Christianity in Manipur: Difference between revisions

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{{use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
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{{use Indian English|date=May 2014}}
'''[[Christianity]]''' was the second-largest religion in '''[[Manipur]]''', a state of [[India]] in [[Northeast India|its Northeast region]], according to 2011 census data<ref>[[Manipur#Religion|Demographics of Manipur]].</ref> published by the [[Government of India]].
[[File:Imphal - St Josphes cathedral.JPG|thumb|right|260px|St. Joseph's Cathedral, Imphal]]
[[File:Religious map of Manipur.png|thumb|right|260px|Majority religions in Manipur—Christian in blue, Hindu in orange, Muslim in green ]]


{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: right;"
[[Christianity]] is the second largest religion in [[Manipur]], a state in Northeast India, according to 2011 census. The tribal communities, [[Kuki people|Kuki-Zomis]] and [[Naga people|Nagas]] are overwhelmingly Christian, along with their kindred communities in the neighbouring states.{{efn|Neighbouring [[Nagaland]] has 88 percent [[Christianity in Nagaland|Christian population]], as does [[Christianity in Mizoram|Mizoram]].}} The dominant [[Meitei people|Meitei]] community has only small numbers of Christians, but Meitei groups claim Christianity to be a threat.<ref name="Scroll 2023"/><ref name="New Lines"/> At the start of the [[2023–2024 Manipur violence]], Meitei mobs burned down 200–300 churches in the [[Imphal Valley]] belonging to all communities, and prohibited pastors from rebuilding them.<ref name="Sky 4 May 2023">
|+ Christians in Manipur
[https://news.sky.com/story/churches-and-homes-attacked-and-set-ablaze-in-india-violence-12872681 Churches and homes attacked and set ablaze in India violence], Sky News, 4 May 2023.
! Year !! Number !! Percentage
</ref><ref name="Hindu 5 May 2023">
|-
Ziya Us Salam, [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/christian-groups-alarmed-by-church-attacks-in-manipur-urge-centre-to-start-talks/article66817700.ece Christian groups, alarmed by church attacks in Manipur, urge Centre to start talks], ''The Hindu'', 5 May 2023. "While the Kukis and other tribals in the districts close to Imphal are the main targets as a community, the churches targeted include those of the Christians in the Meitei community."
| 2001<ref name="religion1">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm|title=Total population by religious communities|publisher=Censusindia.gov.in|access-date=20 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119031333/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm|archive-date=19 January 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>|| <center>857,285</center> || <center>37.37</center>
</ref><ref name="Mint 19 Jun 2023">
|-
Aman Gupta, [https://www.livemint.com/news/india/manipur-archbishop-claims-249-churches-burnt-in-36-hours-says-collapse-of-constitutional-machinery-11687135842800.html Manipur: Archbishop claims 249 churches burnt in 36 hours, says, 'collapse of constitutional machinery'], Mint, 19 June 2023. "249 churches belonging to Meitei Christians in Manipur have been destroyed within 36 hours, with some pastors told not to rebuild them, according to the Archbishop of Imphal."
| 2011<ref name="religion2">{{cite web|publisher=Census Department, Government of India|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/c-01.html|title=Indian Census 2011|access-date=25 August 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913045700/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|archive-date=13 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>|| <center>1,179,043</center> || <center>41.28</center>
</ref>
|-
|}


==History of Christianity in Manipur==
== Early missionaries {{Anchor|William Pettigrew}} ==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2014}}
[[File:Rev-willian-pettigrew guess 1902 (cropped).jpg|thumb|300px|Rev Willian Pettigrew guess (1902) - first missionary to the [[Kingdom of Manipur]]]]
In the beginning of the 18th century, Manipur had a heterogeneous population{{spaced ndash}} the [[Meitei people]] in the valley areas were the followers of ancient Meitei religion; the hill tribes of the surrounding hill areas were the practitioners of the primedival tribal religion and the [[Shan people]] of the [[Kabaw Valley]] in the eastern frontier were the followers of [[Buddhism]].


Prior to the coming of Christianity, several mission societies{{spaced ndash}} including the American and the Welsh missions{{spaced ndash}} had made an attempt to establish its mission centre in Manipur. But until the end of the 19th century, they were not allowed to enter the state, because of strong opposition from the [[Raja]] and the people. Moreover, the British official had to maintain status quo in religious matter and Mr. Maxwell, the then-[[Political officer (British Empire)|political agent]] of Manipur was fully conscious of the fact. Since the revolt of 1857, the [[British Raj|British in India]] had a social policy in their relationship with the princely states that they should not interfere with anyone's religion but maintain strict neutrality.
Christianity in Manipur can traced back to an [[Anglican Church|Anglican]] named [[William Pettigrew (missionary)|William Pettigrew]],<ref>
{{Cite web |last=Naresh |first=Huirem |title=Reverend William Pettigrew and Modern Education in Manipur - Imphal Times |url=https://www.imphaltimes.com/it-articles/item/14437-reverend-william-pettigrew-and-modern-education-in-manipur |access-date=2021-05-16 |website=www.imphaltimes.com |date=10 May 2019 }}
</ref> who lived in India when [[Surchandra Singh]] was the [[maharaja]] of Manipur. Pettigrew, who was born in [[Edinburgh]] and educated in [[London]], applied to work with the [[Robert Arthington#Arthington Aborigines Mission|Arthington Aborigines Mission]] in India and travelled to [[Bengal]] in 1890. He worked for two years in [[Dhaka]] and [[Silchar]]. In 1891, Pettigrew applied for permission to work in Manipur, but this was not granted until 1894. He worked for a time as a teacher in [[Imphal]], teaching the children of government civil servants and soon afterwards opened a school for boys in Manipuri and established a permanent [[Mission (station)|mission station]] there.<ref>
{{Cite web |title=Papers of William Pettigew |url=https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb891-wp |access-date=2021-05-16 |website=Archives Hub, JISC, UK}}
</ref>


[[Reverend William Pettigrew]] was the first foreign missionary to arrive in Manipur on 6 February 1894. With the consent of Mr. A. Portious, the acting political agent (as the political agent major Maxwell was on furlough), Pettigrew was able to establish a school at [[Imphal]] (at [[Moirangkhom]]),{{clarify|date=May 2014|reason=different styling of "Moirang" (for which there is a wikipedia article)?}} named after himself as the Pettigrew Lower Primary School. After six months of working among the Meitei people, he was not allowed to continue his work in the valley. This happened when the then-political agent major Maxwell returned from furlough. As he found the [[Hindu]] Meiteis alarmed by Pettigrew's work, he immediately ordered the missionary to stop working and leave Imphal.
==Origins==
The first Meitei to [[Conversion to Christianity|convert]] to Christianity is debated. It is traditionally believed that '''Angom Porom Singh''' of [[Phayeng]] was the first to be converted in around 1896, but another tradition says that '''Ningol Kaboklei''' met a Christian missionary in [[Sylhet]] (presently in Bangladesh) and converted to Christianity in around 1893, a few years prior to the arrival of [[William Pettigrew (missionary)|William Pettigrew]].<ref>
{{Cite web |last=Chandra |first=Madhu |date=12 June 2021 |title=Theological Scholars of Manipur Commemorate Saroj Nalini Arambam, First Theologian and First Woman BA, MA |url=https://imphalreviews.in/theological-scholars-of-manipur-commemorate-saroj-nalini-arambam-first-theologian-and-first-woman-ba-ma/ |website=Imphal Review of Arts and Politics}}
</ref><ref>
{{Cite web |date=4 January 2022 |title=Angom Porom Singh remembered |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2022/1/4/By-Our-Staff-ReporterIMPHAL-Jan-4-The-125th-spiritual-rebirth-ceremony-of-Angom-Porom-Singh-the.html |website=The Sangai Express}}
</ref>


