The Christian missionaries played an important role in developing education among the hill tribes of Nagaland. The first Baptist missionaries arrived in 1839 and established the first school. Successful missionary work began in 1871-1872 among the Ao Nagas. The missionaries established churches and schools, introducing literacy, Christianity, and a new way of life. They used education as a tool for conversion and had a significant impact on Naga society, culture, religion, economics and politics. However, their efforts in eastern Nagaland met less success initially until supported by Ao missionaries. Overall, the missionaries were a dynamic factor in modernizing Naga society.

1. BY NOHOCHEM SNGTAM
PROJECT INVESTIGATOR
Impact of Christianity to The
Eastern Nagaland

2. CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Early Missionaries Experiment to Naga Hills area.
3. Coming of Christianity and Education to Aos Naga
4. Coming of Christian Missionary to Trans-Dikhu Tribe
(Sangtam,Konayk,Phom, Khiamnungang)
5. Problems of Early Mission School
6. Philosophy of Christian Missionaries
7. Curriculum
8. Language
9. Contribution of Christian Missionary in the field of Education.
& Social Development of Nagaland

3. NTRODUCTION
 Nagas are Mongaloid race. They live in the
Sovereign Village state until 1826, they are
hill people.
 First contacted with Ahom 1228 AD.
 Nagas and Ahom trade relation between
1228 A.D to 1829.,
 1826 Naga With the annexation of Assam
after the treaty of Yandaboo in1826. This
mark the beginning of Nagas to contact with
the outside world and influence of
westernization.

4. 1832 AD The British first come into contact
with the Angami country lead by Capt.
Jenkins and Pembenton –Jungle beyond
Assam
23rd May 1836 :The two American Baptist
missionary couples who came to Satiya Mr.
and Mrs Nathan Brown and Mr. and Mrs.
Oliver Cutter.
On 8th July 1838, they were joined by Mr. and
Mrs Miles Bronson and Mrs Jacob Thomas.

5. EARLY MISSIONARIES EXPERIMENT
>First Baptist Missionaries to Naga Hills- Rev.Miles Bronson
 Rev.Miles Bronson first point of contact with the Namsang village
(now in Arunachal Pradesh) was on 7th January 1839.
 Bronson opened first school at Namsang in the Konyak area
bordering Assam (now at Arunachal Pradesh).
This became the first school to the Naga Hills.
 Rev.Miles Bronson made another visit on Namsang village at the
end of 1839 to study the possibility of living there with his family
and of starting a elementary school for the Naga children and
preach Gospel of John and Mathew to the Naga.
 In May, Miss Rhoda Bronson, sister of Miles Bronson joined them,
but unfortunately, she became ill and passed away on 8th
December 1840.

6. COMING OF CHRISTIANITY AND EDUCATION TO
AOS NAGA
> 1869 : Rev.E.W Clark came Sibsagar(Assam).
He had strong determination to preach Christianity among
the Naga tribes.
 The Pioneer who came into the field were
Mr.Sepongmeren, a local Naga convert to Christianity.
1871: Rev.Edward Winter Clark,Mary Mead Clark and
Godhula Rufus Brown started their mission work among
the Ao
1872: The first mission station in the Naga Hills at Dekha-
Haimong (Molungkimongkimong)
1876 : Molungyimsen began the centre of Christian Mission
,it function almost 20 years till it shifted to Impur in 1894.

7. COMING OF CHRISTIANITY AND EDUCATION TO
AOS NAGA
>1878: Rev. E.W. Clark and His wife set up
first mission school station at
Molungyimsen.At first it was a school for the
girls later Godulla started boys.
>Between 1872-1894, the Missionary
establish the church and the mission
school established in the Ao areas.

8. THE FIRST PASTOR AMONG THE AO
Mr.Semsalepung, the
First Pastor and
Evangelist from Ao
Naga Baptist
Convention to Border
tribes (1910-56).

9. Clark Memorial Hall at
Molungyimchen. (1880).

10. > Sekyuling Sangtam: First Sangtam To convert Christianity
and first evangelist to bring Baptist Christianity to the
Sangtam Soil at Tsaru(Chare Village)
Establishment of Christianity and Education To
Sangtam Naga

11. ESTABLISHMENT OF CHRISTIANITY EDUCATION
TO SANGTAM NAGA
>Sangtam are Mongoloid Race. Sangtam means“People living with
a constructed floor in the house”
> Before the coming of Christianity to the Sangtam Land .They
worship nature God called Lijaba.
 In the early 20th century Mr Sekyuling Sangtam Tsaru village was
left to Aonokpu an Ao village there he met a widower Mrs.
Pangerla who was then a great believer of Christ.
 1912: Sekyuling Sangtam Was Baptist by J.B.Baily at Impur
from that day onward he recieved christianity and thus seed the
beginning of Christianity to Sangtams land.
> 14TH June 1918 : First Christianity to Sangtam Soil was Brought
by Sekyuling Sangtam.
> In febuary 1946 The first Sangtam Ashimukhong Bible
Conference was held at Tsarü (Chare) village.
These lead to the beginning of USBLA (United Sangtam Baptist
Lithro Ashimukhong. At present there are 78 churches and 3
fellowship.

