Christian Missionaries and Their Impact on Socio – Cultural Development - Undivided Koraput District a Study

Abstract

Before the coming of Christian Missionaries the undivided Koraput District of South Odisha was passing through a 'Dark Age'. Hilly and undeveloped, it was inaccessible and so isolated from the mainstream for century together. The region could not see the light of the modern world and remained backward. The inhabitants were up to their neck in evil practices like superstition, female infanticide, child marriage, Mariah sacrifice, seclusion of women, bethi and goti system, rigidity of caste system and untouchability. The lower caste people were indigent, ignorant, illiterate, and superstitious and considered untouchable, outcaste and uncivilized. Above all, it was a malaria prone district and there was no health care facility. So, the people took resort to supernatural power. They were worshipping various elements of nature, ancestors and many Gods and Goddesses. In these critical circumstances, the Christian Missionaries came on 15 th May, 1882 A.D. and heralded a new epoch in socio- cultural development of this district. They introduced and implemented handful of welfare schemes such as eradication of illiteracy, economic upliftment, and social mobilization, consciousness of health and hygiene and gender identity of women. Thereafter, a tremendous impact of missionaries' activities was observed on the people of this area. th Century witnessed a great intellectual upheaval all over Orissa. The rational mind interrogated the inner purport of social customs and religious forms. In course of time, a series of socio-religious movements with reformative sinew began to renovate the society and rationalized religion. These movements raised its voice against superstitions, blind beliefs and irrational practices. In this connection, the missionaries played a vital role. They were inspired with civilizing mission to eradicate the socio-cultural evils prevailed in the undivided Koraput district. It was the home land of the aboriginals. These people were considered outcaste and untouchable. Most of them were poor and leading miserable and deplorable life. Hence, the social status and suffering of the lower caste people were indescribable. The undivided Koraput district was full of mountainous regions and hilly tracts. Due to inaccessibility, it was isolated from outside world for century together and remained backward and undeveloped. Thats why, people of this area could not see the light of modern world and were rolling on a number of superstitious beliefs. There were various problems besetting this district such as child marriage, infanticide, seclusion of women, bethi and goti system, mariah sacrifice, superstition and illiteracy. There was no female education and gender identify in this area. Rigidity of caste system and untouchability made social life hellish. The high caste people used to oppress and suppress the lower caste people. The sahukars, moneylenders, zamindars, royal officers and police personnel had vampire in them. Being a malaria prone district health hazard was a regular feature (1) and people solely depended upon sorcery, magic spells of local physicians like Dissaris, Bejjus, Siras, Guniyas and Gurumains (2) and were dying without proper medical treatment. Above all, the British hegemony aggravated the untold suffering and misery of the people. Therefore, prior to the advent of the missionaries, this district was passing through Dark Age In this critical circumstance, the missionaries came to Koraput district on 15 th May, 1882 A.D (3) with two noble objectives i.e. Arise and Shine and raised a ray of hope for the despondent, hopeless, helpless, downtrodden and desolate people and heralded a new epoch in the history of Koraput district. Their noble objectives were directed to changing the society. The missionaries had to struggled for existence in the initial stage and suffered a lot due to the bureaucratic hassles, stunt opposition and threatening both from the police personnel and the high caste people (4) but they never lost their spirits rather remained determined to continue the evangelical activities in this district in the face of all that came their way. They ultimately succeeded in carrying out their work in this hilly district because of their dedication, sacrifice, determination and benevolent motive. Thereafter, the history of Koraput witnessed a tremendous transformation in the socio, economic, educational, health and religious spheres. There was in fact historic leap from tradition to modernity, darkness to light, superstition to reason, illiteracy to literacy, ignorance to knowledge, enmity to fraternity, unhealthiness to