A Study on the missionary movement in manipur and its impact on the society

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The Christian Missionaries came to the State of Manipur in the later part of the 19th century. The new religion had played a great role in transforming the life of the people specially the Tribals who practice animism.

The present State of Manipur is a small country peopled by various communities, the Meitei (Hindu), the Muslims, the Nagas and the Zomi-Chin-Kuki-Mizo group in the Valley as well as in the Hills respectively. The tribal live mainly in the hills occupying almost nine-tenth of the total area of Manipur territory. Before the advent of Christianity, the Meiteis had embraced Hinduism and the tribals practiced animistic religion. Manipur and its people were almost unknown to the outside world until the arrival of the Western Missionaries. William Pettigrew of Scotland was the first missionary who landed into the state of Manipur on 6th January, 1894. He was followed by Rev. Watkin R. Roberts (1910), a Welsh Missionary who worked in the Southern part. The two missionaries along with the native newly converts started to spread the new religion to the four corners within the state. The missionaries brought the Christian Gospel, Western education and modern medicines too. Truly, it was the Christian mission which introduced the tribal to the comity of nations. The missionaries alone are responsible for both good and the bad effects of modern civilization of the people.

The advent of Christianity has changed the outlook of the people at large. When we narrow down our perspective on the presence of Christianity in Manipur, it has been deeply imprinted in the minds of the people in general and particularly the tribal.

Although quite a few research work and literature work had been produced about the history of Christianity in Manipur, no systematic attempts had been made to the on the missionary movement and its impact on the society (social and religious life of the tribal till death). For example, who are the first missionary who comes to Manipur and its mission policies? What changes were brought by the new religion on society particularly the tribal? How far the new religion was responsible for the transformation of the people? So on and so forth. So this study tries to attempt how the new religion played a role for the changed the people and the society (social and religious life of the people specially the tribal).

This study will be from the period before and after of 1894, the year in which they call themselves as a Christian community and subsequent establishment of the indigenous Church to the present day. Moreover, the study will give the history of the advent of missionary movement in Manipur, especially among the tribal, the subsequent impact on the society and so forth. Since the tribal are still far back in literature (English), the research will be also is relying on vernacular literature.

The study will be a combination of Library and empirical research. It will limit itself to resources (books, journals, periodical, etc.), available in English and local dialects. The empirical research would be on a questioner and interview with some of the church leaders.

Chapter one will give a brief description of the land, the people and their religion in Manipur.

Chapter two give a brief account of the missionary movement in the state and their mission works at different places in the state of Manipur.

Chapter three give a brief idea of how the different major Christian churches were established along with their mission activities.

Chapter four make an attempt of how far the new religion, that is Christianity had transformed the people and their society or in other word, its impact on the society.

In conclusion, the researcher would analyze the various findings through out the research work and would like to make few recommends for the future mission works /activities in Manipur.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Introduction 1
• Chapter-1 Historical Background of Manipur
• 1.1 The Land 5
• 1.2 Location 7
• 1.3 Population 8
• 1.4 The People 9
• 1.5 Religion 15
• Chapter-2 The Arrival of Christian Missionaries in Manipur
• 2.1 Introduction 19
• 2.2 Mission in the Northern Area and William Pettigrew 20
• 2.3 Mission in the Southern Area and Watkin R. Roberts 26
• 2.4 Mission in Other Area 28
• 2.5 Reasons for the Fast Growth of the Gospel 30
• Chapter-3 Growth of Major Christian Churches in Manipur
• 3.1 Manipur Baptist Convention 35
• 3.2 North East India General Mission (NEIGM) 39
• 3.3 Manipur Presbyterian Church Synod 42
• 3.4 Independent Church of India 45
• 3.5 Manipur Evangelical Lutheran Church 47
• Chapter-4 Impact on the Society
• 4.1 Cultural Changes and Development 54
• 4.2 Change in Life Style 56
• 4.3 Fulfillment of a Religious Need 61
• 4.4 Educational Mission 64
• 4.5 Medical Mission 67
• Conclusion 71
• Appendix 77
• Bibliography 79