A radical Christian priest named Ezra Sargunam, who regularly spewed vitriol against the Hindu community, died in Chennai on Sunday (22nd September) at the age of 86. He was suffering from prolonged illness.
Ezra Sargunam, who served as a Bishop at the Evangelical Church of India (ECI), was close to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), its supremo M Karunanidhi and his son MK Stalin.
Following his death, Stalin remarked, “Closely associated with the Dravidian movement’s ideals, Bishop Ezra Sargunam had a close friendship and love for former chief minister M Karunanidhi. He used to participate in Christmas programmes with Kalaignar and me.”
ஈசிஐ திருச்சபையின் பேராயர், இந்திய சமூகநீதி இயக்கத்தின் தலைவர் திரு.எஸ்றா சற்குணம் அவர்களின் மறைவையொட்டி மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் திரு @mkstalin அவர்களின் இரங்கல் செய்தி. pic.twitter.com/SOqnCUaoe8
— DMK (@arivalayam) September 22, 2024
“I cherish the moments when I shared my thoughts with him while participating in the welfare activities on his birthday. Archbishop Ezra Sargunam served as a trusted guide of the Christian people and earned the goodwill of all communities,” the DMK leader continued.
In June 2019, Ezra Sargunam was caught spewing hatred against the Hindu community. He had claimed that there was no religion called ‘Hinduism’ and threatened to assault the practitioner of the Faith.
“Punch on their (Hindus) face, let them bleed. Then make them understand the truth (Christianity),” the radical Bishop had infamously said.
"There is nothing called as a Hindu Religion, Punch them in their face couple of times, make them bleed and help them understand the truth" – Bishop Ezra Sargunam, now you know why M.K.Stalin wants to uproot Sanatana Dharma. pic.twitter.com/L8lwwZMVop
— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 ( மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@HLKodo) June 12, 2019
He claimed that during the British era, the census officials were confused about the categorisation of Indians as Hindus. Ezra Sargunam alleged that a committee defined the identity ‘Hindu’ as someone who wasn’t a Muslim, Christian, Sikh or Buddhist.
According to him, a group of Brahmins at that time said that they wouldn’t accept scheduled castes and tribal people as Hindus but only as “good Brahmin”. He claimed that these Brahmins classified 50% of the country’s population as ‘not Hindu.’
Then, he went on to allege the ‘rise of Hindu Nationalism’ in India and lamented that everyone was supposedly being “Hinduised” for political gains. The radical Bishop then asserted that Hinduism is an “artificial religion”.
When Ezra Sargunam mocked Rajnikant
In November 2019, the controversial Christian priest mocked Tamil superstar Rajinikanth and claimed that the actor would keep talking about ‘entering politics’ until he is dead.
“He (Rajinikanth) will keep on speaking about his “Political Entry” till he goes to Coffin!” he was heard saying in a viral video.
He (Rajinikanth) will keep on speaking about his "Political Entry" till he goes to Coffin!
— Ethirajan Srinivasan 🇮🇳🚩(Modi Ka Parivaar) (@Ethirajans) November 16, 2019
– Ezra Sargunam!
What a human is he to utter such words, that too being a PRIEST advocating Jesus who spread peace and love! pic.twitter.com/T1EtIvAM79
When the notorious bishop abused PM Modi
In December 2020, Ezra Sargunam was seen abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and making distasteful remarks about the latter’s personal life.
He claimed that PM Modi had no right to rule India as he could not ‘live with his wife’ for even 7 days. “Can’t you live with your wife after marriage even for a week?! What merits do you have to rule this country?” the Christian priest brazened out.
“This fake man…We will be facing difficulties like these until this Modi is removed. He doesn’t know any difficulties. Only if he had raised children would he know the difficulties! We don’t even know with whom he lived! We are now stuck with him. Let us all pray to destroy him,” Sargunam had said.
.@narendramodi Sir how long will you bear with this and why? Sir be ruthless to this DMK AHs, these custards don't deserve your kindness or mercy, This is just a sample for the hatred shown in yesterday's DMK protest pic.twitter.com/uF2sFjGSiD
— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 ( மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@HLKodo) December 19, 2020
Interestingly, he made the derogatory, personal remarks in the presence of MK Stalin and other opposition leaders.
The radical Bishop had falsely claimed that Prime Minister Modi helped loan defaulters flee India and was financially helping them through the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Bishop Ezra Sargunam!
— Ethirajan Srinivasan 🇮🇳🚩(Modi Ka Parivaar) (@Ethirajans) April 3, 2019
Absolutely baseless and slanderous charges against PM Narendra Modi.
Says, Modi not only helps defaulters flee the country, also helps them financially through RBI.
It's a serious slander that needs to be legally dealt with. @HMOIndia @RBI @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/gamPzaaHaK
When Ezra Sargunam admitted to converting Hindus and experienced thrashing
In an interview with a Christian prayer channel Jebam TV, the radical Bishop narrated his experience while attempting to convert Hindus during the Allahabad Kumbh Mela.
“A few decades ago, we went to Allahabad January mela (Kumbh) to spread the gospel among ignorant masses taking a dip in the Ganges. Their mental make-up is different. They tore up our books, and clothes, trampled us & beat us up very badly,” he lamented.
#noconversion
— DharmaRakshak (@oldhandhyd) January 14, 2019
Bishop Ezra Sargunam, TN.
Few decades ago, we went to Allahabad January mela (Kumbh) to spread gospel among ignorant masses taking dip in Ganges. Their mental make up is different. They tore up our books, clothes, trampled us & beat us up very badly.
😂😂
🕉️💪✌️ pic.twitter.com/gLbS5z3Qyw
While studying at the Allahabad Bible Seminary during 1961-62, he along with some other students went to distribute religious literature to the pilgrims gathered on the banks of the Ganges for the Kumbh Mela.
He was subsequently thrashed, chased away and was trampled upon by a stampede. Injured he had to walk back to his seminary for 15 miles as his companions left him in the heat of the moment. Poor Ezra was utterly dejected and had almost quit his mission.
The last rites of the radical Bishop is scheduled to take place on Tuesday (24th September).