From December 1894 until December 1895, Pettigrew searched for a suitable location for his new mission. First, he turned to the south and approached Kamkholun Singson, a [[Kuki people|Kuki]] chief of [[Senvon]] village, in December 1895. But as Pettigrew and his teaching was not welcomed by the chief, the missionary proceeded towards the northwest to the Mao areas. Here too, he faced the same treatment he met in the south. Not only this, he was warned by the village authorities to leave the place as soon as possible. In his search for a suitable location, he came to [[Ukhrul]] and went as far as Paoyi (now [[Peh]]) to the north; and on his return from Paoyi, he came up to [[Shirui]] mountain and further to [[Khangkhui]].
In December 1912, Porom Singh became the headmaster of a school at Ukhrul, where his teaching responsibilities included preaching the [[gospel]]. He was one of only seven Christians who stood by Pettigrew. At the outbreak of the [[First World War]], he helped Pettigrew raise a labour corps, later becoming a corps leader and an interpreter.<ref>
{{Cite web |last=Khongsai |first=Doulet |date=2018 |title=THE IMPORTANCE OF CHAKPA COMMUNITY IN RELATION TO THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY IN MANIPUR |url=https://www.academia.edu/38023829 |website=Commers Arts Science - International Research Journal (CASIRJ)}}
</ref>


=Early Christians of Manipur=
==Followers==
 
[[File:Phungyo Baptist Church Members, 2016.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Phungyo Baptist Church along with its members]]
=First Convert and First Indigenous Missionary of Manipur=
 
While some claim that [[Angom Porom Singh]] is the first Christian of Manipur, the first convert of the first Missionary, William Pettigrew, there are no sources to authenticate this claim. According to one of the reports of William Pettigrew, he is believed to be baptized only in 1903.
 
[[Angom Kaboklei]] is also believed to be one of the first Christians from Manipur. She became a Christian in Sylhet sometime around the time William Pettigrew arrived at Imphal in 1896. She was classical Manipuri dancer. She met missionaries during her trip to Sylhet, went for dancing.
 
Kaboklei is the first Artist who became a Christian from Manipur.
 
[[Saroj Nalini Arambam Parratt]] is the first theologian of Manipur who is also the first woman completed BA and MA in 1950 at Calcutta. She became a Christian while doing my study at Calcutta through her Naga Christian friends.


Soon after her MA and after became a Christian, went to University of London to do her Bachelor of Divinity. She met her husband John Parratt during her study at London. After marriage they went for mission work to Nigeria. Initially they wanted to come and work in Manipur. She also did her Ph
Protestants (mostly Baptist) outnumber [[Catholics]] in Manipur.<ref>
D from Australia National University. Her thesis, The Religion of Manipur is published. She also translated the Royal Chronicle of Manipur, The Cheithārol Kumbaba from original Meitei script to English.
{{cite web |title=Manipur |publisher=Metro Church of God |url=http://www.metrocog.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129&Itemid=18&290a7c14d6e615fbd04b2afcf51195c9=hcsbfgyc |archive-date=22 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322091855/http://www.metrocog.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129&Itemid=18&290a7c14d6e615fbd04b2afcf51195c9=hcsbfgyc}}
 
</ref> A [[Manipur Baptist Convention]] exists.
==20th century==
The [[Reformed Presbyterian churches|Reformed Presbyterian Church]] North-East India Synod has its seat in Manipur.<ref>
Having wandered through some of the neighbouring villages, he finally came back to Ukhrul and decided that it was most suitable place for his missionary work. In 1901, twelve students of the mission school including the [[Kuki people|Kuki]], [[komrem]] and [[Naga people]]{{spaced ndash}} established during the 1890s at Ukhrul in the hills north and east of Imphal{{spaced ndash}} were baptised; in 1902, a church was organised. This [[Phungyo Baptist Church]] became the first [[Baptist]] church in Manipur. In fact, as far as conversions are concerned, the two communities of the Kukis and the Nagas were the first to have received Christianity.
{{cite web |title=Churches in Membership |publisher=The International Conference of Reformed Churches |url=http://www.icrconline.com/members.html |archive-date=17 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717064352/http://www.icrconline.com/members.html}}
 
</ref> The [[Presbyterian Church in India]] and the [[Church of Christ]] are present in the state, too.<ref>
In 1906, twenty-five new converts were added. By 1907, the Christians numbered seventy. The Ukhrul mission school was attended both by the Nagas, [[koms]] and the Kuki-chin-mizo as well. Among the koms, we can mention Teba Kilong, Longkholel Kilong, among the kuki, Seilet Singson, Jamkithang Sitlhou, Tongngul Gangte, Helkhup Chongloi, Pakho Sitlhou, Thangneilal, Dengkho, etc. They were the first among the kom and Kukis to receive their schooling in the Ukhrul mission school, the first mission school in Manipur.
{{citation |title=India |publisher=Luisterend Dienen |lang=nl |url=http://www.luisterenddienen.nl/info.aspx?o=1673&inc=info&rIntNavId=1698&page=3651 |archive-date=22 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322081803/http://www.luisterenddienen.nl/info.aspx?o=1673&inc=info&rIntNavId=1698&page=3651}}
 
</ref><ref>
In 1910, Pettigrew was appointed as the superintendent of the first real census of the hill tribes of Manipur, as he had already learnt to deal with the tribes of [[Anāl Naga|Anals]], [[Kuki people|Kuki]], [[Tangkhul Naga|Tangkhuls]], [[Mizo people|Mizos]] and others. For the second time, Pettigrew went to the south and preached the gospel for two years, ''i.e.'', from 1911 to 1912 at Senvon, [[Lailong]], [[Saichang]], [[Parbung]], [[Songsang]] and at [[Phenjol]] villages. When the need for more missionaries arose, Reverend and Mrs. U.M. Fox came from America to Ukhrul in 1911. During the first five years of stay, Fox opened the gate for higher education.
{{cite web |author=Silbano Garcia, II. |title=Manipur – Directory of the churches of Christ |url=http://church-of-christ.org/churches/India/Manipur_S.htm |publisher=Church-of-christ.org |date=17 November 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715192500/http://church-of-christ.org/churches/India/Manipur_S.htm |archive-date=15 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}
 
