AD 1910 to 1920 : The decade that changed the Kuki religious behaviour

Holkhongam Haokip *

Christmas Feast and Lenkhom (Gathering) at Churachandpur on 25 Dec 2011 :: Pix - Jimmy Leivon

The seed of Christian faith was showed for the first time in India by one of the First Disciple of Jesus Christ in the first half of the first century AD. After the 'Resurrection', mass religious proselytization was carried out in the whole of the Roman Empire through 'Royal edicts'. Out of fear and moral obligation, the Disciples and the 'followers' spread out the 'Word of Christ' beyond the Roman's influences and propagate to every mankind. St. Thomas spread the Gospel in the Eastern direction and reached India first in AD 46. It coincided with the reigning days of the Parthian king Gondopherns. The Apostle returned in 52 AD and starts the 'Mission'. He spreads the Christian doctrines and converted many natives into Christianity. He founded seven Churches along the western coast and while carrying out the works in the eastern coast, he was assassinated by a Brahmin probably in the second half of the first century A.D. He was buried at Malaypore in Madras (Chennai), and becomes the First Christian Martyr in India.

After his martyrdom, the Gospel began to spread rapidly in all corners of the country. The Good news reached the remote North Eastern parts of India through the Serampore Mission of the British Baptist Missionary Society in the early part of the 19th century. Gradually, it began to penetrate into the heartlands of many Janjatis. The Assamese, the Garos and the Khasis, the Mizos, the Aos and many other tribes began to receive the good news one after another.

The Mission was brought to Manipur first by Revd. William Pettigrew followed by Watkin Robert, U. M. Fox and Dr. G.G.Crozier. At the close of the 19th century, Pettigrew, who had landed on the soil of Manipur on the 6th of Feb. 1894, chose Ukhrul as its centre and set up a Mission School (1896). In the year 1901, twelve students were baptised. The first Baptist Church in Manipur, the Phungyo Baptist Church was organised in 1902 and the following few years witnessed a tremendous increase in the number of student enrolment and the new converts.

Christian activities among the Kukis begin with the establishment of the Ukhrul Mission School. However, the progress was rather slowed and nothing special was recorded till the year 1910 A.D. The period starting from the year 1910 to 1920 witnesses a lot of significant developments in the Manipur's religious history. This particular decade is a turning point in the religious live of the Kukis in Manipur, and it is testify by the following few facts.

1. Arrival of Revd. Watkin Robert, 1910.

William Pettigrew had already started his activities in Ukhrul since the last part of the 19th century and the kukis had responded overwhelmingly by attending the mission school, converting to Christ and baptising in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Thus, many Kukis living in different parts of the state received moral benefit from the mission that originates from the Northern side of the state. Plus with this, the Gospel also approached the Kukis from the Southern part of Manipur's Churachandpur through Watkin Robert.

The Welsh Presbyterian Missionary first came to a Kuki village of Senvon (Tuithang) on the 5th of Feb. 1910 and met its chief Pu Kamkholun Singson. Everyone was delighted to see the White men. The Kuki chief was converted and the Gospel was spread out to other neighbouring villages. Hence, the Kukis reaps the fruits of the Gospel both from the two directions. This makes the process of Christianisation among the Kukis faster than any other communities of the state. Tangkhulsare the first tribe to be converted into Christianity and Angom Porom of Pheiyeng became the first in Manipur and among the caste. The Kukis came in the third, but the credit of becoming the first largest community to responds to the call of the Gospel also goes to them.

2. Baptism of 1912

The first ever Christian Baptism in Manipur was conducted on Shri Angom Porom Singh by Pettigrew at Moirangkhom way back in early 1896. The second came in 1901 were students of Ukhrul Mission School were baptised by the same missionary. The third baptism took place at Ukhrul in 1912 and nine Kuki students studying at the mission school got baptised. They were baptised by Pettigrew, and they includes Pu Teba Kilong, Pu Longkhobel Kilong, Pu Pakho Sitlhou,Pu Jamkithang Sitlhou, Pu Seilut Singson, Pu Tongul Gangte (first Matriculate among the Kukis),Pu Thangneilal Hmar, Pu Dengkhup Gangte, Pu Songseh Neihsiel.Most of them went together with Pettigrew in propagating the doctrines to the south, south-east, Western hills and many other places in Manipur thereby converting hundreds of people and planting Churches in many remote tribal villages. These new converts are the Kuki Christian Pioneers of Manipur. Thus, the first Christian conversion among the Kukis in Manipur came in 1912.

3. Baptism of 1913

Another white missionary, U.M. Fox arrived at Ukhrul in 1911. On the 30th of August, 1913, three Kuki couples namely Pu Lhingkhosei and his wife Pi Chonghoi, Pu Let'am Kipgen and his wife Pi Chinthem, Pu Vumjaseh and his wife Pi Phalkim were baptised by U.M.Fox at Maram. These Kuki couples spread the word of God to the Western areas of Manipur. Later, Pu Lhingkhosei Kipgen and Pu Let'am even became Church leaders.

