Christianity in Jharkhand

Pre-independence era

Christianity was introduced to Chota Nagpur in 1845 through the arrival of German Evangelical Lutheran missionaries, including Pastors Schatz, Brandt, Batsch, and Janke, following their unsuccessful efforts in Calcutta after arriving from Berlin in 1844.^[9] These missionaries were initially heading for Mergui in Myanmar (formerly Burma) in view of preaching the Christian faith among the Karen people or in the areas located in the footsteps of the Himalayas. However, on meeting some people from Ranchi, they changed their plan and headed for Chota Nagpur and its main town, Ranchi. They reached Ranchi on 2 November 1845 and camped on, what is now known as, the 'Bethesda Ground' in Ranchi.^[10] Anglican missionary work was established at Ranchi in 1869 under the Anglican Bishop of Calcutta, followed by the establishment of a Roman Catholic mission in 1885 after the arrival of Father Constant Lievens. The Dublin University Mission from Ireland began its work in the region in 1890.^[9] Similarly, in Santhal Parganas the Norwegian Santal Mission established in 1867. By 1872, the Christian population in the region (modern Jharkhand) was 16,190, which increased to 43,535, 96,125, and 155,606 in the 1881, 1891, and 1901 censuses, respectively.^[a] The growth of Christianity in the region was largely among the tribal communities, which contributed to the rise of anti-conversion movements like the Birsa Munda Movement and the Tana Bhagat Movement.

Post-independence era

After India became independent, the missionaries who remained post independence, worked for the improvement standard of living and providing education to the children of the tribals. Evidently many of the tribals emerged as sportsmen especially in the game of hockey and football.^[11]

Even the first Prime Minister of India, Dr. Jawaharlal Nehru, in his The Discovery of India acknowledges the contribution of the early missionaries for development of tribals dialect stating that even laboured at the dialects of the primitive hill and forest tribes... ^[12]