</ref> The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Imphal]] has its seat in the state. The Manipur Section of the [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]] has about forty congregations.<ref>
In 1912, nine students of Ukhrul Mission School were baptized. Among them, the names of four koms and Kukis were included viz Teba kilong kom, Longkholel kom, Helkhup kuki and Jamkithang kuki. During the next few years, other Kuki students were converted. On 30 August 1913, three couples, namely Lhingkhosei and his wife Chonghoi, Let'am Kipgen and his wife Chinthem, VunYaseh and his wife Phalkim, were baptized by Fox. He also wanted to baptize the Christians of [[Tujangwaichong]] village.
{{cite web |title=Manipur Conference |publisher=Seventh Day Adventist Church |access-date=16 December 2013 |archive-date=14 December 2013 |url=http://www.adventistyearbook.org/default.aspx?&page=ViewAdmField&AdmFieldID=MNPS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214041557/http://www.adventistyearbook.org/default.aspx?&page=ViewAdmField&AdmFieldID=MNPS}}
 
</ref>
Before he left for his country, as he was not able to reach the village, he asked them to meet him at [[Karong]]. The villagers, accordingly, came to the place accompanied by their chief, Songjapao Kipgen. Seeing the Kuki chief, the missionary was delighted and on the 12 December 1914, Fox baptized twelve persons, including the chief at the Karong river. On this day, Fox declared the establishment of the Tujangwaichong Baptist Church and nominated T. Lhingkhosei Kipgen and Let'am Kipgen as church pastor and deacon, respectively. Thus, Tujangwaichong Baptist Church became the second Baptist church in Manipur and the first among the Kukis. It was established at Karong by declaration, due to time constraints faced by Fox.
The [[All Manipur Christian Organisation]] (AMCO) exists.<ref>
 
{{cite web |url=http://www.golias-editions.fr/article4160.html |title=Golias-editions.fr |date=28 May 2010 |language = fr |publisher=Golias-editions.fr |access-date=16 December 2013}}
In 1915, Fox baptized Maipak Kabui, Kachindai Kacha-Naga, Bhagirath Gurkha, Thanga Hmar, Jaison Kom and Manjaching at Imphal. Longkholel Kilong was appointed the first evangelist among the Koms. Through his endeavour, the [[Langkhong]] church was established. The [[Magui (India)|Magui]] church, which is the oldest, came into existence through Nehseh, the first convert among the Thadou-Kukis. In June of the same year, as demanded by the villagers, Pettigrew established Lower Primary School in Tujangwaichong and deputized Ngulhao Thomsong as teacher (1915&ndash;1917) with the initial enrolment of thirteen students.
</ref>
 
Through the invitation of Longkholel kilong (karung) and his co-workers, churches were established in [[Songphel Khullen]] in [[Tamenglong]] district, [[Tongkoi]] and [[Kachai]] village in Ukhrul district. Longkholel was appointed by Pettigrew as an evangelist for the west district of Manipur in 1914. He propagated the good news to every wild tribes he came across and converted many people. He had greatly influenced his family and relatives, so his whole family converted. His uncles Choison Kilong and Yampu Karung (Kilong) and their entire families along with his aunts and their families accepted Christianity and were baptized by Fox at Kaishamthong Baptist Church in 1915. With the help of these converted relatives and Semkhopao Haokip, they established the Makokching Baptist church on 7 March 1917, the fifth Baptist church in Manipur.
 
The growing increase in local churches and the widening on the frontier of missionary movement necessitated the formation of (what was known as) the Manipur Christian Association in November 1916, the first of its kind and its initial convention was held at Ukhrul in 1917. Meanwhile, a war broke out between the Kukis and the British, known as the [[Thadou people#The Kuki Rebellion (1917-19)|First Kuki War of Independence]], on 19 December 1917. After the war was over, Pettigrew was convinced that the mission centre should be moved to a more convenient place in the valley as the Ukhrul centre was quite isolated from the rest of the state.
 
In consideration of the contribution made by the missionaries and the native Christians towards the global war and the Kuki Punitive Measure (KPM), the state government had granted a land for the new mission headquarters at [[Kangpokpi]] on the Imphal-Dimapur Road. In 1919, when Pettigrew was on furlough, Crozier{{who|date=May 2014|reason=first mention of name}} started the work of clearing and building at the new location in Kangpokpi under the direction of a Kuki Christian, Seilet (Seikholet) Singson. Before he started his mission works at Kangpokpi, Crozier first went to some Kuki-dominated areas and met the two Kuki chiefs of [[Sangnao]] ([[Sitlhou]] clan) and [[Santing]]. Crozier informed the two chiefs about his intention of establishing a mission centre.
 
He promised to connect their villages by road, provided the chiefs granted the needed land for the same. But, one after another, the two chiefs refused to accede to his request. So, in November 1919, the Croziers moved to the new centre and was joined later by Pettigrew in 1920. Thus for the first time, Crozier started the first missionary [[dispensary]] and [[leper colony|leper asylum]] at New Mission Station on 7 November 1919. A Middle English School and [[orphanage]] were also established.
 
==Followers==
Followers include [[Meitei Christians]]. Protestants (mostly Baptist) outnumber [[Catholics]] in Manipur.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metrocog.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129&Itemid=18&290a7c14d6e615fbd04b2afcf51195c9=hcsbfgyc |title=Metrocog.net |publisher=Metrocog.net |access-date= 16 December 2013}}</ref> A [[Manipur Baptist Convention]] exists.
The [[Reformed Presbyterian churches|Reformed Presbyterian Church]] North-East India Synod has its seat in Manipur.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icrconline.com/members.html |title=Icrconline.com |publisher=Icrconline.com |access-date=16 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717064352/http://www.icrconline.com/members.html |archive-date=17 July 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The [[Presbyterian Church in India]] and the [[Church of Christ]] are present in the state, too.<ref>[http://www.luisterenddienen.nl/info.aspx?o=1673&inc=info&rIntNavId=1698&page=3651 Luisterenddienen.nl] (in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]).</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Silbano Garcia, II. |url=http://church-of-christ.org/churches/India/Manipur_S.htm |title=Church-of-christ.org |publisher=Church-of-christ.org |date=17 November 2013 |access-date=16 December 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20120715192500/http://church-of-christ.org/churches/India/Manipur_S.htm |archive-date=15 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Imphal]] has its seat in the state. The Manipur Section of the [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]] has about forty congregations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adventistyearbook.org/default.aspx?&page=ViewAdmField&AdmFieldID=MNPS |title=Adventistyearbook.org |publisher=Adventistyearbook.org |access-date= 16 December 2013}}</ref>
The [[All Manipur Christian Organisation]] (AMCO) exists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.golias-editions.fr/article4160.html |title=Golias-editions.fr |language = fr |publisher=Golias-editions.fr |access-date= 16 December 2013}}</ref>


