I'm a firm believer in the concept of multi cultural, multi religious, societies. I also believe that we need to develop the maturity of moving on from the past. There have been religious conflicts and wars all over the world since time immemorial, but that cannot be our future. We are more educated today, more enlightened today, and this education and enlightenment needs to show in the way we think and live.
At the same time, we can't be glorifying questionable people from the past -
any religion, any culture.
One example is Francis Xavier, regarded as a Saint by the Christians. From
whatever I know, he was involved with inquisitions in Goa. Pretty much everyone
is aware of what these were, but here's a link to an article shedding light on them nevertheless:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa_Inquisition
Today the Christian community is one of the most disciplined, law abiding, peaceful and friendly community you'll find. Christmas actually happens to be a festival very dear to me personally. I went to a Christian school for three years - Cardinal Gracias High School, Bandra (E), Mumbai - and to date visit the school and meet folks who taught me.
But institutions named after Francis Xavier are just wrongly named - period. There's probably a St. Xavier's school / college in every city today. These, and institutions named after any other personality associated with events as violent and disgraceful as the inquisitions, need to be renamed. We can, and should, still name them after Christian saints. But only those who have been ambassadors of love and peace.
I emphasize again: I have nothing against either Christians or Christianity.
The inquisitions don't define them as a whole. Just as casteism doesn't define
Hindus as a whole.
I'm only arguing for renaming institutions after better folks.
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