ministers avoided implementing the Act due to fears of alienating a significant voter base.
• External influences: The BJP government and RSS’s support for institutionalizing indigenous faiths renewed attention on the Act. 

Why is the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act Back Now?

• Legal push:
  • In 2022, advocate Tambo Tamin filed a PIL in the Guwahati High Court, seeking rules for the Act’s implementation.
  • The court directed the state to finalize draft rules within six months.
• Preserving indigenous culture: Experts emphasize the Act’s role in preventing the erosion of traditional practices amid rising conversions.

Conclusion:

• The revival of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978, underscores the ongoing tensions between protecting indigenous cultures and safeguarding religious freedom.
• As implementation looms, debates are expected to intensify, reflecting the delicate balance between faith, politics, and identity in the state.