Purulia Road, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Christianity inspite of not being a major religion in the state of Jharkhand, India has played a crucial role in its development since 1845. Over the centuries, both Protestant and Catholic denominations have stepped in to help a neglected tribal population look beyond scanty means and found some of the present day city’s oldest schools and colleges.
The St. Mary’s Cathedral, established in 1901 on Purulia Road, is more than a historic landmark that travelers can visit for a glimpse of early 19th century architecture. The Catholic institution has roots that go back to 1885 when a group of Belgian Jesuits, particular one Father Constant Lievens, helped the people of the Munda tribe win back their land and their self-respect.
Share History. Share a Sentiment. Say it with a Farbound.Net Greetings Card!
Actual Dimensions: 1200 x 1203 pixels
In the initial days, Lievens had offered this help, which was essentially about filing lawsuits against landowners, without asking the Munda to convert to Christianity in return.
However, as the number of tribesmen asking for help had grown overtime, Lievens is known to have assisted only the Christian converts and later set the condition of offering his help in exchange for conversion into Christianity. Not because he was a missionary tasked with gaining conversions for the Catholic branch of Christianity.
But a man, who was firmly convinced that Christianity would prove beneficial for the Munda – a much neglected and exploited people back then. Dwelling on the fringes of Indian society.
Lievans had crusaded for what he had considered basic human rights, and the ecclesiastical order he belonged to now serves as the Archdiocese of Ranchi.
