Religion: Billy in India

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Garlanded and photographed, Billy Graham was cutting through India like Gabriel in a gabardine suit. In Bombay, bloody Communist-led rioting canceled his scheduled meeting; he toured the riot area instead and spoke to some stone-throwers. "They all had very sweet smiles." he said afterward.

Their smiles were no sweeter than Billy's. Shown a sarcastic editorial about him. all he had to say was: "A very friendly article." After an interview with Jawaharlal Nehru, he characterized the Prime Minister's attitude toward Christian missions as "very sympathetic and understanding," and diplomatically added that "not many clergymen" knew as much about Christian history as Nehru (who is an agnostic).

There was good reason for Evangelist Graham to smile, for seldom in his crowd-filled career had he met with such enthusiasm. Madras was clogged with out-of-towners seeking rooms; one group of 100 rode the train from Hyderabad four days and nights, and one man walked 400 miles to hear him. Caste was ignored in the stampede to see Billy. To an audience of 40,000 he spoke through two interpreters (one for the Telugu and one for the Tamil tongue).

"Many Indians seem to have the idea that Christianity is a western religion," he told them. "That is wrong. There were Christian churches in India before America was discovered." And when he invited his audience to "make decisions for Christ," they surged forward in record numbers. In three days, he spoke to more than 100,000 people, received about 4,000 "decisions."

Most who came were Indian Christians. But there were also huge crowds of Hindus, whose flexible faith allows them to enshrine Christ alongside Buddha.

In Kottayam, Palamcottah and New Delhi there was the same enthusiasm. "Graham Ki Jai" (Cheers for Graham), the Indians cried, and Billy acknowledged the enthusiasm Hindu fashion, joining his palms before his face and bowing his head. Presiding over a gathering of 15,000 on the grounds of New Delhi's Y.M.C.A. was an Indian Christian Princess, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, who in 1930 renounced her father's palace in Lucknow, became a Christian (Presbyterian), and is now India's Minister of Health. "Billy Graham," she said, "is one of those rare jewels who tread this earth periodically and draw, by their lives and teaching, millions of others closer to God."

Evangelist Graham bluntly tackled color questions: "Christ was born between East and West. He was not as light as I am, and was not as dark as you." To the folks at home Billy reported: "I am taking my wife a sari, the world's most beautiful garment. I mean to turn her into an Indian." And in U.S. newspaper columns he wrote: "The people of India love and respect America." He added: "I have fallen so much in love with India that I can be its good ambassador in my travels round the world."

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