Origin of Christianity in Garo Hills, Meghalaya:

Origin of Christianity in Garo Hills, Meghalaya:

Bluwin Ch. Sangma.

The State of Meghalaya can be divided into two parts i.e. Khasi Hills region and Garo Hills region. In Eastern part of the state it is inhabited by two major tribes- Khasi and Jaintias and in Western part, it is inhabited by Garo tribes. Besides, it is also inhabited by some non-tribal people. The State does not have any particular religion, but majority of the people especially the Garos are Christians. In this short article, I would like to mention how the Christianity came to Garo Hills.

Before understanding the coming of Christianity into Garo Hills, it is better to understand the history of the Garos. The Garo tradition says that the Garos originally came from Tibet and settled down in Coch Behar, Assam, Bangladesh, and Burma and finally settled down in present Garo Hills of Meghalaya.[1] Earlier Garos are famous for head hunting and war. They were conflicted with neighboring people, especially with Zamindars of the plain belt.  During the time of British intervention, they were still practicing war with their swords.[2] According to the traditions, they had a belief that if somebody dies, his or her soul goes to a particular place called Balpakram. They also believed that if a person dies and goes to Balpakram, somebody should go with him or her to help in carrying the luggage to the land of ghost. On this occasion, they use to go to neighboring villages and would kill someone and bring his or her head.[3] But now, Garos became soul winners from the head hunters.

Origin: It is difficult to say who and when Christianity started in Garo Hills. But overall, we can say that, it is the combination of the works of American Baptist Missionaries, David Scott, the British Civil Servant and two native gentlemen-Omed Momin and his nephew, Ramke Momin. Rev. M.R.Sangma, former General Secretary of the Garo Baptist Convention says that the Good news reached to Garoland with the works of two native pioneers. They were Omed and Ramke, uncle and nephew who were baptized by Re. Dr. Miles Bronson at Sukheswar ghat, Gauhati on the 8^th February 1863.[4]

Lindrid D. Shira says that the first persons who decided to bring Christianity into Garo Hills were not the American Baptist Missionaries, but the British Officers. The first person who decided to bring the Christianity into Garo Hills was a British Commissioner named David Scott. So as to teach about the Good News to the Garos, he opened the first primary School to the Garos in the village of Singimari in 1826. As soon as the school was opened, 40 Garo boys started schooling in that school. But in 1827, David Scott had to leave the school because of the Burmese war and his school also had to close.[5]

Later, another British Officer, Capt. Francis Jenkins opened the school for Garos, in Goalpara Assam. Then he invited American Baptist Missionaries to teach in the school which was opened meanly for the Garos. In that school, Omed Momin and Ramke Momin also studied. After studying in that school, Ramke was appointed as a soldier under the Deputy Commissioner of Thomas Becket.[6]

Both Omed and Ramke were strong believers in animistic religion. They also observed and practiced all the rituals of Garo religion called Songsarek. But their thirsts for truth were not satisfied. They also interacted with Hindu sainasis and asked about the truth, but that too not answered for their search.[7]

When Ramke was searching the truth, one Baptist Missionary from Dacca, Rev. Rupret Bion came to Goalpara and preached the Good News to the people. He also distributed some tracts. When Ramke saw the tract, he also wanted to get it and therefore, he purchased that tract from his friend. The name of the tract was Apatti Nashak, meaning, Loosing of Excuses. When Ramke read this pamphlet, he stopped going to Hindu sainasis and his mind was so enthusiastic more than before.[8]

At that time, Omed was taking care of one inn in Gauhati. One morning, a maid servant was sweeping the inn and in that moment, one small booklet blown to the place where Omed was sitting. Omed took that booklet and he found that it was the real word of God. The name of the booklet was, Apati Nashak, the same booklet which his nephew Ramke got it. When uncle and nephew met each other, they shared their experiences of God and therefore, they decided to become Christian. So, therefore, both of them went to Gauhati, in search of Christian Missionaries and later, they were baptized on February 8, 18 63 at the Sukheswar ghat, Gauhati.[9]

Both Omed and Ramke resigned from the Government service and returned to their native village, Wa·trepara. With the hard work of Omed, first Garo Baptist Church was organized with 39 members by Dr. Bronson on the 14^th April 1867. With the help of Omed and Ramke and some genuine Christians, Garo Christians began to grow.[10]

Rev. Dr. Martin R. Sangma also says that the first Baptist Church was established at Rajasimla on the 4^th April, 1867, along with 37 converts. Seeing the Garo converts and inception, of the Baptist Church, the American Mission Society began to work directly with Garos beginning from 1867.[11]