==Demography==
==Demography==
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|radius=75
|caption = Religion in Manipur (2011)<ref name="religion">
{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-01 Population by religious community: Manipur |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11383/download/14496/DDW14C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=[[Census of India]] |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]] |access-date=10 August 2023 |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209082749/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11383/download/14496/DDW14C-01%20MDDS.XLS |url-status=live }}
</ref>
|label1 = [[Hinduism in Manipur|Hinduism]] |color1 = orange |value1 = 41.4
|label2 = Christianity |color2 = dodgerblue |value2 = 41.3
|label3 = [[Meitei Pangals|Islam]] |color3 = green |value3 = 8.40
|other-label = Other religion |other-color=pink | other=8.9 (Includes [[Sanamahism|Sanamahis]], [[Jainism|Jains]], [[Sikh]]s, [[Buddhists]]s and others.</small>)
}}
{{Historical populations
{{Historical populations
|title      = Historical Christian Population in Manipur<ref>http://www.cpsindia.org › BlogsPDF
|title      = Historical Christian Population in Manipur
Web results
The Christianisation of the Northeast - Centre for Policy Studies</ref>
|type        =  
|type        =  
|footnote    =  
|footnote    =  
Line 77: Line 74:
|pop_name    =
|pop_name    =
|percentages =  
|percentages =  
|source      = [[census of India]]
|source      = [[Centre for Policy Studies]]<ref name="CPS Christianisation">
{{cite web |title=The Christianisation of the Northeast |publisher=Centre for Policy Studies |url=https://www.cpsindia.org/dl/Blogs/Blog%2028-Northeast%20Web.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403235528/https://www.cpsindia.org/dl/Blogs/Blog%2028-Northeast%20Web.pdf |archive-date=3 April 2018}}
</ref>
|1901 | 45
|1901 | 45
|1911 | 132
|1911 | 132
Line 91: Line 90:
|2011 | 1,179,043
|2011 | 1,179,043
}}
}}
As per the 2011 census, there are 1,179,043 Christians in Manipur, making up 41.3 percent of the population.<ref name="religion 2011"/>
Of these, 1,119,719 people are in the hill districts,{{efn|The hill districts in 2011 were [[Senapati district|Senapati]], [[Tamenglong district|Tamenglong]], [[Churachandpur district|Churachandpur]], [[Ukhrul district|Ukhrul]] and [[Chandel district|Chandel]].}} where they make up 92 percent of population.<ref name="religion 2011" />


===Trends===
The valley districts{{efn|The valley districts in 2011 were [[Bishnupur district|Bishnupur]], [[Thoubal district|Thoubal]], [[Imphal East district|Imphal East]] and [[Imphal West district|Imphal West]]. (The [[Jiribam district|Jiribam subdivision]] was included in the Imphal East district.)}} have 59,324 Christians, making up 3.6 percent of the population.<ref name="religion 2011">
'''Percentage of Christians in Manipur by decades'''<ref>http://www.cpsindia.org › BlogsPDF
{{cite web |title=Indian Census 2011 |publisher=Census Department, Government of India |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/c-01.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 September 2015  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913045700/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html}}
Web results
</ref> The majority of them are expected to be tribals (56,913 in the 2011 census).<ref name="census tribes">
The Christianisation of the Northeast - Centre for Policy Studies</ref>
{{citation |title=A-11 Appendix: District wise scheduled tribe population (Appendix), Manipur - 2011 |date=2011 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/43013 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Government of India |id=PC11_A11a-14}}
{| class="wikitable"
</ref>{{efn|There are 28,205 [[Naga people|Nagas]], 20,618 [[Kuki-Zo people]] and 6,590 [[Old Kukis|Old Kiki/Naga]] people living in the valley districts.<ref name="census tribes"/>}} The remaining 2,000–3,000 people would belong to the non-tribal communities including the [[Meitei people|Meiteis]].{{efn|Estimates of 300,000 (3 lakh) Meitei Christians given by some journalists<ref name="Scroll 2023">
|-
{{cite web |last=Saikia |first=Arunabh |date=31 May 2023 |title=Caught in the middle of Manipur's ethnic conflict, Meiteis who follow Christianity |url=https://scroll.in/article/1049994/caught-in-the-middle-of-manipurs-ethnic-conflict-meiteis-who-follow-christianity |website=Scroll.in}}
! '''Year'''
</ref><ref name="New Lines">
! '''Percent'''
{{cite news |first1=Makepeace |last1=Sitlhou |first2=Greeshma |last2=Kuthar |title=While the conflict has been ethnic in nature, there has been an underlying communal element to the violence |newspaper=New Lines Magazine |date=27 December 2023 |url=https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/meitei-christians-in-indias-manipur-face-broad-attacks/}}
! '''Increase'''
</ref>
|-
are not supported by the census data. The number is closer to 3,000.}}
| '''1901'''
| '''0.02%'''
|'''-'''
|-
| '''1911'''
| '''0.04%'''
| style="background: lightgreen" |
'''+0.02%'''
|-
| '''1921'''
| '''1.05%'''
| style="background: lightgreen" |
'''+1.01%'''
|-
| '''1931'''
| '''2.33%'''
| style="background: lightgreen" |
'''+1.28%'''
|-
| '''1941'''
| '''5.02%'''
| style="background: lightgreen" |
'''+2.69%'''
|-
| '''1951'''
| '''11.84%'''
| style="background: lightgreen" |
'''+6.82%'''
|-
| '''1961'''
| '''19.49%'''
| style="background: lightgreen" | '''+7.65%'''
|-
| '''1971'''
| '''26.03%'''
| style="background: lightgreen" | '''+6.54%'''
|-
| '''1981'''
| '''29.68%'''
| style="background: lightgreen" | '''+3.65%'''
|-
| '''1991'''
| '''34.11%'''
| style="background: lightgreen" | '''+4.43%'''
|-
| '''2001'''
| '''37.37%'''
| style="background: lightgreen" | '''+3.26%'''
|-
| '''2011'''
| '''41.29%'''
| style="background: lightgreen" | '''+3.92%'''
|}


===Tribes===
===Tribes===
'''Percentage of Christians in the Scheduled Tribes'''<ref>[https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxxi.html blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxxi.html]</ref>
{{Pie chart
|caption= Christianity among social group of Manipur, 2011 census<ref name=Census2011R>{{multiref2
|{{cite web|title=C-01: Population by religious community, India - 2011 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11361/download/14474/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS |format=XLS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826023408/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11361/download/14474/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS |archive-date=26 August 2022 |url-status=live}}
|{{cite web|title=ST-14: Scheduled tribe population by religious community (State/UT level), Manipur - 2011 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11902/download/15015/ST-14-00-014-DDW-2011.XLS
|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India}}}}</ref>
|value1 = 96.46
|label1 = [[List of Scheduled Tribes#Manipur|Scheduled Tribes]]
|color1= dodgerblue
|other = yes
|other-label = General (incl. converted [[Scheduled Castes]]) population
|other-color = gold
}}
 
