Adaptation, Change and Continuity: The Case of the Rongmei Indigenous Religion
By Andrew Lathuipou Kamei
The success of Christianity among the tribes of Northeast India presents few parallels in the history of religious conversions – a period when the entire tribes and communities within a span of hundred years abandoned their indigenous faith and converted to Christianity. Under such circumstance few indigenous primal religions of these numerous tribes have been able to withstand the mass exodus to Christianity. As a result the twentieth century witnessed the demise of most indigenous religions and their replacement by Christianity in the region. However, few indigenous religions have managed to survive and coexist with Christianity. This paper attempts to shed some insights into the efforts of the Rongmei Nagas in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam to preserve and propagate their indigenous religion often drawing influences and inspirations from Christianity and other religions to help preserve their indigenous faith.