Francois Gautier

Francois Gautier, a French-born journalist based in India, is the correspondent for the French newspaper Le Figaro and the author of Rewriting Indian History. In the following viewpoint, he presents his views on how Christians are treated in India. Allegations of Christian “persecution,” he contends, are based on factual errors in reports and a shallow appreciation of Indian history. In fact, during India’s history, Christians often persecuted Hindus and fraudulently or forcibly converted them to Christianity. He concludes by asserting that Hinduism is a religion of tolerance and that Indians must take steps to protect their religion and their culture.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What historical examples of Christian persecution does Gautier describe?
2. What lies behind many recent stories of violence against Christians...