THE NAGA CONTEXT

MAP OF INDIA

NAGALAND MAP

SOME STATISTICS OF NAGALAND

2 millions population in the mainland Nagaland.

However, if we include the Nagas scattered in other neighboring parts of India and Myanmar, it will be double of that number.

Nagas consist of 47 tribes. Some of the major tribes are: Ao, Sema, Keyong, Angami, Konyak and Chakesang.

A BIRD EYE VIEW OF DIMAPUR: OUR HOME TOWN/CITY AND ALSO THE ECONOMIC HUB OF NAGALAND

NAGA CHRISTIANS

Introduced to Christianity by the American Baptist Missionary in 1872. Today, it is 140 years since Nagas have embraced Christianity.

90% of Nagas are Christians. Out of this, 75% are Baptist Christians. The rest are divided among Roman Catholic, Revivalist, and Pentecostal.

The percentage of Naga Baptist (75%) is more than any other Baptist concentrated area in terms of percentage. Southern Mississippi has 55% of Baptist Christians.

There are also 7.7% of Hindus and 1.8% of Muslims.

SOME PICTURES: “THEN”

“NOW”

CONTEMPORARY ETHNIC CREATION

YOUNG NAGA BELIEVERS SINGING

TIME LINE OF THE NAGAS

Pre-colonial period Colonial period Post-colonial period

PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD

1. No one theory of our Origination.

2. Worshipped multiple spirits

3. Very communal communities

4. Head-Hunters

SOME MORE PICTURES

A NAGA HEAD HUNTER NAGA WARRIOR DANCE

COLONIAL PERIOD

1. The Coming of the British Colonial Ruler (1830s) and

2. The American Mission (1872)

COLONIAL PERIOD=MODERNISTIC PHILOSOPHY

European Enlightenment

Evolutionistic Thinking Scientific and objective

studies British colonizer

wanted an evolutionist change of the Naga Culture

American Baptist mission wanted a revolutionist change

POST-COLONIAL NAGAS: A PRODUCT OF THE COLONIAL PERIOD

Mentally, Nagas have been baptized into the modernistic/evolutionist thinking

Split-level Christians were produced To make the Naga society

excruciatingly complex, there has been an Independent movement which has self-inflicted deep wounds amongst ourselves.

THE EXISTING SITUATION

Corruption in all the public spheres Tribalism Extreme disparity of economy Lack of opportunity for the young

people The voiceless church Not knowing where they are heading as

people and nation