12. > First School at Sangtam soil was started in 1930 At Tsaru
Village By Imnayongdang Ao
Waromong ,Tsaru village Pastor.
The name of the School was Baptist Mission
School (Class 1 to A) ,it function upto 1950.
 Early Education was function in the Mourng both boys and
girls were taught the Gospel .
 At present as on 27/09/2017 : there are about
4 Baptist school running by the Churches.
Establishment of Christianity and
Education To Sangtam Naga

13. COMING OF CHRISTIAN AND EDUCATION TO
KONYAK TRIBE
 Mr. Yongna(or Longna) Konyak, the First Convert and pastor among the
Konyaks (1926)

14. COMING OF CHRISTIAN AND EDUCATION TO KONYAK TRIBE
> It was the Ao Nagas who made an attempt to evangelize the Konyak-
Nagas. A boy name N.Longna from Tamlu Village was sent to Impur
mission school for studies in 1931.
> He was baptized by Rev.Wick strand in 11 December 1932. His
conversion marked the beginning of Christianity among the Konyak-
Naga.
> The first mission centre was located at Watching in 1947, however,
today it is located at Mon town
> As Christian grew the neighboring villages were also inspired and
churches were established until 1949 the Konyak churches were under
the supervision of the Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM).
> Till 1950,Konyak and phoms were also not separated but due to the
dialectual differences the two tribal formed their own Association in
1951.
> At present there are about 115 Churches under Konyak Baptist Churches

15. COMING OF CHRISTIANITY & EDUCATION
TO PHOM TRIBE
Mr. Imkum Phom, the First
Convert among the Phom
(2.9.1929

16. COMING TO CHRISTIANITY AND EDUCATION TO
PHOM NAGA
 Till 1950,Konyak and phoms were also not
separated but due to the dialectical differences
the two tribal formed their own Association in
1951.
 However,the first phom Naga to convert Baptist
Christianity was Imkum phom. He was Baptist
by Rev.Wickstrand on 22 Sep 1929 along with
Mr.Imkong and Longer.
 The first primary school was established in
Tamlu Village.

17. COMING TO CHRISTIANITY AND EDUCATION TO
CHANG
 The change people realized the need of
Christianization on after the Imlong Chang
Dobashi who evangelised first to the
chang.In the year 1940
 Imlong Chang was Baptized by
Rev.Kijungluba.
 The first school under Chang area was
established at Tuensang town in the year
1958 by the Government. It was upto middle
school.

18. COMING OF CHRISTIANITY AND EDUCATION TO
YIMCHUNGER
> The word Yimchunger means “Search and found”. Before
the coming of christianity they worship Arimpuh(God).
> The first mission and evangielism record that the first
mission and church was established on 15 March 1947 at
Huker Village by Mr. Lhovikhu Evangelist from Sumi
Association and Later Ao mission joined them in 1950
With the coming of Christianity to these tribal region.
> Education
> The first school was started in 1st March 1946 called
Sangto Primary School,chessor.

19. COMING OF CHRISTIANITY AND EDUCATION TO
KHIAMNUNGANG
> First Christian came in may 1947.
> First missionary was Imtichuba chang from
Chingmei village.
> But first Baptism was done by Rev. Onenlepden
The first Baptism was done for late Mucho of
Kusong village.
> Missionaries helped a lot in education and
Significantly Aos. The first schools was established
in 1950,GPS Noklak town.

20. PROBLEMS OF EARLY MISSION SCHOOLS
>No standards for running the schools.
>No standard qualifications for teachers
>Emphasis was on converting the pupils to
Christianity.
>There was inadequate finance.
>There were no trained teachers and no
teacher training colleges.
>No common syllabus and standard textbooks.

21. CONTN
>Lack of adequate supervision.
>There was no central examination system.
>There was no uniform condition of service for
teachers.
>learning was the common method of
teaching.
>There were no regulations guiding movement
of teachers and pupils in and out of the
school.

