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Christianity was the second-largest religion in Manipur, a state of India in its Northeast region, according to 2011 census data〔Demographics of Manipur.〕 published by the Government of India. ==History of Christianity in Manipur== In the beginning of the 18th century, Manipur had a heterogeneous population the Meitei people in the valley areas were the followers of ancient Meitei religion; the hill tribes of the surrounding hill areas were the practitioners of the primedival tribal religion and the Shan people of the Kabaw Valley in the eastern frontier were the followers of Buddhism. Prior to the coming of Christianity, several mission societies including the American and the Welsh missions had made an attempt to establish its mission centre in Manipur. But until the end of the 19th century, they were not allowed to enter the state, because of strong opposition from the Raja and the people. Moreover, the British official had to maintain status quo in religious matter and Mr. Maxwell, the then-political agent of Manipur was fully conscious of the fact. Since the revolt of 1857, the British in India had a social policy in their relationship with the princely states that they should not interfere with anyone's religion but maintain strict neutrality. William Pettigrew was the first foreign missionary to arrive in Manipur on 6 February 1894. With the consent of Mr. A. Portious, the acting political agent (as the political agent major Maxwell was on furlough), Pettigrew was able to establish a school at Imphal (at Moirangkhom), named after himself as the Pettigrew Lower Primary School. After six months of working among the Meitei people, he was not allowed to continue his work in the valley. This happened when the then-political agent major Maxwell returned from furlough. As he found the Hindu Meiteis alarmed by Pettigrew's work, he immediately ordered the missionary to stop working and leave Imphal. From December 1894 until December 1895, Pettigrew searched for a suitable location for his new mission. First, he turned to the south and approached Kamkholun Singson, a Thadou chief of Senvon village, in December 1895. But as Pettigrew and his teaching was not welcomed by the chief, the missionary proceeded towards the northwest to the Mao areas. Here too, he faced the same treatment he met in the south. Not only this, he was warned by the village authorities to leave the place as soon as possible. In his search for a suitable location, he came to Ukhrul and went as far as Paoyi (now Peh) to the north; and on his return from Paoyi, he came up to Shirui mountain and further to Khangkhui. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Christianity in Manipur」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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