One phenomenon inherent in the nature of plural society of the Indian sub-continent is the co-existence often in a narrow space of population varying greatly in level of material and intellectual development. Confrontation and eventual harmonization are the two possible outcomes of such a state of affairs. The diversity of general populace, ethnic groups, communities and cultural conditions is very great yet the different populace, tribes, ethnic groups, community, parties, professional communities and other have varying degree of community affinity, close social contact, a life of communities participation in times of happiness, merry making, feasts, celebration of victory and sharing concern and care in times of sickness and solidarity with the affected, grieved person(s) families in unfortunate natural disasters, accidents, deaths etc. with moral, mental, physical, financial and other means of support.

As such sensible, sociable, concerned and caring people from all walks of life extends their helping hands to the sick, needy, affected people from time immemorial. This is indeed a unique feature of unity in diversity of the people with the manifestation of life of love, togetherness, sharing with communal co-existence of peace, harmony and brotherhood among the different communities, people, tribes and others.

The coming of Christianity in North-East India:

Among the first Ao Nagas in Naga Hills: The coming of Christianity in North-East India had great enlightening effects on education, medical health care, socio-economic and political and development aspect on the people especially the Christians in particular and the others in general. In this connection I take the opportunity to quote from Mrs. M.M. Clark, “In December 1872, 15 Nagas were baptized by Mr EW. Clark in Molungkimong (South of Amgui in Naga Hills). His evangelization was based on preaching and baptizing, the role of native helpers, villages schools, inculcation of self-help, literary medical service... what really matters him was again the simple Gospel teaching.

The distribution of medicines to the villagers and the importance in procuring an entry into their villages caught Clarl attention from the early stages of the Nagas work. Commenting Godhula’s success in the Hills, Clark’s quoted in 1873 “He has been somewhat successful in carrying some of its sick and this perhaps, has something to do with the desire to visit their villages”.

We should remember at the time of Clark the use of medicine was something unheard among the Nagas. Before the missionary came the people used to have recourse to sacrifices to appease the evil sprits who, they thought, were the cause of the sicknesses. Hence every cure brought about through medicine had an amazing effect which in the minds of the people put to nought the powers of age-old friends. While the people were rather slow to understand the role of schools in their life, they were fast to grasp the need of medicine brought by the missionaries. (Baptist Mission in Nagaland by Dr. Joseph Puthenpurakal; SOB, 1984 first edition). Thus the Aos were the first to embrace Christianity in Nagaland and they already celebrated 125 years of Christianity in 1997 at Dimapur.

Christianity in Manipur :

On 13th September, 1891, Major H.St.P. Maxwell was appointed political agent and superintendent of Manipur. Rev. William Pettigrew requested him for permission to enter Manipur to start his missionary works of school education etc. Maxwell refused to grant him the same. He then in December, 1893 applied to Maxwell’s predecessor Mr. A. Porteus officiating political agent in Manipur. They were on friendly terms and Pettigrew started a school which was later known as Pettigrew Lower Primary School, Imphal.

However, he was allowed to work only among tribes and not among the plain people in the valley and was advised to work for his safety among the Tangkhuls who were particularly a quite and well behaved people. Thus he opened a station in 1896 at Ukhrul among the Tangkhul Nagas in Manipur. This was nominally an independent state which had three hundred thousand population. (A Corner India by Mrs. MM. Clark, New York, 1907 and KM Singh - History of Christian Missionary in Manipur and neighbouring states 1991). The Christians and other people in Manipur already celebrated 100 years of Christianity at Imphal and Ukhrul in 1996.

Christianity in Assam:

The Browns arrived in Sadiya, Brahmaputra Valley in 1836 and officially started the Baptist Mission in Assam and they have already celebrated 100 years of Christianity in Assam in 1936 (1836 -1936). In 1867, Dr. Brownson baptized 37 Garo converts and organized them with Mr. Omed, Mr. Rankha and Rangkhut, a Christian Garo policeman into a church of 40 members. The Garos were left untouched until 1847 and in 1863, Omed and Rankha were baptized and they established a new village Rajasimla. (Source Baptist in Assam a century of Missionary service, 1836-1936 by Victor Hugo Sword, published in USA in 1935, first Indian reprint 1992).

Christianity in Mizo Hills:

Presbyterian Missionaries were the first to preach Christianity in Mizo Hills and Lushai Hills and they have already celebrated 100 years of Christianity in 1990s.

Christianity in Meghalaya:

The Catholic Christian already celebrated 100 years of Christianity in 1991.

The role of churches and people of God in HIV/AIDS

Introduction: Christianity plays a great role in the religious, social, cultural, educational, medical and health and political life of the Christian community. About 20% of the people of North East India belong to Christianity by faith. The responsibility of the Church is primarily evangelistic concerned with spiritual life and secondarily social, economic educational, health and political aspect related with temporal life. The Christianity today is no more a passive religion but a pro-active pro-people religion. The Lausanne Covenant 1974 specially contains statement of the nature of evangelism and socio-political responsibility as part of Christian duty. That is why the churches have to take care, both spiritual and temporal needs. It is directly related with daily needs and Mahatma Gandhi's remark. 'For a hungry man, food is God' many be quoted here.

