Christianity and National Integration in Northeast India (Its Role Among Tribes & Communities for Contributing Towards Cultural, Educational, Humanitarian and Peace Initiatives)

Christianity being a universal religion is an integral part of India's history. The author traces the beginnings of this history from the earliest efforts of Christian missionaries, the peoples' response, and brings this narrative to more recent times.

The book is related to the importance of national unity & development, and Christianity in union with the nation. In this attempt, one has to adopt a new methodological paradigm reversing the traditional mindset of studying Christianity in the region from the perspective of Western Christianity. Its starting point will be from the outlook of the people and inclusive national consciousness.

Also, this learned work brings out the contributions made by the churches towards education and literature, medical service, other humanitarian services and peace initiatives; and the role played by the indigenous leaders in the continued grown of the churches.

Dr. O.L. Snaitang, an ordained minister of the Church of God, Meghalaya & Assam, Shillong was a former Professor of the History of Christianity and Missiology at Serampore College, Serampore; North India PG Theological Institute, Kolkata; and other Colleges in the Northeast and South India alike. He was an active member of the Church History Association of India and has served as its General Secretary (2002-2005) and President (2009-2012). He is associated with the North Eastern Hill University, Shillong as an external member, School Board of Humanities; Examiner of PG Theses; and a resource person for Refresher Courses under the Human Resource Development Centre, NEHU, Shillong in areas of Matrilineal Societies and Tribal Religion.

He has been awarded by the Government of Meghalaya with Meghalaya State Literary Award in 2009 and U Tirot Sing Award for Arts and Literature in 2015, to accord recognition of his contribution to the society through his writings. He continues to teach, supervise doctoral students and write.

I am honoured to have been requested by my teacher friend and scholar, Dr. O. L. Snaitang, to write this foreword for Christianity and National Integration in Northeast India.

Studies on Christian missions in North East India and their work among the numerous tribes and communities in the region has become a popular theme for social scientist. Historians in particular have worked on this study for long. The first studies were authored by missionaries themselves and largely published for their own supporters, benefactors and agencies. Historians continue to depend on such mission accounts. A theme that has been attracting the attention of scholars in recent years is the extent those tribes and communities that have accepted and pursue the Christian faith have integrated with the larger populace. Standing out as distinct tribal groups, several were involved is asserting their distinct tribal and political positions. The result was conflict, which happily is on the wane. And because these tribes are Christians, their aspirations have been critiqued as counter to the narrative on integration. There were many other smaller groups which have had much more smooth transition. Their histories require be told and brought into the larger histories of the region. Over these years and more so after independence to refer to adate, the churches have grown.

Christianity has become the preferred faith, a desire that should not be grudged by them.

The research of Dr. O.L. Snaitang is an effort to understand the role of Christianity in national integration and nation building. Whereas Christianity is a faith observed by large numbers in India, it was and continues in some sense to be looked upon in the region from the perspective of western Christianity. Snaitang's study traces the beginnings of this history from the earliest efforts of Christian missionaries, the peoples' response, and brings this narrative to more recent times. Incorporated in the text are the contributions made by the churches to education and literature, medical service, other humanitarian services and peace initiatives. The role played by the indigenous leaders in the continued grown of the churches in what may be considered the second phase of this development is another focus. Backed by impressive primary and secondary sources, the scholarship and interpretation of the author, Christianity and National Integration in Northeast India will add to our understanding of North East India.

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