6 years after Converting to Islam, Kundapur youth returns to Hinduism

6 years after Converting to Islam, Kundapur youth returns to Hinduism

Kundapur: A 24-year-old youth of Katbelthru, Kundapur Taluk belonging to the Billava community, had converted to Islam and taken the name Thayab Shiyan at the age of 18 has now converted back to Hinduism.

Sukesh Poojary 24, a native of Kundapur, son of Shivaram and Sujatha Poojary converted back to Hinduism at the office-cum-training centre of Sivasakthi Yoga Vidya Kendram Choorakkad, near Kandanad in Kerala.

According to Sukesh, he was involved in propagating the ideologies of Islamic fundamentalist groups across the country. Sukesh got attracted to Islam during his college days.

“I was associated with Jamaat-e-Islami, Salafi Association, and Dhawa groups. I was converted to Islam in Bengaluru at the age of 18 and became Thayab Shiyan. Somehow, my mother came to know about it and she used to call me over the phone, asking me to come back. However, others in the centre advised me to switch off the phone. I was involved in preaching their ideologies,” said Sukesh. Moreover, he was added to several WhatsApp and Facebook groups operating from abroad.“Even after joining the yoga centre, I continued to be part of a few WhatsApp groups. I was an ardent fan of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. However, I exited the WhatsApp group after the role of Zakir Naik in the Dhaka blast was exposed last year,” he said. Sukesh said venomous fundamental ideologies are being propagated via these social media groups.

Sukesh also said that he was admitted to the Sivasakthi Yoga Vidya Kendram on March 23 last year. “My relatives knew about this centre and brought me here. Manoj Sir taught the lessons of Sanadhana Dharma which never disparage or denigrates other religions. I felt Islam as a religion has no freedom, especially for women. Hence, I returned to Hinduism,” he said.