No one can deny the fact that Christianity had, has the greatest impact on education and health in the North Eastern States among the Christians. The Mizos who have the highest literacy next to the Kerala in India have already celebrated 100 years of Christianity. The highest literacy State Kerala in India is also much indebted to the Christians Missionaries, and their institutions. The Ao tribe in Nagaland which are highly educated amongst the tribes in India celebrated 125 years of Christianity in 1997.

The highly educated Meiteis and the moderately educated Tangkhul Naga community and other in Manipur celebrated its Christianity in 1996 in Ukhrul and Imphal. The various colleges namely, St Edmunds College and St Anthony's Don Bosco in Shillong, Patka Christian College, Jamukidema, Nagaland, Don Bosco College, Maram in Manipur, Bethany Christian College in Churachandpur in Manipur and the Primier College in Mizoram, the various schools educational institutions and the various health institution, hospitals, nursing schools, dispensaries, health centres speaks volumes of their testimonies. The Catholic Medical Centre, Koirengei, Imphal with several facilities of investigations and treatment with latest installation of heart machine as a symbol of dedicated service to the people of Manipur.

The Churches - the best platform for awareness campaign:

The normal 52 Sunday Sermons, the equal number of weekly women/youth Church meetings and various other religious meetings, seminars, workshops bible classes, training, refresher/re-orientation courses, Sunday School classes and others are no match for conventional teachings, discussions, awareness fora etc except the school, colleges, university classes. It offers the best opportunity for the faithfuls consisting of the farmers, labourers, teachers, office goers, doctors, social workers, politicians, political workers and other from all walks of life.

Today the most read book is the Bible. But least understood in the world. In the same way HIV/AIDS is today the most talked, published medical topic/disease in newspaper, TV, Radio and other media for communication. Yet it is the least understood. Many in the world are still not aware of simple basic facts of HIV/AIDS.

The Christian missionaries, preachers, pastors, the clergy and nuns, the theologians, Christian leaders are well respected by the people and they have opportunities for communication with audience for 30 minutes 4 times a year in the churches. This does not alter the normal programme of the worship services.

Why the need for HIV/AIDS for Christian leaders, pastors etc.

HIV/AIDS is not only physical illness/sickness but also affects social, religious, political, educational, legal aspects and hence involved the effort and participation of people from all walks of life - the medical persons, NGO, the social workers, the lawyers, the human right activists, the social, spiritual, medical, counsellors, the service providers, the politicians, the administrators, the policy makers, different departments, sectors, the private sector under taking, the teaching community, the students community and others. That is why a proper training to the concerned persons for imparting correct information on basic facts of HIV/AIDS touching on all abo-ve related issues, needs are taught with practical lessons, experiences, exposures whenever possible. Thus, the social, economic, cultural, educational, legal and the political teachings of the chu-rches will be embedded in the minds of the people and their personal life.

Church - a caring and healing community:

Today the most important responsibilities of the church are to fight against injustice, to fight for justice, for the oppressed, the downtrodden, for the poor and the sick in spirit and body. The church can initiate various reform measures, steps, activities, plans and project for the spiritual and temporal welfare of the people irrespective of caste, sex, creed, place, country for the opposed, the poor and needy, sick people. Prov 31.8-9 encourage and urges us 'speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all those who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly, defined the rights of the poor and needy'. The Church should assist and help the destitute, the poor in the community. God wants us to count on this world of injustice for the oppressed and the poor, the sick and the needy. God always cares, loves and have the greatest compassion for the poor, the sick and the needy.

Gary A Haugen rightly states, 'We who know God, however trust that he hears and cares for He is God of compassion. The cries of those suffer from injustice move him. We have hope because we know we serve such a God'. In the words of Most Rev. Joseph Mittathany, Archbishop Emeritus of Manipur Arch-diocese who is the longest surviving Bishop in the North East States, serving as a Bishop and arch-bishop for 36 years on his retirement on August 2006 stated, 'I was the Bishop of Tripura for 10 years and Manipur for 26 years.

In my long tenure of Arch-Bishopship, I prayed for the Catholics, the Christians and the people of the two states. I constructed many schools, educational institutions, colleges, hospitals, health centres, dispensaries, nursing schools, religious institutions and others, I initiated various income generating schemes, projects to help the poor, the sick to educate the people and the needy. I was involved in peace effort building measures to create harmony among the different communities of Manipur, I love Manipur, I will continue to live in Manipur and work for Manipur, my dead body will be buried for eternal rest in Manipur...” The various Organizations like, All Manipur Christian Organization, All Manipur Catholic Union, the AMUCO and others paid him glowing tributes on his retirement as the Arch-bishop of Manipur.

Read Part II