The Nagas

Hill Peoples of Northeast India

Project Introduction The Naga Database

manuscript - Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf Naga diary on his return to Nagaland, 1970

caption: the advantages of Christianity
medium: diaries
ethnicgroup: Konyak
location: Tang
date: 6.9.1970
production:
person: Furer-Haimendorf
date: 12.8.1970-9.9.1970
acquirer:
person: private collection
text: Towards dusk we went to the house of the "Area Council Member", a middle aged man of Ben class, who seems to be more influential than the Ang. His house is very big, but unlike that of the Ang, it stands on a low level, where a path drops steeply towards the lowest point of the village. However, it is very large and well built. It was rebuilt last year and a large number of villagers helped and were rewarded with meat and rice-beer. The owner's father still lives in the house, but seems to have retired from active life. The A.C.M. told us that he was one of the first protagonists of Christianity in Tang. Five years ago an Ao preacher came and persuaded him that it would be advantageous to embrace Christianity. As Christians the villagers would get many advantages including education and would join the progress made by other villages and tribes. The Ang and his family are holding out, but there is little doubt that they are fighting a losing battle. It is strange that one Ao could persuade the villagers to go in for so fundamental a change particularly as they understand little of the Christian philosophy.