Dimasa (Kachari) Identity, Religion and Its Status

The Dimasa (Kachari) tribal of Nagaland has always been part and parcel of the greater Naga society and never felt different from other tribes. The feeling of oneness with the rest always existed and positively it would remain so in the days to come.

Dimasa (Kachari) dwelled in their own land and had co-existed peacefully with the neighbouring tribes from time immemorial. Their animistic faith was dear to the Dimasa people but slowly dying due to the influence of the established faith practiced by the people around and mainland India. Human civilisation had seen that the faith of the people does not remain static which is a fact and a reality. It has been observed that the religious practice of the Dimasa (Kachari) is gradually becoming mixed, diluting its animistic rituals. Being in a secular country, there is no other way but to be tolerant. To me religion or faith is a personal choice though.

The Dimasa (Kachari) is a recognised indigenous tribe of Nagaland, but the religious practice of the people make them look like non-indigenous and alien to majority indigenous tribals of the State. But the fact of the matter is not all Dimasas (Kachari) are Hinduist animist/Hindu; there are few Christians amongst them, who are marginalised section in the Dimasa society. There are two Dimasa Churches that had already celebrated silver Jubilee at Doyapur and Dhansiripar, and (there are) Churches at Ganeshnagar, Manglumukh and Disaguphu villages. The Church at Doyapur is the mother Church of the Dimasas and will be celebrating Golden Jubilee in 2030 which is going to be a glorious occasion for the believers.

The Dimasa Baptist Hosom, the apex body of the Dimasa Baptist Christians had celebrated silver Jubilee in 2024. It may be mentioned that Dimasa people are comparatively the least educated lot among the tribes of the State. Negativity has crept in among the people with a thought that being animists or neo-Hindu, the Dimasas are always not given equal status which is actually not the case as I would like to believe.

Whatever the case may be, the majority need to review the perception of the younger generation and propagate the truth to the younger generations and re-assure the remaining few Dimasa people of the State whose number is diminishing year after year. The majority populace has the duty and responsibility to bring light to the dark corner of the land and be blessed as people of the book. Nagas are abundantly blessed by the commitment and truthfulness of the forefathers when the light dawn upon them more than 150 years ago. Before reaching out to the other parts of the world, it would be best to have the house ‘cleaned and lighted’. Evangelizing the Dimasa people could be a tough task, but there is nothing called impossible for God to bring people to conviction about the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Prayers, materials, financial and logistic support to Dimasa believers from the Churches of Nagaland and individuals alike is a necessity to move forward to bring people to light, for which Dimasa Baptist Hosom could lead from the front.

K. Naben,

Social Worker,

Dhansiripar.