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 establish the city’s oldest schools and colleges.
The St. Mary’s Cathedral, established in 1901 on Purulia Road, is more than a historic landmark that offers a glimpse of early 19th-century architecture. The Catholic institution has roots that go back to 1885 when a group of Belgian Jesuits, particularly one Father Constant Lievens, helped the people of the Munda to be free from oppression and in exchange be baptised for their greater good.
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Lievens in Chotanagpur.
Born in 1856 to a large rural family in what is now the town of Moorslede in West Flanders, Belgium, Lievens had joined the Society of Jesus in 1878 to serve as an overseas missionary, after having completed his studies in philosophy and theology. He was ordained as a priest in Calcutta on the 14th of January, 1883, and his date of arrival in Chotanagpur is recorded to be on the 23rd of November, 1885.
Preceded by Father August Stockman, who had reached Chaibasa in the Singhbhum district on the 10th of July in 1869, and Father Sapart and Decock at Doranda and Jamgain respectively in 1880, though he was the last of the early Catholic missionaries to have begun work in the region, he was by far more the most successful.
Having been the first to realize that for conversions to take place, the missionaries had to first win the trust of the Adivasi people by proving to them that Christianity was indeed a friend concerned for their well-being.
Lievens was able to achieve this success by addressing real issues that were afflicting the tribals at the time. Among these were forced labour and exploitation by influential land owners over land rent. In this endeavour, he had been helped by his friend, a Jamadar of a local police station at Torpa, now a town in the Khunti district of Jharkhand.
The police officer had acquainted Lievens with the distress of the Munda and advised him to help them in exchange for conversions. Before Lievens, Father Stockman, in spite of, having offered food and consolation to the poor and oppressed had failed to acquire a congregation.
Gaining the trust of the Mundas.
In the initial days, a genuinely sympathetic Leivens had offered his help without asking the Munda to convert to Christianity in return. Assisted by Father Van Severen, Gardon and Dehon, he had represented them in court, defended their rights, offered them hope, and campaigned for their cause.
Later as the number of Adivasi people asking for help had grown, Lievens had then put forth the condition of accepting Christianity. Alexander P. Vargese, author of the book, India: History, Religion, Vision and Contribution to the World, mentions –
Fr. Lievens offered assistance to those who were prepared to accept Christianity on condition the entire village should convert. He discouraged individual conversion which may in the long run disrupt their peace, harmony and cultural ethos. The result was unbelievable.
Alexander P. Vargese
Lievens was firmly convinced that Christianity would prove beneficial for the Munda – a much neglected and exploited people dwelling on the fringes of Indian society. Furthermore, hailing from a rural background, he had understood their plight and sincerely worked for their betterment.
The mission he was associated with now serves as the Archdiocese of Ranchi. The premises the Cathedral stands on was a Coffee orchard and was purchased for Rs 8,000 in 1885.
It was registered as the Chotanagpur Catholic Mission Society in 1909. The building was erected in 1927, and the Catholic Society was upgraded to an Archdiocese in 1952.
Inspired by the work of Lievens, the missionary method here is to liberate people from oppression and restore their human dignity. Lievens passed away in 1893, afflicted with Tuberculosis. His ashes are kept inside the Cathedral.
