Karnataka: 50 years on, Yadgir family to return to Hindu religion

KALABURAGI: Nearly 50 years after his parents converted to Christianity, a 55-year-old farm labourer from Yadgir district has decided to return to Hindu religion along with his wife and three children.
Timothy Hosmani, who lives in Kanikal village of Gurmitkal taluk in the district, about 550km from Bengaluru, told TOI that he was not aware of the circumstances under which his parents Jnanamitra and Soubhagya decided to embrace Christianity since he was a small boy then."Now, we are preparing to return to our original religion," he added.
His father died 10 years ago and mother six years ago.
Family plans ceremony to mark 'ghar wapsi'
There have been isolated incidents of 'ghar wapsi' with a few families in Karnataka trying to retrace their steps and return to the Hindu religion. This is the first such instance in Yadgir in recent years. Reconversions are taking place amid furore over the anti-conversion bill, which has received the nod of assembly and is pending before the council.
Hosmani said they were from the Scheduled Caste and added that his family- wife Sharadamma, 50, sons Abhishek, Jnanamithra and Neil Armstrong - has been observing Hindu rituals and festivals for some years . His elder son works as a labourer in Bengaluru, and the other two are studying. Sources said Hosmani's parents were against the move to return to Hindu religion. The family is planning to have a simple ceremony to mark their legal return to its parent religion.