Book claiming Christ was Tamil Hindu relaunched amid protest

Mumbai, Feb 26: A controversial book penned by brother of Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, claiming Jesus Christ was a Tamil Hindu, was re-launched here today, 70 years after it was first published.

The book was relaunched at the Swatantryaveer Savarkar National Memorial in Dadar this evening amid threats of protests by Christian organisations, who have objected to the book.

Members of Alpha Omega Christian Mahasangh had threatened to gather outside the venue of the launch, carrying black flags to protest against the contents of the book.

But no such protest took place. The book, penned by Ganesh Savarkar, elder brother of V D Svarkar, was re-launched on the death anniversary of V D Savarkar. It was released by historian Pandurang Balkawade.

President of the Swatantryaveer Savarkar National Memorial Ranjit Savarkar, who is the grandson of Ganesh Savarkar, said Christians will feel proud after reading the book. The book, first published in 1946, claims that Christianity was initially a Hindu cult and that Jesus died in Kashmir.

It claims that people from the Essene cult rescued the crucified Christ and revived him with medicinal plants and herbs from the Himalayas. It also says Christ attained 'Samadhi' in Kashmir. The book- Christ Parichay - goes on to claim that Jesus was a 'Vishwakarma Brahmin' by birth and Christianity was a sect of Hinduism.

The Marathi book is being brought out by Savarkar National Memorial, a trust that preserves and propagates the Savarkar brothers' literature and ideology.

The book claims that the present day Palestinian and Arab territories were Hindu land and that Christ travelled to India, where he learnt yoga. The book says Christ's real name was Keshao Krishna, Tamil was his mother tongue, and his complexion was dark.

Asked about the claims in the book, senior priest and director of the Bombay Archdiocesan Heritage Museum, Father Warner D'Souza, said such books will not shake the faith of Christians. Five other books written by Ganesh Savarkar were also relaunched at the event.

PTI