The Christian population in the state is predominantly composed of members of the [[Scheduled Tribe]] communities, accounting for 97.42% of the total Scheduled Tribe population. They are:<ref name="CPS">
{{Citation |title=Christianity among the Scheduled Tribes of the Northeast: Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland |date=18 October 2016 |url=https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxxi.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213131430/https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxxi.html |archive-date=13 February 2017 |publisher=Centre for Policy Studies}}
</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
Line 164: Line 127:
! '''Percent'''
! '''Percent'''
|-
|-
| '''Thadou'''
| [[Thadou people|Thadou]]
| '''2,11,272'''
| 211,272
|'''97.85%'''
|97.85%
|-
|-
| '''Tangkhul'''
| [[Tangkhul people|Tangkhul]]
| '''1,75,200'''
| 175,200
|'''98.11%'''
|98.11%
|-
|-
| '''Poumai'''
| [[Poumai people|Poumai]]
| '''1,26,092'''
| 126,092
|'''98.99%'''
|98.99%
|-
|-
| '''Kabui'''
| [[Kabui]]
| '''93,416'''
| 93,416
|'''89.90%'''
|89.90%  
|-
|-
| '''Mao'''
| [[Mao people (India)|Mao]]
| '''92,602'''
| 92,602
|'''99.21%'''
|99.21%
|-
|-
| '''Kacha Naga'''
| [[Kacha Naga]]
| '''64,357'''
| 64,357
|'''97.28%'''
|97.28%
|-
|-
| '''Paite'''
| [[Paite people|Paite]]
| '''54,815'''
| 54,815
| '''98.69%'''
| 98.69%
|-
|-
| '''Hmar'''
| [[Hmar people|Hmar]]
| '''47,804'''
| 47,804
| '''98.82%'''
| 98.82%
|-
|-
| '''Vaiphei'''
| [[Vaiphei people|Vaiphei]]
| '''42,224'''
| 42,224
| '''98.29%'''
| 98.29%
|-
|-
| '''Kuki'''
| [[Kuki people|Kuki]]
| '''27,784'''
| 27,784
| '''98.03%'''
| 98.03%
|-
|-
| '''Maram'''
| [[Maram people|Maram]]
| '''27,221'''
| 27,221
| '''98.90%'''
| 98.90%
|-
|-
| '''Maring'''
| [[Maring people (India)|Maring]]
| '''25,858'''
| 25,858
| '''97.86%'''
| 97.86%
|-
|-
| '''Zou'''
| [[Zou people|Zou]]
| '''23,718'''
| 23,718
| '''97.63%'''
| 97.63%
|-
|-
| '''Anal'''
| [[Anāl people|Anal]]
| '''23,107'''
| 23,107
| '''98.29%'''
| 98.29%
|-
|-
| '''Gangte'''
| [[Gangte people|Gangte]]
| '''16,859'''
| 16,859
| '''98.14%'''
| 98.14%
|-
|-
| '''Kom'''
| [[Kom people (Manipur)|Kom]]
| '''14,345'''
| 14,345
| '''98.74%'''
| 98.74%
|}
|}
== Persecution and violence ==
During the past seven decades, [[Hindutva|Hindu nationalist]] organisations have demanded the revival of the indigenous faiths of tribal communities in [[Northeast India]]. The [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) has also demanded that the [[Scheduled Tribe]] status of tribals should be revoked unless they return to their indigenous faiths or Hinduism.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar">
{{cite news |first1=Makepeace |last1=Sitlhou |first2=Greeshma |last2=Kuthar |title=While the conflict has been ethnic in nature, there has been an underlying communal element to the violence |newspaper=New Lines Magazine |date=27 December 2023 |url=https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/meitei-christians-in-indias-manipur-face-broad-attacks/}}
</ref>
It was reported that the Meiteis were alarmed by the rapid rise of Christianity in Manipur in recent years. Claims were made that there was a 62% increase of Christians in the state between 2001 and 2011, and that the valley districts saw a jump of 15%.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/>{{efn|The census data shows only an increase of 37% and the increase in valley districts could be partly attributed to the migration of tribal Christians into the valley.}} In recent decades, the Meiteis aimed to revive the traditional religion called [[Sanamahism]], and many Meitei Hindus started adopting it. Pressure was brought on Meitei Christians as well to convert to Sanamahism.
The Meitei activists organisations [[Arambai Tenggol]] and [[Meitei Leepun]] instrumental in applying this pressure, as well as the leadership of the ruling [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP).<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/> According to Meitei pastors, the terms of conversion for Meitei Christians required them to personally burn the Bible, remove all Christian symbols from their homes, and sign a legal affidavit declaring their conversion to Sanamahism.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/>
There were various points of tension between the Meitei Christians and non-Christians in the months prior to May 2023. A rally held by Meitei Christian [[Member of Legislative Assembly|MLA]] [[Paonam Brojen Singh]] came in for criticism because he is alleged to have admired tribal Christians for their recent progress and claimed that Meiteis were being held back by their "old religion". After the [[2023–2024 Manipur violence|ethnic violence]] started in May 2023, a mob of several thousand people attacked his house.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/>
The [[2023–2024 Manipur violence|2023 ethnic violence]] started on 3 May at the border between Kuki-dominated [[Churachandpur district]] and Meitei-dominated [[Bishnupur district]], soon after a tribal solidarity march held by tribals against a Meitei demand for [[Scheduled Tribe]] status.<ref>
Yudhajit Shankar Das, [https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manipur-violence-clashes-nrc-meitei-kuki-naga-imphal-valley-illegal-immigration-myanmar-reserve-forests-biren-singh-2368476-2023-05-04 Manipur violence: State is burning, but what is the decades-old fuel behind the fire], India Today, 4 May 2023. Updated 8 May 2023.
</ref>
The first victim of the violence was a pastor from [[Torbung]]–[[Kangvai]] area called Haopu Kipgen, who was bludgeoned to death.<ref>
Lien Chongloi, [https://thewire.in/rights/manipur-violence-claims-counterclaims-meitei-kuki Dispelling Some Misleading Claims About the Violence in Manipur], The Wire, 27 May 2023.
</ref>
The violence spread to [[Churachandpur Town]] and the [[Imphal City]] on the same day, and to the rest of [[Imphal Valley]] quickly afterwards. A very large number of churches (estimates ranging from 200 to 300) were burnt down by Meitei mobs in the next few days.<ref name="Sky 4 May 2023"/><ref name="Hindu 5 May 2023"/> The Catholic Archbishop of Imphal [[Dominic Lumon]] has said that 249 churches were burnt down in 36 hours.<ref name="IE 18 Jun">
[https://indianexpress.com/article/india/archbishop-imphal-claims-249-churches-burnt-in-manipur-8669677/ Archbishop of Imphal claims 249 churches burnt in Manipur: ‘Religious attack carried out’], The Indian Express, 18 June 2023.
</ref><ref>
{{citation |author=Greeshma Kuthar |title=Fire and Blood: How the BJP is enabling ethnic cleansing in Manipur |newspaper=The Caravan |date=31 July 2023 |url=https://caravanmagazine.in/conflict/how-bjp-enabling-ethnic-cleansing-manipur}}
</ref>
While he claimed that all these churches belonged to Meitei Christians, it was not corroborated by others. Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das said 18 churches belonging to the Meitei community and 2 churches belonging to the Naga community were destroyed, while the others were of unspecified affiliation.<ref>
Vijaita Singh, [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ten-kuki-mlas-from-manipur-demand-separate-administration/article66843874.ece Ten Kuki MLAs from Manipur demand 'separate administration'], ''The Hindu'', 12 May 2023.
</ref>
Many of the destroyed churches are believed to have served multiple communities.<ref name="Shilshi p.110">
{{citation |title=The Incredible Journey |first=John S. |last=Shilshi |publisher=Blue Rose Publishers |year=2024 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cd_zEAAAQBAJ |page=110}}
</ref>
Some of the pastors had to flee under the cover of darkness to escape death.<ref name="Shilshi p.110"/>
After this initial spurt of destruction, the Christians in the valley appear to have been extensively persecuted. A pastor said that a mob forcefully entered his home and burned all Christian texts, including the Bible. Most pastors were found to be too afraid to speak to journalists. Some were beaten up. Some had fled the state. Others were forced to convert to Sanamahism.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/>
There were also attempts to downplay the role of extremist Sanamahi groups and push the blame on to the Kuki people. The Meitei Christian Churches Council issued a press statement claiming that all the destruction of Meitei Christian properties was carried out by the Kukis. But the Archbishop denied it, saying there was no evidence for the claim.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/> Philem Rohan Singh, a celebrity cyclist who emerged as a Meitei Christian leader after the violence, claimed that the Kukis had burnt down Meitei Christian churches in the Kuki-dominated districts, giving a list of such churches. Again this was denied by the Archbishop as well as journalists who verified that many of those churches were still standing unharmed.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/><ref name="Christianity Today">
Surinder Kaur, [https://www.christianitytoday.com/2023/11/meitei-christians-kuki-manipur-violence-india-persecution/ Meitei Christians Caught in Middle of Manipur Violence], Christianity Today, 30 May 2023.
</ref><ref name="Archbishop">
[[Karan Thapar]], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQSiCYaIus4 249 Meitei Churches in Valley Burnt Not By Kukis But May Be By Tenggol, Leepun: Archbishop of Imphal], The Wire, via Youtube, 1 August 2023.
</ref>
Rohan Singh also claimed that an agreement had been reached with Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun to resume church services in the valley. However the displaced pastors did not believe the claim saying he could have said under threats.<ref name="Sitlhou Kuthar"/>
There were also efforts to paint the Manipur violence as a purely ethnic clash, with no religious angle. The BJP quoted Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay, as stating this.<ref>
Kumar Shakti Shekhar, [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/manipur-violence-is-a-tribal-conflict-not-a-religious-one-bjp-quotes-christian-priest/articleshow/102214962.cms Manipur violence is a tribal conflict, not a religious one: BJP quotes Christian priest], The Times of India, 28 July 2023.
</ref>
However, Archbishop Lumon took a firm stand in an interview with [[Karan Thapar]], pointing out the attacks on Meitei Christian churches and pastors.<ref>
{{citation |title=The Incredible Journey |first=John S. |last=Shilshi |publisher=Blue Rose Publishers |year=2024 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cd_zEAAAQBAJ |page=112}}
</ref>
The British Foreign Secretary [[David Cameron]] made a similar point in the House of Lords, based a report by David Campanale.<ref>
Naomi Canton, [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/there-is-a-clear-religious-part-to-strife-in-manipur-uk-ex-pm-david-cameron/articleshow/109382337.cms ‘There is a clear religious part’ to strife in Manipur: UK ex-PM David Cameron], The Times of India, 18 April 2024. "Campanale's report, which TOI has seen, written in June 2023, states: 'It is to be noted that if the conflict is explained by citing ethnic or economic disputes between valley people and tribals from the hills, account still needs to be given as to why churches among both were destroyed. There is a clear religious dimension.'"
</ref>
The Meitei groups continue to make the claim.<ref>
Guru Aribam Naocha, [https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/ongoing-violence-not-a-religious-conflict-calls-for-peace-and-unity-chennai-manipuri-community Ongoing violence not a religious conflict, calls for peace and unity: Chennai Manipuri Community], Imphal Times, 23 September 2023.
</ref>


