'People seldom appreciate Hinduism'

BANGALORE: If intellectual freedom must prevail, then we should rescue our ancient religion and take pride in being what we are, according to writer S L Bhyrappa.
At a seminar on religious conversion on Sunday here, he said Hinduism is a universal phenomenon and needs to be preserved. He asked the government to frame a law that bans conversion.
"Hinduism is criticized due to its association with untouchability and casteism but seldom do people appreciate its good side," he explained.
Writers M Chidananda Murthy, N S Rajaram, Haranahalli Ramaswamy and Shatavadhani R Ganesh were also present.
A book `Conversion ��� An Assault on Truth' was released at the seminar.
The speakers at the seminar maintained that secularism did not imply conversion and that the right to religion must not be mistaken as hindering the rights of other religions.