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Centenary Hallmarks of Christianity among the Moyons of Manipur

Opinion | Articles | Penny Rose Chinir | 10-Oct-2022

The advent of Christianity in Manipur dates back to 1894 with the arrival of Rev. William Pettigrew, a young English missionary who ventured out to the Naga hills in 1896. However, the dawn of Christianity among the Moyons began with the baptism of Nungchim Thomchung and Chinir Monuh of Moyon Khullen village, and Ngoruw Angphar of Khongjon village by William Pettigrew in 1922 at the Pettigrew School, Moirangkhom in Imphal. Other frontline Moyons who embraced the Christian faith were Roel Thoma (1924) and Serbum Ngamdil (1928). They were mostly students of Pettigrew schools and they played a vital role in implanting the seed of Christian faith not only among their Moyon tribe but also among the hill tribes of Manipur. Initially, the Moyons especially the elders resisted Christianity and the new converts from Khongjon, Mitong, Moyon Khullen and Mankang underwent untold sufferings, persecutions and fled from their original villages to safer places.

Thirty-two years later, the Moyons underwent another “religious shock” with the arrival of Catholic faith. Although the Catholic church was already established at Shillong in 1890, its actual evangelisation work in Manipur began only after the erection of the new diocese of Dibrugarh in 1951 with Bishop Marengo as its first bishop. Fr Aloysius Ravalico, secretary to the bishop, visited Manipur for the first time in December 1952.

The birth of the Catholic faith among the Moyon dates back to 19 February 1954, when Fr Aloysius Ravalico, a Salesian missionary set his foot for the first time at Mitong village. Although the village elders were not prepared to accept the Catholic faith, they allowed their children to be baptised provided he gave them a school and educate them. Fr Ravalico captivated four young men - N. Darnong, Ng. Darsong, Ng. Ningwar and Rungtha Chinir who were sent to Naharkatia (Assam) for their pastoral training. N. Darnong and Ng. Darsong were the first to be baptized by Fr Peter Bianchi at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Dibrugarh, on 24 December 1955, Rungtha delayed his baptism for a year to get hold of his father, Bekung Chinir of Khongjon, his father-in-law, Mophae Chara of Mitong and some influential village elders of Riidangkhuw to the Catholic faith. In 1956, Bishop Marengo and Fr Ravalico accompanied by N. Darnong baptized a group of 34 children at Mitong and nine children at Khongjon the next day. Ng. Darsong, a retired catechist said, “It was not only me and my colleague, N. Darnong who paved the way for the baptism but our colleagues, Ch. Rungtha and Ng. Ningwar contributed at the ground level by which baptisms of the Moyons were possible”. These four founding pioneers of Moyon Catholics transmitted the Catholic faith from Mitong to other Moyon villages including several surrounding tribes - Anal, Lamkang, Monsang, Maring, Kuki, Tarao and others. As promised at his first visit at Mitong, Fr Ravalico opened Don Bosco M. E. School in 1957, initiated handloom weaving school in 1958, and the first multi tribe Catholic Congress was also held in 1961. Fr Ravalico and Fr Peter Bianchi established Catholic schools primarily to provide education which paved the sowing of the seed of Catholic faith.

The centenary hallmark of Christianity among the Moyons (1922-2022) with three baptisms in 1922 has borne a hundredfold as 100% of the tribe has embraced Christianity either Baptists or Catholics. Christian faith has replaced the traditional beliefs and practices of the Moyons. At its dawn of Christianity, there were just four villages and today, there are fourteen Moyon villages headed by the Moyon chiefs and four other villages inhabited by multi tribes. The first ordained catholic priest was Ch. Joe Ngamkhuchung (1975) and the first Baptist ordained minister was Rev. Dr Wirngam Roel. Today, it has nearly 20 ordained ministers, about 30 deacons, one woman ordained minister, several pastors among the Baptists and a number of trained Catholic catechists. Sr Teresa Shanglei Chinir MSMHC was the first Moyon professed Sister (1979) and today there are seven other professed Sisters extending their mission across the country and abroad. There are also a few young girls aspiring to religious life in different congregations.