22. PARENTS ARE NOT READY TO SEND THEIR
CHILDREN TO THE SCHOOLS ESTABLISHED BY
THE CHRISTIAN MISSION BECAUSE OF TWO
REASONS
> a. They had not yet recognized the
missionaries/Pastor and treated them
as the spies of the British government.
> b. They were all farmers and their
compulsion was to work in the field from
dawn to dusk along with whole family
members.

23. PHILOSOPHY OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY
TO EDUCATE HILLS PEOPLE
>To convert the animistic belief to
the Christian faith and to
educate tribal people
>To make the converts to be
literate so that they can read the
Bible,book and serve and
interpreters, clerks and
messengers.

24. LANGUAGE
 English
 Assemese
 Ao Language (For Eastern Naga)
 Sangtam Language(Eastern Naga)
 Sumi language for Eastern (Yimchunger
Tribe
 Chang for Khiamnungang

25. CURRICULUM
>Religious knowledge
>Preaching
>Writing
>Moral instruction
>Singing
>Arithmatic
>Manual work

26. CONTRIBUTIONS OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONS TO EDUCATION AND SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT OF NAGALAND
1. Literature and Education
The First and foremost changed brought by Christian
Missionaries was the establishement of educational Institutions
and introduction of Language into writing and used as school text
books along with the establishement of churches, side by side
establishment of misssion schools have led the people to read
and write.Then the people could have their own language –Holy
Bible,Hymn,Hymn Boooks,Dictionary,School Text books and
many other books and so on.
2. Introduce New language as a medium of communication
The English language which they introduced is now being used
as the official language in Nagaland. This makes communication
and interaction easier among the many ethnic groups in
Nagaland

27. 3. Traditional system of education Morung life into western style of
schooling.
They transform Morung system of education into Misssion schools ,and school.
today, the Morung system is no longer in practice among the Tribes.
4.Christian missionaries seed the ground for Western education system,new
curriculum to the Nagas.
5. Education of Women
The western missionaries especially the American Baptist missionaries who
entered the Naga Hills to spread Christianity also championed the spread of
modem education and female education of the tribal women. The Christian
missionaries realized that to evangelize the tribal who are deeply rooted in their
traditional cultures was impossible directly without education.
The first women school for the Nagas was started in 1876 at Molungkimong an Ao
area.

28. CONTRIBUTION TO NEW SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT VALUES
1. They contributed towards eradication of negative and
harmful practices like animals sacrifice, head Hunting to
soul winner
2. Impact on Traditional beliefs to Medicine treatment
3. Traditional house to modern concept of House building
4. They educate the people instead of drinking rice beer, the
people started drinking tea.
5. They transform Economic life.
6. Transformation to new democratic ways of Village politics

29. SUMMARY
 Christian missionary plays and important role in the development of
education among the people of the hills areas.
 First Baptist Missionary came to Naga were Miles Bronson 1839.
 who stared first school to Naga Hills at Namsang in 1839.
 First successful attempt of Christianity to the Naga Hills in the year
1871-1872
 First school to the AO Naga was open in 1878 at Mulongyimsen.
 Impur Mission 1894-193 0s which was the Centre of Chrsitian education
to the Nagas.
 Aos Missionaries were the major contributor pioneers for the
establishment of Christianity and education to the Eastern Naga.
 Christian missionaries made their first, unsuccessful attempt in the
eastern Nagaland 1887 (Chare Village).
 First Church and School in Trans-Dikhu Tribe i.e Eastern Nagaland were
established at Tsaru Village.Church in the year( 1918) School (1930).
 They made frantic efforts to establish their missions and schools.
 They did not succeed much in the Eastern side of Nagaland.
 It was only after Aos missionaries initiative the churches and schools
were open in the Eastern Nagaland.

30. The living condition of people changes throughout history.
Society changes in different direction of variation in local
resources and local conditions.
The role of the Christian missionaries has been the most
dynamic factor in modernizing Naga society. It opens the
door for the Naga to think in Global context and brought
them into the fold of a global village.
The missionaries had used education as an instrument to
convert the people to Christianity. Due to Christian
education, whole outlook and a way of life of the tribals were
changed from Head-Hunters to the soul winner, due to the
coming of Christianity the whole social, Culture,religious,
economy and political life of Naga is changed
At the same time with the direct impact of christianity,the
indigenous institutions of such as the morungs and
dormitories became unpopular among the people.

31. REFERENCE
> Life of Poul and His missionaries –L.Mhonthung Humtsoe 2016.
> Cultural Tradition of India with reference to the Sangtam Naga –
Nohochem Sangtam 2017
 Naga Society –N.Venuh
 Interview with Mr. Purlemba
 Ibid