== List of denominations ==
== List of denominations ==
Sources<ref>World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, 2001 Volume 1, pp. 369&ndash;370.</ref>
Sources:<ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.wowcity.com/imphal/locbus2/13031379269295922722/the-pentecostal-mission-church.htm |title=Imphal The Pentecostal Mission Church &#124; The Pentecostal Mission Church in Imphal, Manipur - WowCity.com |publisher=In.wowcity.com |access-date= 16 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://kkke.webnode.com/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-02-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813182024/http://kkke.webnode.com/ |archive-date=13 August 2013 |df=dmy-all }}.</ref><ref>[http://www.cbcnei.in/index.php/conventions/manipur-baptist-convention].</ref>
World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, 2001 Volume 1, pp. 369&ndash;370.
</ref><ref>
{{cite web |url=http://in.wowcity.com/imphal/locbus2/13031379269295922722/the-pentecostal-mission-church.htm |title=Imphal The Pentecostal Mission Church &#124; The Pentecostal Mission Church in Imphal, Manipur - WowCity.com |publisher=In.wowcity.com |access-date= 16 December 2013}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web |url=http://kkke.webnode.com/ |title=Kuki Kahi Kakipah E |access-date=2012-02-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813182024/http://kkke.webnode.com/ |archive-date=13 August 2013 }}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.cbcnei.in/index.php/conventions/manipur-baptist-convention |title=Manipur Baptist Convention &#124; CBCNEI }}
</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Evangelical Congregational Church]]
* [[Evangelical Congregational Church]]
*[[United Pentecostal Church International]]
* [[United Pentecostal Church International]]
*[[Evangelical Free Church of India]]
* [[Kuki Baptist Convention]]
*[[Independent Churches of India]]
* [[Kuki Christian Church]]
*[[Kuki Baptist Convention]]
* [[Manipur Baptist Convention]]
*[[Kuki Christian Church]]
* [[The Pentecostal Mission]]
*[[Manipur Baptist Convention]]
* [[Presbyterian Church in India (Reformed)]]
*[[The Pentecostal Mission]]
* [[Roman Catholic church]]
*[[Roman Catholic church]]
* [[Manipur Evangelical Lutheran Church]] (49) 8,500 <ref>
*[[Komrem Baptist Churches Association]]
{{cite web |url=http://melcindia.org/about-us/melc-at-a-glance/ |title=MELC at a Glance |date=15 February 2015 |access-date=8 February 2019 |archive-date=7 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507160959/http://melcindia.org/about-us/melc-at-a-glance/ |url-status=dead}}
* [[Manipur Evangelical Lutheran Church]] (49) 8,500 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://melcindia.org/about-us/melc-at-a-glance/|title=MELC at a Glance|date=15 February 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://melcindia.org MELC INDIA - Manipur Evangelical Lutheran Church, India] (formerly known as Zomi Christian Church)</ref>
</ref><ref>
[http://melcindia.org MELC INDIA - Manipur Evangelical Lutheran Church, India] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310141128/http://melcindia.org/ |date=10 March 2019 }} (formerly known as Zomi Christian Church)
</ref>
* [[Christian Revival Church]]
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}
* Website:www. pcireformed.org // "Presbyterian Church in India (Reformed)"


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of Christian denominations in North East India]]
* [[Christian Revival Church]]


* [[List of Christian denominations in North East India]]
==Notes==
{{clear}}
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist|30em}}
==External links==
* [https://fiacona.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/List-of-Churches.pdf Churches destroyed during 3–5 May 2023], Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations (FIACONA), 28 May 2023.


