Publishing and republishing the World’s Most Popular Book (no, not Harry Potter) has spawned a mini industry of sorts. Variations of the Bible range from the classic to childrens to denim-bound Spanish. There are even serious discussions about whether Ebonics might be the best way to capture its nuance. And, of course, there have been Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Guju, and other desi language versions for decades.

Wikipedia notes –

The Bible continues to be the most translated book in the world. The following numbers are approximations. As of 2005, at least one book of the Bible has been translated into 2,400 of the 6,900 languages listed by SIL,[5] including 680 languages in Africa, followed by 590 in Asia, 420 in Oceania, 420 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 210 in Europe, and 75 in North America. The United Bible Societies are presently assisting in over 600 Bible translation projects. The Bible is available in whole or in part to some 98 percent of the world’s population in a language in which they are fluent.

Joseph & Mary, Loincloth & Sari, Turban & Bindi

To the list of the world’s interpretations of the Bible, India now adds another contribution…. the New Community Bible. While most desi Bible translations start with the King James text, for ex., and directly translate into local languages, the NCB is written in English but instead incorporates Indian cultural elements into the book –

THE words of the Bhagavad Gita and the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi have found a place in a controversial Bible published in India.

An illustration depicts the holy family as Indian villagers: Mary wears a simple sari and has a bindi on her forehead, while Joseph has a turban and loincloth. There is also a full-page portrait of Mother Teresa, the nun who served the destitute on the streets of Kolkata, with the words: “Pure and blameless religion lies in coming to help orphans and widows.”

Promoters of the New Community Bible claim it will help Indian readers by drawing on “the rich culture and religious heritage of our motherland”.

A team of 30 scholars worked for more than 15 years on the new edition.

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p>In addition to the core simplified English translations, in-line study notes/guides provide context using elements from local religions –

This commentary draws on the Bhagavadgita, a Hindu holy book, as well as Indian epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata to help explain the Bible to an Indian audience.

Jesus’ words about storing “treasure in heaven” in the gospel of Matthew are compared to the Bhagavadgita’s teaching that “work alone is your proper business never the fruits it may produce”.

The commentary refers to the songs of Mirabai, a popular 16th-century Hindu mystic. Her hymns of devotion to Krishna, a Hindu deity, are used to illustrate Mary Magdalene’s attitude to the resurrected Jesus.

The illustrations, in particular, directly visualize key aspects of the Bible but using motifs popular and familiar to every day Desis.

There are 24 line drawings, including those of mosque, temple and church with slippers outside, by the late Christopher Coelho.

The focus on local culture and traditions is interesting to say the least and has generated criticism from Hindu quarters –

This does not mean that we accept all teachings of Indian tradition as those of the Church. We are merely adapting them to Christian teachings wherever we feel there are points of harmony,” emphasizes Thelakkat. There remain points of disagreement like the view of rebirth, he adds.

While the Church is upbeat about the experiment, it has invited cautious reactions from Hindu groups in the state. “The move is welcome, but it remains to be seen if it’s just another attempt to use Indian symbols to spread Christianity. In areas like north India where the roots of culture run deep, missionaries have often found it difficult to reach out to the masses with their philosophy,” says Jaya Prasad, a professor at the Sri Narayana college, Kollam and office bearer of Bharatiya Vichara Kendram, an RSS think tank.

“A selective approach is not proper. Accepting Mirabai should mean accepting Krishna and quoting from the Upanishad’s should mean backing philosophies like Advaita (non-duality). Is the Church ready,” he asks.

And conservative Christians aren’t exactly fans either –

Although approved by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India and published by the Society of St Paul, the Bible met the disapproval of Protestants and other Christian groups, who believe it diverts from biblical truth.

Pastor Vijay Thomas who heads a Bible college in Chennai, told Christian Today, “By making it appear ‘Indian’ with references to Hindu scriptures and great poets, people will not come to the truth. This is a complete turn back from the real Bible.”

Oswald Gracias, the Catholic Archbishop of Bombay, defended the Bible edition, saying, “I am sure this Bible, made in India and for Indians, will bring the word of God closer to millions of our people, not only Christians.”

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p>The Bible’s publishers are steadfast in their defense –

Fr Joseph Thenasseril, chief editor of St Paul’s Publications that birthed this version says, “There are fundamentalists in every religion.” The general editor of the Bible, Fr Augustine Kanachikuzhy is staunch in his defence of the NCB. This edition was necessary, he says. “We have tried to root the Bible in the culture of this country, and have the permission of the local Cardinals to print this. All religions have some meeting ground and Indology has been taught at Catholic seminaries for decades…

…One of the NCB scholars, and rector of St Pious Seminary, Fr. Harold Vaz, says new editions of the Bible have always had their critics. There has been criticism of the Bible from the time the first translations were made from Greek to Latin. Were open to having a dialogue with people who have been objecting, so conflicting issues can be sorted out.”

Resistance to change in the Catholic Church is not new. When the Church encouraged the use of local languages instead of Latin for the mass, there were some Catholics who chorused their disapproval. Till date, there are Catholics campaigning for a return of the Latin Mass over 40 years after it was sent back to Rome.

My take? I’m all for it. Religion isn’t and shouldn’t be a static beast and its dynamic interpretation and re-telling is a hallmark of free speech, society and religion.