Research Scholar, Department of History, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu.
Ishfaq Ahmad Mir
Research Scholar, Department of History, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu.
The present study critically explores the historical rise of Christianity in India, tracing its roots from the apostolic era to colonial missionary interventions and their long-term sociocultural impacts. It begins with the arrival of St. Thomas the Apostle in 52 CE, whose ministry in Kerala initiated indigenous Christian communities. The narrative then examines the role of European colonial powers—Portuguese, British, and French—in formalizing and expanding Christian institutions, education, and liturgy. The article further analyzes how Christian missions interacted with India’s complex caste structures, linguistic diversity, and religious pluralism, especially among marginalized communities. It highlights the indigenization of Christian theology and practice, shaped by both resistance and adaptation. The study concludes by assessing the demographic, denominational, and regional diversity of modern Indian Christianity, emphasizing its resilience and evolving identity amidst postcolonial and nationalist challenges. Through this comprehensive historical and cultural lens, the article contributes to understanding Christianity as an integral, localized component of India's religious variety.
Keywords: Christianity in India, St. Thomas, colonial missions, religious conversion, caste and religion, indigenization, Indian Christian communities..
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