Meitei Christians - Christianity in Manipur

Christianity in Manipur

The name of the first Meitei to convert to Christianity is unknown. It is traditionally believed that Porom Singh was the first to be converted, but another tradition says that Ningol Kaboklei met a Christian missionary in Sylhet (presently in Bangladesh) and embraced Christianity in around 1893, a few years earlier than the arrival of William Pettigrew. Those claiming that Porom Singh was the first Christian convert, have intentionally ignored the other tradition about Kaboklei. It may well be true that Kaboklei was the first Manipur Christian.

During this time, attempts were made to force the Christians to renounce their faith and return to Hinduism. They petitioned the government for land and an area in Thangmeiband was granted to them to build homes.

Some theological scholars believe that Porom Singh was baptized on January 3, 1896. On that date, Pettigrew baptized his first Meitei convert at the watering Morangkhom Hiden Tapham. Porom Singh would have been only about eleven or twelve at the time and it is possible that such a public act would have caused uproar. After his baptism, Porom Singh left Imphal with Pettigrew and functioned as Pettigrew's right-hand man at Ukhrul. In December 1912, he became the headmaster of a school at Ukhrul, where his teaching responsibilities included preaching the gospel. He was one of only seven Christians who stood by Pettigrew. At the outbreak of the First World War, he helped Pettigrew to raise a labour corps, later becoming a corps leader and an interpreter. He received excellent testimonials when he served in France and on his return to India, was exempted from house tax.

Watkins R. Robert, a Welsh Presbyterian missionary, came to southern Manipur to as a gospel preacher. The local people called him Pu Tlangval ('Sir Youngman'), as he was only twenty-four when he first came to Manipur. Today, the Baptists are found in the northwest and northeast of Manipur, while the majority of Presbyterians are found in the southwest of Manipur, as a result of the missionary work of Roberts. Other, smaller denominational Christians are to be found among the Meitei community.