4. Mass baptism of 1914

The First World War was on in Europe between the Allied forces and the Axis forces, and the Christian religious movement was on full swing in Manipur particularly in the Kuki inhabited areas. On the 12th of Dec. 1914, twelve people including the chief of Thenjang (Tujangvaichong) Kuki village Pu Songjapao Kipgen came to Karong (20 miles away from Thenjang) to meet Revd. U.M.Fox. On seeing the Kuki Chief leading its people, the missionary was delighted.

But the chief was just accompanying the people and had no intension of becoming Christian. However, after much conversation, U M Fox convinced the chief and they all got converted and took baptism in the above mentioned river. After he came out of the river, Pu Songjapao took out his smoking-pipe, threw away his Sa-o (male necklace made of animal's teeth) and declared "today, I had won the devils and the spirits". PuU.M.Fox then proclaimed the establishment of the Tujangvaichong Church and nominates Pu Lhingkhosei and Pu Let'am as Church Pastor and Deacon respectively.

Tujang Vaichong thus became the first Kuki Baptist Church in Manipur. It is the second Baptist Church only next to Phungyo Baptist Church of Ukhrul. The establishment of this First Church was 'historic' as it opens a new era of Spiritual growth in the Kuki Christian Churches in Manipur.

5. The First Christmas,1915

For the first time, Christmas was celebrated at Karong in the winter of 1915 (25th and 26th Dec.) It was a joint Christmas initiated and arranged by Revd. Pettigrew and Pu Ngulhao Thomsong for the villagers of T. Vaichong and its surroundings. The first Church donates and brought a big Mithun for the grand celebration. During the celebration, the congregation sang a song "Ei sangsare, Isuabennakahonai" (There is no other Saviour as Jesus in this world). It was a Bengali song translated by Pu Ngulhao Thomsong for the specific occasion. Hence, the first ever Kuki Christian Christmas was celebrated with Pu Pettigrew as the main speaker.

6. First School,1915

The Ukhrul Mission School was the only educational institution in the hills of Manipur. As the need for having school arose among the people, delegates were sent to Uhkrul to meet Pu Pettigrew. The team, led by Pu Lhingkhosei with a single piece of traditional Kuki bead (equivalent to a big Mithun) left the village on the 20th of Feb. 1915. After seven days, they reach Ukhrul, meet Pettigrew and appraise the matter. Accordingly, a Lower Primark School was opened in the village in June, 1915. PuNgulhao Thomsong was deputed as teacher and he continued till 1917. He was not only a teacher, but a translator as well as a pioneer missionary.

Thirteen students were enrolled in the beginning. The school became the first Educational Institution to be established in the Western Hills. Gradually, it began to promote modern education in the whole areas (Twilang area) and many young boys and girls were educated from the school. In fact, by virtue of the basic knowledge they acquired from the school, many Vaichong villagers under the leadership of Pu Ngulhao Thomsong were sent to France as translator and labour Corps.

The Anglo-Kuki War (1917-1919), which has political, social and economic significance in the Regional as well as in the National history, is another historic event of the decade.

7. Kangpokpi Mission Head Quarter,1919

The expansion of the mission activities in most of the Kuki inhabited areas and other parts of the statenecessitated the establishment of Mission Head Quarter in a more convenient place at Kangpokpi in 1919. Dr Gallen George Crozier and his wife arrived at the newly acquired centre and they immediately started working by establishing school, hostel and Dispensary.

On Dec. 9, 1919, Mission School was established and Pu Angom Porom Singh was deputed as the Head Master. The establishment of this Mission Head Quarter accelerated the process of Christianisation among the Zeliangrongs in the Western Hills spearheaded by the Kukis. Kuki Christian missionaries from this centre and from twilang areas were responsible for spreading the Christian religion. They convert the people, translate songs, plant Churches and became even leader of the Church. PuPakhoSitlhou was the first Pastor of the Town Church at Tamenglong.

Today, Christian Centenary Celebration is going on in the state. The Centenary Celebration of the Baptist Denomination was already held at Ukhrul in the 90's. The Gospel Centenary was also celebrated in 2010 at Senvon in the South. The Centenary which is going to be celebrated at Tujangvaichung (Dec. 11-14), 25 miles from Kanggui is a Centenary Celebration for the establishment of the Church and the conversion of its chiefPu Songjapao Kipgen. Incidentally, T.Vaichong is also the birth place of the Kuki Baptist Convention (March 1958). It is the largest among the MBC's Constituent member having 270 plus Churches, 23 Parishes and 15 Centre Church.

The First Kuki Baptist Church is the Centre Church of the KBC Parish no. 6 with nine to ten Churches. This celebration is going to be historic and significant not only for the Vaichongs and the KBC, but more importantly, for all the Kuki Baptist Christians. Time has come for all the Kuki Church Leaders and Laymen to think, plant, pray and to work for the next hundred years. Let this auspicious occasion brings unity, brotherhood and spiritual growth among the Kuki Churches.