Another centenary hallmark of Christianity among the Moyons is its literacy status, 99.89% (2014). Although at its initial stages, Christianity shook and shocked the Moyon society, Christian education has exposed them to the outside world and paved its avenues for their social transformation and development. With just a total population of 3587 (2014), the tribe at the centenary of its Christian faith has the record of several medalists and awardees. A few among them: Ng. Innocent Warchung got the “Assam Governor’s Bravery award”, Ch. Dramani the “Indian Prime Minister’s bravery award” and Rev. Dr Wirngam Roel the “Chandel district Republic Day Peace award” (1993). N. Mushing received the “State Kala Academy Fellow award” for his distinguished service in tribal culture and Dr N. Donald Kosha got the “Dr B.R. Ambedkar award” (2006) for his commendable literary, social and culture services.

In 1910, N. Angriir, R. Ruwngsha and N. Bechoh were the first to receive school education and Khongjon village is marked to have the first Government L.P. school among the Moyon village in 1932. At the centenary of Christian faith, “South East Manipur College” established at Kapaam in 1981, got full-fledged grant in aid in 2019.  Kapaam, the biggest Moyon village has been declared the model village in 2017. The tribe has several students in the record of academic excellence. N. Christian Pethangsha awarded the “Dr B.R. Ambedkar Scholarship” for securing first position in Class X among the ST students under Manipur Board (2004), Steffi Chinir awarded “National talent search examination” (NTSE) scholarship (2007) and N. Casimir Tijaangsha got the “Lions International peace poster painting award” for securing first (2005-2006) and W. Christina got the first B. Sc. (gen) topper.

Between 1933-1937, only two government employees were recorded with R. Angnong (school teacher) and Cr. Siingchim (nurse), while at the centenary of its Christian faith, Moyons have the following records of educational and professional achievements in different walks of life and some have retired. Few among the pioneers are Dr N. Donald Kosha, doctorate, Dr Sb. Serthani, MBBS, Cr. Beningtha, B.Sc. (Agriculture), Pant Roel, engineering, Ngamwar Roel, MPS. Sb. Borniching, MBA, Edwin Roel, architect and Sb. Cliff, MCA. Ng. Anglenchou, the commission officer, Francis Chinir, commandant in Indian Coast Guard, Dr Lemjoy Chara, Indian Army Medical Corps, Ng. Pekneilian, commandant in SSB, Ch. Memi Mary, MCS and Dr Serthani Serbum, CMO of the Chandel District Hospital, Commandant John Chinir in BSF, Honey Chara, director of Horticulture and Soil conservation, Ng. Glad, inspector (ministerial), CRPF and Steffi Chinir, consultant, National Institute of Smart Government.

Again, the significant centenary hallmark of Christianity among the Moyons is the formation of the different organisations beginning with Moyon Naga Council (Bujuur Aanchung Puh=BAP), Moyon Women society (Bujuur Shanuw Ruwrkheh = BSR), All Moyon Students Union (Thiimziih Teen Bujuur Ruwrkheh = TTBR), Chiefs Association and Literature committee irrespective of its different faiths. Their ecumenical spirit is demonstrated during its various celebrations especially at social celebration and festivals. In fact, a large number of Moyons thronged together from 7-9 October 2022 for the centennial celebration of their faith at Kapaam organised by the Moyon Naga Baptist Association (MYNBA) with the theme, “God our Heritage”.

Thus, the Moyons have every reason to thank God for the gift of Christian faith for the past 100 years and to salute their frontline pioneers who dared to embrace the Christian faith under hard circumstances and sufferings. Today, the seed of faith that was sown down the century has taken its roots and its celebration is also an invitation to contribute “Our today for tomorrow”.

(The writer is a FMA Nun, and she could be reached on pchinir@gmail.com. The Article is her own research work, therefore personal)

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