{{Christianity in India by region|state=collapsed}}
{{Christianity in India by region|state=collapsed}}

Latest revision as of 23:26, 29 January 2026


St. Joseph's Cathedral, Imphal
Majority religions in Manipur—Christian in blue, Hindu in orange, Muslim in green

Christianity is the second largest religion in Manipur, a state in Northeast India, according to 2011 census. The tribal communities, Kuki-Zomis and Nagas are overwhelmingly Christian, along with their kindred communities in the neighbouring states.[lower-alpha 1] The dominant Meitei community has only small numbers of Christians, but Meitei groups claim Christianity to be a threat.[1][2] At the start of the 2023–2024 Manipur violence, Meitei mobs burned down 200–300 churches in the Imphal Valley belonging to all communities, and prohibited pastors from rebuilding them.[3][4][5]

Early missionaries [edit | edit source]

Rev Willian Pettigrew guess (1902) - first missionary to the Kingdom of Manipur

Christianity in Manipur can traced back to an Anglican named William Pettigrew,[6] who lived in India when Surchandra Singh was the maharaja of Manipur. Pettigrew, who was born in Edinburgh and educated in London, applied to work with the Arthington Aborigines Mission in India and travelled to Bengal in 1890. He worked for two years in Dhaka and Silchar. In 1891, Pettigrew applied for permission to work in Manipur, but this was not granted until 1894. He worked for a time as a teacher in Imphal, teaching the children of government civil servants and soon afterwards opened a school for boys in Manipuri and established a permanent mission station there.[7]

Origins[edit | edit source]

The first Meitei to convert to Christianity is debated. It is traditionally believed that Angom Porom Singh of Phayeng was the first to be converted in around 1896, but another tradition says that Ningol Kaboklei met a Christian missionary in Sylhet (presently in Bangladesh) and converted to Christianity in around 1893, a few years prior to the arrival of William Pettigrew.[8][9]

In December 1912, Porom Singh became the headmaster of a school at Ukhrul, where his teaching responsibilities included preaching the gospel. He was one of only seven Christians who stood by Pettigrew. At the outbreak of the First World War, he helped Pettigrew raise a labour corps, later becoming a corps leader and an interpreter.[10]

Followers[edit | edit source]

Phungyo Baptist Church along with its members

Protestants (mostly Baptist) outnumber Catholics in Manipur.[11] A Manipur Baptist Convention exists. The Reformed Presbyterian Church North-East India Synod has its seat in Manipur.[12] The Presbyterian Church in India and the Church of Christ are present in the state, too.[13][14] The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Imphal has its seat in the state. The Manipur Section of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has about forty congregations.[15] The All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO) exists.[16]

Demography[edit | edit source]

Religion in Manipur (2011)[17]

  Hinduism (41.4%)
  Christianity (41.3%)
  Islam (8.40%)
  Other (8.9%)
Historical Christian Population in Manipur
YearPop.±%
1901 45—    
1911 132+193.3%
1921 4,050+2968.2%
1931 10,401+156.8%
1941 25,727+147.4%
1951 68,394+165.8%
1961 152,043+122.3%
1971 279,243+83.7%
1981 421,702+51.0%
1991 626,669+48.6%
2001 857,285+36.8%
2011 1,179,043+37.5%
Source: Centre for Policy Studies[18]

As per the 2011 census, there are 1,179,043 Christians in Manipur, making up 41.3 percent of the population.[19] Of these, 1,119,719 people are in the hill districts,[lower-alpha 2] where they make up 92 percent of population.[19]

The valley districts[lower-alpha 3] have 59,324 Christians, making up 3.6 percent of the population.[19] The majority of them are expected to be tribals (56,913 in the 2011 census).[20][lower-alpha 4] The remaining 2,000–3,000 people would belong to the non-tribal communities including the Meiteis.[lower-alpha 5]

Tribes[edit | edit source]

Christianity among social group of Manipur, 2011 census[21]

  Scheduled Tribes (96.46%)
  Other (3.54%)

The Christian population in the state is predominantly composed of members of the Scheduled Tribe communities, accounting for 97.42% of the total Scheduled Tribe population. They are:[22]

Tribe Christians Percent
Thadou 211,272 97.85%
Tangkhul 175,200 98.11%
Poumai 126,092 98.99%
Kabui 93,416 89.90%
Mao 92,602 99.21%
Kacha Naga 64,357 97.28%
Paite 54,815 98.69%
Hmar 47,804 98.82%
Vaiphei 42,224 98.29%
Kuki 27,784 98.03%
Maram 27,221 98.90%
Maring 25,858 97.86%
Zou 23,718 97.63%
Anal 23,107 98.29%
Gangte 16,859 98.14%
Kom 14,345 98.74%

Persecution and violence[edit | edit source]

During the past seven decades, Hindu nationalist organisations have demanded the revival of the indigenous faiths of tribal communities in Northeast India. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has also demanded that the Scheduled Tribe status of tribals should be revoked unless they return to their indigenous faiths or Hinduism.[23]

It was reported that the Meiteis were alarmed by the rapid rise of Christianity in Manipur in recent years. Claims were made that there was a 62% increase of Christians in the state between 2001 and 2011, and that the valley districts saw a jump of 15%.[23][lower-alpha 6] In recent decades, the Meiteis aimed to revive the traditional religion called Sanamahism, and many Meitei Hindus started adopting it. Pressure was brought on Meitei Christians as well to convert to Sanamahism. The Meitei activists organisations Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun instrumental in applying this pressure, as well as the leadership of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[23] According to Meitei pastors, the terms of conversion for Meitei Christians required them to personally burn the Bible, remove all Christian symbols from their homes, and sign a legal affidavit declaring their conversion to Sanamahism.[23]

There were various points of tension between the Meitei Christians and non-Christians in the months prior to May 2023. A rally held by Meitei Christian MLA Paonam Brojen Singh came in for criticism because he is alleged to have admired tribal Christians for their recent progress and claimed that Meiteis were being held back by their "old religion". After the ethnic violence started in May 2023, a mob of several thousand people attacked his house.[23]

The 2023 ethnic violence started on 3 May at the border between Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district and Meitei-dominated Bishnupur district, soon after a tribal solidarity march held by tribals against a Meitei demand for Scheduled Tribe status.[24] The first victim of the violence was a pastor from Torbung–Kangvai area called Haopu Kipgen, who was bludgeoned to death.[25] The violence spread to Churachandpur Town and the Imphal City on the same day, and to the rest of Imphal Valley quickly afterwards. A very large number of churches (estimates ranging from 200 to 300) were burnt down by Meitei mobs in the next few days.[3][4] The Catholic Archbishop of Imphal Dominic Lumon has said that 249 churches were burnt down in 36 hours.[26][27] While he claimed that all these churches belonged to Meitei Christians, it was not corroborated by others. Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das said 18 churches belonging to the Meitei community and 2 churches belonging to the Naga community were destroyed, while the others were of unspecified affiliation.[28] Many of the destroyed churches are believed to have served multiple communities.[29] Some of the pastors had to flee under the cover of darkness to escape death.[29]

After this initial spurt of destruction, the Christians in the valley appear to have been extensively persecuted. A pastor said that a mob forcefully entered his home and burned all Christian texts, including the Bible. Most pastors were found to be too afraid to speak to journalists. Some were beaten up. Some had fled the state. Others were forced to convert to Sanamahism.[23]

There were also attempts to downplay the role of extremist Sanamahi groups and push the blame on to the Kuki people. The Meitei Christian Churches Council issued a press statement claiming that all the destruction of Meitei Christian properties was carried out by the Kukis. But the Archbishop denied it, saying there was no evidence for the claim.[23] Philem Rohan Singh, a celebrity cyclist who emerged as a Meitei Christian leader after the violence, claimed that the Kukis had burnt down Meitei Christian churches in the Kuki-dominated districts, giving a list of such churches. Again this was denied by the Archbishop as well as journalists who verified that many of those churches were still standing unharmed.[23][30][31] Rohan Singh also claimed that an agreement had been reached with Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun to resume church services in the valley. However the displaced pastors did not believe the claim saying he could have said under threats.[23]

