Guntur: In his recent '2024 New Year Message,' Pastor Paul Emmanuel of Emmanuel International Ministries and Christ Temple Foundation made controversial claims suggesting that the Indian Constitution owes its existence to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. According to Emmanuel, Ambedkar picked specific provisions from the American and British constitutions and compiled the Indian Constitution. He went on to argue that, upon close examination, the opinions of intellectuals lead one to believe that the American and British Constitutions were literally derived from holy books. Emmanuel concluded that, as a result, the Indian Constitution is indirectly derived and based on the Gospels.
Delivering this speech at Christ Temple, Mary Stella Indoor Stadium in Vijayawada, Emmanuel and his wife Nissy, renowned Christian evangelists from Andhra Pradesh, sparked a heated debate. The couple conducts influential Sunday prayer meetings, drawing a substantial following, with their Christianity and Bible videos garnering over 7 lakh viewers on YouTube. Emmanuel's remarks are perceived as an attempt to belittle the rich philosophical, cultural, social, and economic history of Bharat. His comments subtly aim to convince the audience that the advancement of the United States of America (USA) and European countries is attributed to their faith in Jesus.
While organizational elements of India's structures may have been adapted from other countries, critics argue that the soul, values, and principles guiding these institutions are inherently Bharatiya. The Indian Constitution, as articulated in the book "Courts of India – Past to Present Supreme Court of India," edited by Supreme Court judges, emerged as distinctly Indian in form, features, and character. It represents India's openness, cosmopolitanism, and willingness to engage with diverse traditions without losing its essence.
Emphasizing India's plurality and diversity, the Constitution is seen as a palimpsest, drawing upon and being influenced by a 5000-year history of lawmakers and lawgivers engaging in a dialogue across centuries and varied landscapes. However, global Christian missionaries, particularly in Bharat, are known to distort narratives unrelated to Jesus or Christianity. Systematically, they portray Christian nations as advanced and non-Christian nations as poor and uncivilized. This influences the subconscious psyche of Church followers, who, believing their pastors' statements without verification, become carriers and amplifiers of these messages.
In a similar vein, PD Sundara Rao, Director of Bible Open University of India (BOUI) and National President of AITCC (All India True Christian Council), made derogatory comments about the Indian national flag and the National Anthem. Referring to the flag as a 'piece of cloth,' he questioned the act of saluting it. Additionally, he called singing the National Anthem the 'Braying of a Donkey,' challenging the police to arrest him. He ordered the circulation of copies of his seditious speech insulting the National flag throughout India.
Supporters of PD Sunder Rao went further, advocating for a re-partition of Bharat with one part allocated to Christians. While these comments may seem childish, they find resonance in Christian homes, making it challenging for common individuals to counter the manufactured narrative.
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