Segmentation, Unity, and a Church Divided: a Critical History of Churches in Nagaland, 1947-2017
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Middlesex University Research Repository An open access repository of Middlesex University research http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk Jamir, Chongpongmeren (2019) Segmentation, unity, and a church divided: a critical history of churches in Nagaland, 1947-2017. PhD thesis, Middlesex University / Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. [Thesis] Final accepted version (with author’s formatting) This version is available at: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/27960/ Copyright: Middlesex University Research Repository makes the University’s research available electronically. Copyright and moral rights to this work are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners unless otherwise stated. The work is supplied on the understanding that any use for commercial gain is strictly forbidden. A copy may be downloaded for personal, non-commercial, research or study without prior permission and without charge. 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See also repository copyright: re-use policy: http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/policies.html#copy ‘Segmentation, Unity, and a Church Divided: A Critical History of Churches in Nagaland, 1947-2017’ Chongpongmeren OCMS, Ph.D July 2019 ABSTRACT This is a study of the distinctive formation of the Christian churches in Nagaland during 1947-2017. It argues that the major clues to understanding Naga church history are to be found in the cultural milieu of Nagaland. Thus, using a cultural history methodology, the ecclesiastical events described in this research were examined in the cultural framework of the segmentary Naga society and the changing political, social and religious environment in the region, giving close attention to how they affected the contours of the ecclesiastical history. It posited that segmentation as a cultural characteristic of the Naga society effected both unity and divisiveness in the Naga churches, which subsequently shaped the beliefs and practices of the churches in the region. Archival data in the form of reports, records and minutes of meetings were collected from church and government offices. Qualitative data was collected through interviews with leaders and key eyewitnesses of various events discussed in the research. Using a semi-structured questionnaire in these interviews allowed the interviewee to tell the story in their own words. Though primary textual sources were used to establish the state of churches in Nagaland prior to 1947, the main focus of this research is limited to the period 1947 to 2017. This research retells the story of the Naga church in a state of India with Christian majority. The ethnic status the Christian faith assumed, the extent of its identification with the local culture, and the scope of the mission of the Naga churches as key stakeholders in society, offers a new angle to the history of Christianity in India. As an historical study of churches within the geographical confines of Nagaland this research is hoped to be a tool for the churches’ self-evaluation in the region and beyond. ‘Segmentation, Unity, and a Church Divided: A Critical History of Churches in Nagaland, 1947- 2017’ by Chongpongmeren A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Middlesex University July 2019 Oxford Centre for Mission Studies DEDICATION To: my mother, late Atula, who dreamt with me, and my wife, Viva, who walked the dream with me. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First of all, I would like to thank OCMS and my supervision team for making it possible for me to do this research. This feat was possible only because of the constant encouragement, academic support and the facilities provided by the institution. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my first supervisor Dr Leonard Fernando for his valuable guidance, scholarly inputs and consistent encouragement which I received throughout the span of my research work. I consider it as a great opportunity to have done my doctoral programme under his guidance and to learn from his research expertise. I would like to thank my second supervisor Dr Marina Behera, a late but very timely entrant to my supervision team. Her insightful comments, encouragement and support were vital towards the completion of this work. I would also like to thank Dr OL Snaitang for his encouragement and spiritual support. A word of thanks for my tutor Dr Ben Knighton whose guidance and encouragement were key to the completion of this work. Moreover, the tough questions he raised helped me to widen my research from various perspectives. I am also thankful to Scholar Leaders International (SLI) for their generous financial and moral support throughout my studies. Thanks to their generosity, I was able to work and sleep in peace. I am thankful to SAIACS for the encouragement, and the space provided to me to do my research work. The continuous support of my colleagues at SAIACS was a source of encouragement and motivation for me. I would like to thank Bishop Dr Paul Barker, Melbourne, for going through the script and editing the whole manuscript. I am also thankful for his spiritual mentoring and encouragement over the years. iii I would like to thank my father, R Longri Jamir, for supporting me financially and spiritually throughout the writing of this thesis. His assistance and company on some of my research trips was invaluable. I would also like to express appreciation to my beloved wife, Viva Achumi, who has been a constant companion, a dialogue partner and an editor in my research journey. The path to the end would have been much more difficult if not for her prayer, encouragement and support. Above all, I owe it all to Almighty God for granting me the wisdom, health and strength to undertake this research task and enabling me to its completion. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page DEDICATION ............................................................................................................... i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................ iii TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................. v TABLES ...................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................... ix GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................. xi Chapter One .................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Research problem ................................................................................................... 2 1.2. Literature review .................................................................................................... 4 1.3. Methodology ........................................................................................................ 12 1.4. Sources ................................................................................................................. 20 1.5. Scope .................................................................................................................... 22 1.6. Justification .......................................................................................................... 23 1.7. Chapter preview ................................................................................................... 24 Chapter Two .................................................................................................................. 27 The Nagas: A Segmentary Society ............................................................................... 27 2.1. Independent and Autonomy ................................................................................. 29 2.2. Collective consciousness, unity and Naganess ..................................................... 37 2.3. Naga and the Others ............................................................................................. 49 2.4. Dynamics of segmentary Naga society ................................................................ 51 2.5. Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 56 Chapter Three ............................................................................................................... 57 Naga churches in the whirlwind of transition, 1947