EMN
Dimapur, April 2
There was a recent b discussion organised by the ICHR, North-East Regional Centre, on a book written by a secular scholar. The book was ‘Evangelising the Nation: Religion and the Formation of Naga Political Identity,’ by John Thomas.
The book discussion was organised by the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), North-East Regional Centre, in Guwahati on the topic of evangelising focusing on religion and the formation of Naga political identity, a book by Professor Johan Thomas.
The event was presided over by historian and former chairperson of the ICHR, Prof. Basudev Chatterji. The panel of discussants included the founder-director of the North-Eastern Social Research Centre Dr Walter Fernandes, and historian and professor at Assam University Prof. Sajal Nag.
Introducing the book, John Thomas, an assistant professor in the department of Humanities and Social Sciences of the IIT Guwahati, said that it was his larger concern with the ways in which religious ideas, practices and mobilizations mediated the formation of social and political identities that prodded him to write this book. He spoke of how his involvement in student politics and Christian Fellowship activities in JNU acquainted him with the stories and struggles of the Nagas, and how it struck a deep chord within.
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The author pointed out that his book explored the making of an unresolved contradiction within the Naga self, a contradiction generated by the sustained work of the missionaries and the church to promote a particular religious and cultural worldview.
According to Prof. Sajal Nag, it was the first time a secular historian had delved into a subject matter that is generally addressed, albeit in a simplistic manner, by church historians. As a result, he said, it offered a fresh and a much-needed perspective on the relations between colonialism and missionary work, and the impact evangelisation activities has had on local societies.
Also, Dr Walter Fernandes emphasised the book’s readability, recalling how he read it in a single sitting, and was appreciative of the political sensitivity with which it was written. He, however, stressed the importance of looking at the formation of Naga identity not merely as a response to colonial occupation but also as a response to the changing pre-colonial relations that Nagas had with their neighbouring communities.
Bringing the session to a close, Prof Basudev Chatterji remarked that what was distinct about the book was that it was written by a scholar from outside the region. He felt that when issues and events of a particular region are examined through alien eyes, one can acquire deeper insights.
