Forty-four-year-old Joy, who led his family at the ‘Ghar Vapsi’ ceremony at Cheppad in Alappuzha district on Sunday, says he converted to Hinduism three years ago.
He has done it once again to ensure that he and his family are officially accepted as Hindu Pulayas, which will make them eligible for reservation benefits.
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A daily wage labourer, Joy lives with his wife and two daughters in a decrepit hut in Kanichanallor at Cheppad, near Haripad.
His parents, George and Janamma of the Palatharayil house, converted from Hinduism to become Pentecostal Christians several years ago. According to official records, they are Christian Cheramar. However, since the community did not come under the Scheduled Castes, they were unable to avail themselves of any benefits that their relatives enjoyed.
“We had converted back to Hinduism three years ago through a ritual held at the temple at Chettikulangara. However, we were told by the Cheppad village authorities that the certificate provided by the Travancore Devaswom Board was not sufficient to be formally registered as Hindus.”
His family then approached the Chengannur unit of the VHP seeking its assistance. “We were not offered any financial assistance to convert... They have offered to take up our issue,” he said.
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