History Of Christianity In Arunachal Pradesh

The book consists 27 research papers on religious culture of Arunachal Pradesh including tribal culture with emphasis on spirits and deities, sacred specialists, and sacred rituals etc. The Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism as practised by some Arunachali tribes are presented in a historical setting along with Brahminical culture in the foothills. This is the first such study of religious history of Arunachal Pradesh and their interaction with the people of Assam, Tibet and Myanmar through the ages.

On the religious proselytizing of Dafla, Indic people of Arunachal Pradesh; a study.

The book discusses the diverse movements of Charismatic and Mainline Church in Arunachal Pradesh, India Christianity in this region of India has grown at a considerable pace, particularly among those practicing indigenous faith. Concurrently, the mushrooming of diverse Christian denominations in the are has ben phenomenal; indeed, with some evidence of cult-like movements. The Christian Revivall Church, which forms the main basis of discussion in this book, is part of the primary Charismatic movement in the region.

Frankfurt/M., Berlin, Bern, Bruxelles, New York, Oxford, Wien, 2002. Studies in the Intercultural History of Christianity Vol. 129 General Editor: Jan A. Jongeneel Two of the most intense movements for political secession from India had been staged in the two - tribal states of Northeast India, namely Nagaland and Mizoram. Because the two states record the country's highest percentage of Christian populations, Christian missions in the Northeast have been suspected and accused of having played clandestine roles. This book challenges this pre-sumptuous allegation, and proposes that the root of the ethno-political movements must be sought in the identity-formation process of the people. The Northeast tribals' resentment to the depressing political identity imposed on them and their resistance to the threat of domination are identified as the immediate factors for the ethnopolitical revolutions. The development of Christianity in Mizoram is selected as the focus of the study. The Study discloses that the Mizo Christian experience of ecstatic revivals uniquely interlaced Christianity with the people's cultural identity, engendering the spirit of Mizo ethnonationalism. The emergent people's strong sense of identity resisted the threat of cultural domination and political assimilation by the Indic India. Contents: Introduction - Northeast India: - The Problem Child of Modern India - Crucial Milestone in the History of Mizoram - Christianity and the Ethnic Identity - Consciousness of the Mizos - Christianity and the Politics of Identity in Mizoram."

Persecution of Christians was unleashed by the national and state political administrations on the innocent and gullible tribal people in Arunachal Pradesh (erstwhile North-East Frontier Agency) with a systematic effort to block any Christian influence from penetrating the state and to suppress the Christian community already in existence there. In spite of this, Christianity in Arunachal Pradesh grew from strength to strength on the shoulders of its dedicated and committed followers who stood up for their beliefs against all adversities and obstacles and succeeded in laying its unshakable foundation in the state. Today, Christianity is the majority religious denomination in the state having grown from a mere 1% of the population and is currently estimated to be between 50-60%. This is an account of the policies of the administration, the persecution that followed, and the coordinated effort of various Christian denominations to protest peacefully against it.

This book examines the distinctive formation of Christianity in Nagaland, Northeast India, since 1947. It argues that an understanding of the history of Christianity in the region can be found in its cultural milieu and the changing political, social and religious environment. In Nagaland, almost 90 per cent of the population are Christians. This book shows that segmentation as a cultural characteristic of Naga society inspired both unity and divisiveness in the Naga churches, which subsequently shaped the beliefs and practices of the churches in the region. Using the methodology of cultural history, the author examines ecclesiastical events and suggests that the history of Christianity should be examined in the light of its interaction with its cultural context rather than as an isolated phenomenon. The book demonstrates that the ethnic status which the Christian faith assumed, the extent of its identification with the local culture, and the scope of the mission of the Naga churches as key stakeholders in society, offers a new angle on the history of Christianity in India. This book will be of interest to scholars and researchers of South Asian history, particularly those concerned with Northeast India and Christian history, historiography, cultural history, history of Christianity in India and faith-culture interface, religious studies, history and South Asian Studies.

The advent of colonialism and its associated developments has been characterized as one of the most defining moments in the history of South Asia. The arrival of Christian missionaries has not only been coeval to colonial rule, but also associated with development in the region. Their encounter, critique, endeavour and intervention have been very critical in shaping South Asian society and culture, even where they did not succeed in converting people. Yet, there is precious little space spared for studying the role and impact of missionary enterprises than the space allotted to colonialism. Isolated individual efforts have focused on Bengal, Madras, Punjab and much remains to be addressed in the context of the unique region of the North East India. In North East India, for example, by the time the British left, a majority of the tribals had abandoned their own faith and adopted Christianity. It was a socio-cultural revolution. Yet, this aspect has remained outside the scope of history books. Whatever reading material is available is pro-Christian, mainly because they are either sponsored by the church authorities or written by ecclesiastical scholars. Very little secular research was conducted for the hundred years of missionary endeavour in the region. The interpretations, which have emerged out of the little material available, are largely simplistic and devoid of nuances. This book is an effort to decenter such explanations by providing an informed historical and cultural appreciation of the role and contribution of missionary endeavors in British India.