With the coming of the American Baptist Missionaries, the Garos were opened to see the world.  Rev. K.C. Marak’s reports to the Council of Baptist Churches in North East India which was held from the 20^th- 23^rd February, 2003 which is quoted by Rev. Martin Sangma says, “There are 2,246 Churches, 1,99,680 communicant members, 4,001 non-communicant members, 74,408 anabaptized children, 10 Associations (Krimas) and two centres.[12]” These two Centres mentioned above are Garo Baptist Churches in Khasi Hills-Shillong Centre and Poksura Centre.`

Catholic Mission: The Second Missionaries came and contact with people of Garo Hills is the Roman Catholic Mission. Two Selesian Missionaries- Fr. Archemedes Pianazzi and Fr. Lois Roca  came to Tura in 1933 and contacted some local people. With the help of two local gentlemen-Jobang D. Marak and Nagen Diengdoh, they could organize permanent Mission Centre in Garo Hills Tura.[13]

Seventh Day Adventist Mission: The Seventh Day Adventist Mission also came to Garo Hills in 1954. It was a Bengali preacher by the name Mr. P.K. Ghayan and established their mission in Rajasimla village of Garo Hills. The first Garo convert to this denomination was Wallace Momin and second Garo convert was Grohonsing Marak[14] Rev. Dr. Martin Sangma also says that this new Mission under the guidance of South Asia Missionary Society established their Mission Headquarter at Poona (Pune) and later, it reached to Garo Hills in Meghalaya.

Conclusion: From the above discussion, it is understood that the coming of the Christianity into Garo Hills is with the hard work of early American Baptist Missionaries, British Civil Servants and the two native gentlemen-Omed and Ramke. They toiled so hard to spread the Good News in Garo Hills. The Missionaries like Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist, Church of North India, Pentecostal Movements and many other churches also spread in Garo Hills both from outside influence and also from local churches. Above all, it is the works of the Mighty hand of God which working among the people of Garo Hills.

Bibliography:

Marak, Julius L.R. Garo Customary Laws and Practices .New Delhi: Akansha Publishing House, 2000.

Marak, Moniram R. A·chikni Ma·biding (The Ancestral of the Garos). Hawakhana, Tura: Garo Hills Book Emporium, 1996.

Sangma, Bluwin Ch. Songgitchamni Bite (Fruit of the Old Village). Ringrey, Tura: D.J.Publication, 2010.

Sangma, Milton S. History of Garo Literature . Ringrey, Tura: D.J.Publication, 2007.

Sangma, Martin R. Church Planting in Garo Hills. Tura: Muktarani P. Marak, 2003.

Sangma, M.R. “Origin and Growth of Garo Baptist Convention-Prospects and Retrospects,” A.B.D.K. Quasqui Centenary Souvenir .Tura: A.B.D.K, 2000.

Shira, L.D. “Rev. Ramke Wa·tre Momin,” Gisik Matgrikrang (Intellectual Heroes) .Ringrey, Tura: Students Book Emporium, 1996.

---

[1] Julius L.R.Marak, Garo Customary Laws and Practices (New Delhi: Akansha Publishing House, 2000), 1-18.

[2] Moniram R. Marak, A·chikni Ma·biding (The Ancestral of the Garos) (Hawakhana, Tura: Garo Hills Book Emporium, 1996), 1-50.

[3] Bluwin Ch. Sangma, Songgitchamni Bite (Fruit of the Old Village) (Ringrey, Tura: D.J.Publication, 2010), 4.

[4] M.R.Sangma, “Origin and Growth of Garo Baptist Convention-Prospects and Retrospects”, A.B.D.K. Quasqui Centenary Souvenir (Tura: A.B.D.K, 2000), 7.

[5] L.D.Shira, “Rev. Ramke Wa·tre Momin,” Gisik Matgrikrang (Intellectual Heroes) (Ringrey, Tura: Students Book Emporium, 1996), 1.

[6] Ibid…2.

[7] Ibid…3.

[8] Ibid…4.

[9] Milton S.Sangma, History of Garo Literature (Ringrey, Tura: D.J.Publication, 2007), 35.

[10] M.R.Sangma, “Origin and Growth of Garo Baptist Convention.”…7.

[11] Martin R. Sangma, Church Planting in Garo Hills, (Tura: Muktarani P. Marak, 2003),2.

[12] Martin R. Sangma, Church Planting in Garo Hills…3.

[13] Martin R. Sangma, Church Planting in Garo Hills…3.

[14] Milton S.Sangma, History of Garo Literature…80.