The history of Christianity in Mizoram covers the origin and development of all forms of Christianity in Mizoram since the British occupation at the end of the 19th century until Indian Independance. Christianity arrived due to British intervention in tribal warfare, raids of British plantations. The ensuing punitive British military expedition was called the Lushai Expedition of 1871. The subsequent annexation of the erstwhile Lushai Hills to the British Empire opened the gateway for British Christian missions to evangelise the Mizo people.[1][2][3]
By the 1890s, the British Empire occupied all of Lushai Hills. The natives were still under the influence of several tribal chiefdoms, practising Sakhua (Luahai Animism) and lacking a writing system. There was an urgent need to introduce formal education. The solution came in the form of Christian missionaries. The pioneers were James Herbert Lorrain (He was given a Mizo name as Pu Buanga) and F.W Savidge (He was given the name Sap Upa), sent by the Arthington Aborigines Mission in London, who entered Lushai Hills in 1894, the year venerated in Mizoram as the "advent of the Gospel".[4] The Arthington mission was of Baptist persuasion and the first two missionaries were of the Baptist Church, the first church in Mizoram was a Baptist Church. It was established at Sethlun, Lunglei, which is still a venerated establishment by the Mizo populous. Even the recorded first Christian conversion was that of the chieftain of Durtlang, Aizawl, by the name of M.Suaka. Other denominations soon arrived, including Catholic, Salvation Army, United Pentecostal Church, Seventh-day Adventists and others.
Half a century later, the Mizos, by and large, were converted. A variety of indigenous denominations also emerged. The new religion was immensely effective at overturning the traditional culture. Christianity turned into a new culture and ethnic identity.[5][6] Attempts of revival of Mizo culture in the 1960s were objected by the Church. However, in the 1970's, the Church, upon seeing the loss of Mizo culture, began to revive several traditions such as Chapchar Kut. While Krismas is the biggest festival in Mizoram, Chapchar Kut is the second biggest due to these efforts.[7]
By the end of the 20th century, Mizoram became one of the most Christian-populated states in percentage behind Nagaland. The legacy of Christianity has led to the third highest literacy rate as of the 2011 census in India. Demographically, the native population is predominantly Christian.[8][9]
- ^ Hluna, J.V. (2003). Mizoram Hmar Bial Missionary-te Chanchin. Aizawl, India: The Synod Literature & Publication Board.
- ^ J. Meirion Lloyd (1991). History of the Church in Mizoram: Harvest in the Hills. Synod Publication Board. pp. 17–23.
- ^ "Chapter 1. The terrifying tribesmen of the Mizo Hills". www.mizostory.org. Mizo Story. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- ^ Press Trust of India (11 January 2013). "Mizoram observes Missionary Day". in.com India. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
- ^ Lalsangkima Pachuau (2006). "Mizo "Sakhua" in Transition". Missiology. 34 (1): 41–57. doi:10.1177/009182960603400105. S2CID 133021703.
- ^ Farhadian, Charles E., ed. (2012). Introducing World Christianity. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. p. 104. ISBN 9781405182485.
- ^ Pachuau, Joy (13 April 2015). The Camera as Witness. Cambridge. pp. 275–276. ISBN 9781107073395.
- ^ "Population By Religion In Mizoram (2001) Census". National Informatics Centre, Mizoram State Centre. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- ^ "Demographic Profile". Mizoram Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Mission. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2014.