A family of five in the State of Haryana in Northern India is struggling to make ends meet as winter approaches after refusing to give up their Christian
faith at the behest of the family patriarch. The patriarch namely Ramesh Kumar, a Hindu, is scandalized by his family coming to faith in Jesus Christ
which is a very common occurrence in India despite the risks. In many States anti-conversions laws exist, changing one’s faith from Hinduism
is abhorred and can lead to extreme violence.
In February of this year Mr Kumar, a married father of four, decided he could no longer tolerate his family’s attendance at a local church, and
demanded that they cease observing Christian worship. When they did not give in to his demand he began beating his wife and children and despite his
well paying job as a government employee he cut them off financially, then officially repudiated them on 25 September.
Mr Kumar stopped providing for their basic needs so his oldest son Neeraj (23 y/o) used his meager income as a shop clerk to provide for his
mother and three siblings who all remain students. They also received some intermittent help from a maternal uncle when these wage earnings were not
quite enough.
Not satisfied with this hardship he had put on his children, Ramesh Kumar approached his son’s employer the 30th of October to interfere with Neeraj’s
ability to feed his mother, brother and sisters. As a result of his father’s effort to malign his character and out fear for attracting further trouble,
the owner told Neeraj that he could no longer work at the shop.
On 15 November Mr Kumar escalated his assault and summarily said, “If you did not stop going to church. I will drive you out from the house and file an [apostasy] case against you all since you have changed your religion.”
Mr Kumar finally submitted a complaint to the police station in which he fabricated a story claiming that his family would, “take me church forcefully” and “want me to change my religion” . Mr Kumar further concocted that when he refused to do that his “family members tied my legs and hands and took me to the Church,” Falsely alleging that, “My son said if you will not go to Church with us then we can kill you.”
Three times the entire family were called into the police station for questioning and asked, “Why you have changed your religion and beat your father?” But the police refused to believe any statement that they made in their own defence and joined in pressuring the family to meet the father’s demands to stop attending church. All five believing members of the family are under great pressure to give up their faith, as the extended family is united against them insisting, “Everything will be all right if you stop going to the Church.”
But the children and their mother have resolved, “We will not stop going to the Church because we know Jesus is the True God who died for us.” These
events have only served to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ and have made them more determined to follow Him despite the suffering and
deprivation they now face.
On November 17, 2017 Mr Kumar put an advertisement in a local newspaper making the false allegations of physical abuse, disowning his family and disavowing
any responsibility for what might happen to them. We hope that this is not a prelude to violence against the family as his attempt to point out their
location to sympathetic radicals is duly noted. This advertisement was repetition of his earlier report on 25 September where Mr Kumar went to
the Court and made a signed official statement claiming the following:
I Ramesh Kumar Son of Shri Telu Ram, residing in Village Ravar, Karnal.
1. I am residing on the Above address
2. My wife Sunita and my Elder Son Neeraj, Pardeep, Sapna and Gaytari are out of my control and they beat me , so now they does not have any part with me and my belonging.
3. My wife Sunita and my Elder Son Neeraj, Pardeep, Sapna and Gaytari , if anyone will make any connection with them and will give them any money they themselves will be responsible for them.
Our British Asian Christian Association officer, Pastor Naresh, relayed his observations from his visit to the family:
“Today I met Sunita and her two children while her two other children where at school. She has four children, from eldest to youngest is Neeraj (23 yrs) , Sapna (19 yrs), Pardeep (17 yrs), Gaytari (15 yrs). When I heard their story their great pain was apparent. They have been abandoned by the community because of their faith and no one [except Pastor Ramesh] is coming forward to help them.”
Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the British Asian Christian Association, said:
“The disownment of his children by a patriarch has left this family very vulnerable. They have been targeted by a father who is caught up in the religious zeal that has become more commonplace in India since the Modi regime came into power.
“Proliferation of anti-minority propaganda, and a biased national curriculum that continues to demonize other faiths, has had the effect of polarizing communities. Moreover a growing number of incidents of minority persecution, is a poor indictment of Indian society which lacks harmony and tolerance in many regions.
“The Indian Government must retract the anti-conversion bill or the future for Christians and other minorities in their nation will remain bleak, as the law will serve as a weapon for extremists.”
Anti-conversion laws are contrary to Article 18 of the UN Human Rights Convention which India has ratified. Please sign our petition calling for India to remove it (click here).
The family have asked for help with their financial situation as they find themselves in severe difficulties. The son is actively seekeing work and
we would like to support the family for 12 months, while they find their feet.
On 5th November Pastor Ramesh helped them to find a rented house. Rent is 3500 Rupees (£40) per month. Since they did not have a gas cylinder,
stove and utensils, Pastor Ramesh gave them his, so he now no longer has anything to cook with himself. The Pastor also asked other believers to help them
but they are also poor and could not help them very much. Now winter has started and they do not have enough blankets or bedding to protect themselves
from the cold. A few beds have been loaned by Neighbors for the time being but they have to be returned.
Neeraj is not able to pay for his siblings school and transport fees. His brother Pardeep school fee is 650 (£8) per month (Class 10th) and
600 Rupees (£7) Rupees for transport, his youngest sister Gaytari total monthly school fees come to 1100 Rupees (£13) (Class 11th), while his
sister Sapna is studying in preparation for her Grade 12 Final Exams. Neeraj was working as a shop clerk before this incident happen but his
father told the shop owner the false report. Neeraj’s employer told him that he could not work for them anymore because of what his father said and that
does not want to have any trouble. This young man now has the major problem of needing to pay for food, rent, three folding beds, warm bedding and
the school fees for the younger siblings without a job.
Neeraj’s Father is also laying blame on Pastor Ramesh saying that the minister has converted his family and has disturbed his home life. Consequentially,
the police are repeatedly calling Pastor Ramesh into the police station, somewhere his lawyer has advised him against going. Their clear intention
is to arrest Pastor Ramesh on trumped up charges and incite people against him.
If you would like to sponsor this family please donate by clicking (here)
Anti-conversion laws are contrary to Article 18 of the UN Human Rights Convention which India has ratified. Please sign our petition calling for India to remove it (click here).
Paul warned Christians that choosing Christ would result in persecution in his letter to Timothy, and across the world we are seeing evidence of the rise
in attacks of Christians, who are by far the most persecuted faith. Please continue to pray for our Persecuted brothers and sisters in Pakistan and
India.
‘In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,..’ 2 Timothy 3:12
Ramesh is the name of the Patriarch and also the Pastor’s name.
The family of a four children and a wife that Mr Ramesh Kumar has disowned.
Pastor Naresh speaks with the family.
The family with Pastor Ramesh
BACA officer Pastor Naresh with Pastor Ramesh.
