An inquiry on Naga tribal identity, faith and history

October 27, 2022 13 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 27

Profound questions about the state of Naga tribal identity, Christianity, political history and future prospects were highlighted by the audience during the Morung Lecture XVII by Dr G Kanato Chophy’s titled, “Impact of Christianity on Nagas- A Historical Perspective,” at the Lighthouse Church, Dimapur on October 23.

In the two-hour long discussion, inquiries from several members of the audience, among others, revolved around the force driving the Nagas towards Christianity during the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the positive or negative traits of embracing Christianity and its current status.

On the driving force to Christianity in the early years, the Social Anthropologist at Assam’s Dibrugarh University, postulated that perhaps it could be due to the fact that Christianity could answer existential questions better.

Question on death, suffering and pain were provided by the new faith. In comparison, the old animistic faiths primarily focused on animal sacrifice to provide vague answers to one’s fears and doubts, he opined.

In another query with regard to the relationship between the Naga Nationalist movement and the Christian faith, he stressed that there was a clear distinction between politics and personal faith, particularly in relation to the leaders involved.

‘They managed to keep their religious beliefs and politics separately,’ argued Dr Kanato, who recently authored the book ‘Christianity and Politics in Tribal India: Baptist Missionaries and Naga Nationalism.’

On positive or negative traits of embracing Christianity at that time, he remarked: “Whether the Christian missionaries came or not, our worldview was bound to change.”

Dr Kanato further highlighted that it took a distinct evangelical worldview for the Missionaries to come to the Naga Hill.
As such, an inevitable change in the cultural landscape of the Nagas would’ve taken place, he said. “Today, Christianity is part and parcel of the Naga identity.”

Discussing further on what triggered the change in the faith during the 1950s’ and 60s centred around the Charismatic movement, Dr Kanato observed that it was not isolated to Nagaland, alone but a global phenomenon.

“We cannot disconnect the whole Naga Christian movement from the global movement as it was and is intricately connected,” he stressed.

These changes largely took place in the Eastern regions of the Tuensang Hills area. As such, the need to look at events from a broad manner where the Nagas were but one of the many players is needed, he opined.

On current state of Christianity in Nagaland, grappling with secularism and faith, he cited three points laid down by Naga social and peace activist, Niketu Iralu’s: “What is the Kingdom of God? Where is the Kingdom of God and when is the Kingdom of God?”

If these questions could be duly answered, he viewed that substantial number of problems confronting the Nagas today would be solved.

In the lecture, Dr Kanato contended that greatest impact of Christian mission intervention, in retrospection, was education and it transformed the Naga society.

However, he also stressed that study and assessment of impact of Christianity among the Nagas is not monolithic, but is dynamic and evolving, with various regional dimensions.

In the intervening period, there were significant cultural interaction and debates including even friction between Christianity and traditional culture, he noted.

“We have to acknowledge that mistakes were made, it was not a perfect transition,” he viewed.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/an-inquiry-on-naga-tribal-identity-faith-and-history