There were also efforts to paint the Manipur violence as a purely ethnic clash, with no religious angle. The BJP quoted Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay, as stating this.[32] However, Archbishop Lumon took a firm stand in an interview with Karan Thapar, pointing out the attacks on Meitei Christian churches and pastors.[33] The British Foreign Secretary David Cameron made a similar point in the House of Lords, based a report by David Campanale.[34] The Meitei groups continue to make the claim.[35]

List of denominations[edit | edit source]

Sources:[36][37][38][39]

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Neighbouring Nagaland has 88 percent Christian population, as does Mizoram.
  2. ↑ The hill districts in 2011 were Senapati, Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Ukhrul and Chandel.
  3. ↑ The valley districts in 2011 were Bishnupur, Thoubal, Imphal East and Imphal West. (The Jiribam subdivision was included in the Imphal East district.)
  4. ↑ There are 28,205 Nagas, 20,618 Kuki-Zo people and 6,590 Old Kiki/Naga people living in the valley districts.[20]
  5. ↑ Estimates of 300,000 (3 lakh) Meitei Christians given by some journalists[1][2] are not supported by the census data. The number is closer to 3,000.
  6. ↑ The census data shows only an increase of 37% and the increase in valley districts could be partly attributed to the migration of tribal Christians into the valley.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Saikia, Arunabh (31 May 2023). "Caught in the middle of Manipur's ethnic conflict, Meiteis who follow Christianity". Scroll.in.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sitlhou, Makepeace; Kuthar, Greeshma (27 December 2023). "While the conflict has been ethnic in nature, there has been an underlying communal element to the violence". New Lines Magazine.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Churches and homes attacked and set ablaze in India violence, Sky News, 4 May 2023.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ziya Us Salam, Christian groups, alarmed by church attacks in Manipur, urge Centre to start talks, The Hindu, 5 May 2023. "While the Kukis and other tribals in the districts close to Imphal are the main targets as a community, the churches targeted include those of the Christians in the Meitei community."
  5. ↑ Aman Gupta, Manipur: Archbishop claims 249 churches burnt in 36 hours, says, 'collapse of constitutional machinery', Mint, 19 June 2023. "249 churches belonging to Meitei Christians in Manipur have been destroyed within 36 hours, with some pastors told not to rebuild them, according to the Archbishop of Imphal."
  6. ↑ Naresh, Huirem (10 May 2019). "Reverend William Pettigrew and Modern Education in Manipur - Imphal Times". www.imphaltimes.com. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "Papers of William Pettigew". Archives Hub, JISC, UK. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  8. ↑ Chandra, Madhu (12 June 2021). "Theological Scholars of Manipur Commemorate Saroj Nalini Arambam, First Theologian and First Woman BA, MA". Imphal Review of Arts and Politics.
  9. ↑ "Angom Porom Singh remembered". The Sangai Express. 4 January 2022.
  10. ↑ Khongsai, Doulet (2018). "THE IMPORTANCE OF CHAKPA COMMUNITY IN RELATION TO THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY IN MANIPUR". Commers Arts Science - International Research Journal (CASIRJ).
  11. ↑ "Manipur". Metro Church of God. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012.
  12. ↑ "Churches in Membership". The International Conference of Reformed Churches. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012.
  13. ↑ India (in Nederlands), Luisterend Dienen, archived from the original on 22 March 2012
  14. ↑ Silbano Garcia, II. (17 November 2013). "Manipur – Directory of the churches of Christ". Church-of-christ.org.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  15. ↑ "Manipur Conference". Seventh Day Adventist Church. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  16. ↑ "Golias-editions.fr" (in français). Golias-editions.fr. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  17. ↑ "Table C-01 Population by religious community: Manipur". Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  18. ↑ "The Christianisation of the Northeast" (PDF). Centre for Policy Studies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2018.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Indian Census 2011". Census Department, Government of India. Archived from the original on 13 September 2015.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 A-11 Appendix: District wise scheduled tribe population (Appendix), Manipur - 2011, Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Government of India, 2011, PC11_A11a-14
  21. ↑ Template:Multiref2
  22. ↑ Christianity among the Scheduled Tribes of the Northeast: Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland, Centre for Policy Studies, 18 October 2016, archived from the original on 13 February 2017
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 23.7 23.8 Sitlhou, Makepeace; Kuthar, Greeshma (27 December 2023). "While the conflict has been ethnic in nature, there has been an underlying communal element to the violence". New Lines Magazine.
  24. ↑ Yudhajit Shankar Das, Manipur violence: State is burning, but what is the decades-old fuel behind the fire, India Today, 4 May 2023. Updated 8 May 2023.
  25. ↑ Lien Chongloi, Dispelling Some Misleading Claims About the Violence in Manipur, The Wire, 27 May 2023.
  26. ↑ Archbishop of Imphal claims 249 churches burnt in Manipur: ‘Religious attack carried out’, The Indian Express, 18 June 2023.
  27. ↑ Greeshma Kuthar (31 July 2023), "Fire and Blood: How the BJP is enabling ethnic cleansing in Manipur", The Caravan
  28. ↑ Vijaita Singh, Ten Kuki MLAs from Manipur demand 'separate administration', The Hindu, 12 May 2023.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Shilshi, John S. (2024), The Incredible Journey, Blue Rose Publishers, p. 110
  30. ↑ Surinder Kaur, Meitei Christians Caught in Middle of Manipur Violence, Christianity Today, 30 May 2023.
  31. ↑ Karan Thapar, 249 Meitei Churches in Valley Burnt Not By Kukis But May Be By Tenggol, Leepun: Archbishop of Imphal, The Wire, via Youtube, 1 August 2023.
  32. ↑ Kumar Shakti Shekhar, Manipur violence is a tribal conflict, not a religious one: BJP quotes Christian priest, The Times of India, 28 July 2023.
  33. ↑ Shilshi, John S. (2024), The Incredible Journey, Blue Rose Publishers, p. 112
  34. ↑ Naomi Canton, ‘There is a clear religious part’ to strife in Manipur: UK ex-PM David Cameron, The Times of India, 18 April 2024. "Campanale's report, which TOI has seen, written in June 2023, states: 'It is to be noted that if the conflict is explained by citing ethnic or economic disputes between valley people and tribals from the hills, account still needs to be given as to why churches among both were destroyed. There is a clear religious dimension.'"
  35. ↑ Guru Aribam Naocha, Ongoing violence not a religious conflict, calls for peace and unity: Chennai Manipuri Community, Imphal Times, 23 September 2023.
  36. ↑ World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, 2001 Volume 1, pp. 369–370.
  37. ↑ "Imphal The Pentecostal Mission Church | The Pentecostal Mission Church in Imphal, Manipur - WowCity.com". In.wowcity.com. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  38. ↑ "Kuki Kahi Kakipah E". Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  39. ↑ "Manipur Baptist Convention | CBCNEI".
  40. ↑ "MELC at a Glance". 15 February 2015. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  41. ↑ MELC INDIA - Manipur Evangelical Lutheran Church, India Archived 10 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine (formerly known as Zomi Christian Church)

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