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 their husband and father, it was reported in early December.
Ramesh Kumar, a Hindu, is scandalised by his family coming to faith in Jesus Christ. This is a common response to conversion in India, where changing one’s faith from Hinduism is abhorred and can lead to extreme violence. In many States anti-conversion laws exists.
In February, 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. Despite his well-paid job as a government employee he cut them off financially.
