Christian Faith, Tribal Identity & Arunachal's Anti-Conversion Law
July 18, 2026
Can an anti-conversion law protect indigenous culture, or does it threaten religious freedom? In this documentary, Newsreel Asia producer Harshita Rathore travels to Arunachal Pradesh to understand the decades-long debate surrounding the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (AFRA), 1978. Through conversations with leaders from the Christian community and the Donyi Polo movement, she explores why the law was introduced, why it remained dormant for 46 years, and why its revival has sparked fresh protests after the Gauhati High Court's 2024 directive.
The documentary also examines the history of religious conversion in Arunachal Pradesh, the revival of indigenous faiths like Donyi Polo, and the larger question of whether faith can ever be regulated by law. This documentary presents perspectives from both sides of the debate-Christians vs Donyi Polo, tribal identity vs religious freedom. We discuss allegations of conversion through force, fraud, or inducement, the concerns of indigenous communities about preserving their traditions, the role of organizations like the RSS, and why many tribal families chose Christianity.