Abstract
The British colonisers were interested in North-east India apparently for administrative control. In addition, its abundant natural resources and rich cultural diversity also attracted their interest. The North-east consists of seven states in a compact region, and each state is home to a diverse cultural milieu. The state of Nagaland is one such example of diverse Naga cultures. The coloniser conducted ethnographic work and devised administrative policy to administer the land and people. In addition to administration, the new religion (i.e. Christianity) introduced during the period also impacted their everyday life and worldview. This paper, however, examines the intricate relationship between the British coloniser and the American missionaries in Nagaland, thereby delineating the process of its impact on the Nagas. In a milieu where traditional religion already existed the missionaries were not only able to convert the tribal people to Christianity but also imbibed their values in them.
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Notes
- 1.
Here, Christianity means Baptist denomination of protestant Christianity.
- 2.
Village head, usually an elderly man.
- 3.
American Baptist Missionaries: A Baptist Mission movement which arose during the ‘Great Awakening’ movement of the eighteenth century in England and America.
- 4.
A local person seeking to talk about Christianity to others whose ultimate aim is to convert them.
- 5.
Temporary or permanent prohibition of certain food or activities.
- 6.
Author’s observation. The author is currently working on ‘Religious Syncretism’ in Nagaland.
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Longkumer, T. (2021). The Naga Mind: Colonial Encounter and Religion. In: Behera, M.C. (eds) Tribe-British Relations in India. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-3424-6_8
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