Genesis of Christmas celebration in Barak Valley

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Special Correspondent Silchar, 25: The genesis of Christmas celebrations in Barak Valley is shrouded in mystery. Available records suggest that with the advent of the East India Company in 1765, Cachar became the nerve centre of British military and civil operations. The British army launched its military campaign in Manipur from Sylhet through Cachar. It is said the soldiers of the British army were the first to celebrate Christmas in their barracks.With the Burmese expedition in 1824, the English began to observe the holy day at Dudhpateel Fort across river Barak close to Silchar. That same year soldiers of the Surma Valley Light Infantry too celebrated Christmas at their base camp at Lakhipur, 45 kms from here.Quite interestingly, the Dudhpateel Fort emerged as the seat of British administration from 1824. The first Superintendent of Cachar, Thomas Fischer and his wife, took part in Christmas celebrations at Dudhpateel in 1833. The last Superintendent of Cachar Stuart, who preferred to stay at the Fort, donated a part of his official bungalow at Silchar to the Baptist Mission for building a Church there which today stands as the most significant centre of Christianity in South Asom. With the gradual growth and development of the tea industry in Cachar from the mid 19th century and expansion of the British empire, the planters and the Europeans made Christmas celebrations wider. Besides the new converts among the local populace comprising the tribals and the non-tribals under the proselytizing drive of the missionaries began to join in the celebrations. There is no definite information about the oldest church in Cachar. Sketchy records indicate that the church at Bandasheel close to Badarpur railway colony, built up for the Portuguese settlers, is the oldest.Quoting from records, Mascarenhas, an octogenarian member of the community, said that in 1861, Dufal, an apostle of Christianity, paid his first pastoral visit to Bandasheel. It became a nodal point from where the visiting priests would tour the Catholic centres of Shillong, Cherrapunjee, Guwahati, Tejpur and Silchar. Bandasheel attained the status of a parish with resident priests in 1880. In 1886, Rev Angelus Munjohar, the first apostolic of Asom, visited Bandasheel and worked for the expansion of churches in the area. He sent Fr Marchellinius Molz, a leading apostle, who carried on the evangelization. In fact, the history of Bandasheel is linked with the history of the Christian community. Traditions say that about 500 people existed at Bandasheel in 1790. The history of Catholic Mission in north east India which has reference to Bandasheel church speaks of 60 Christians residing in the tea garden of Baithakhal in 1905 in the present Karimganj district.The book throws light on the fact that during that year, a chapel was built in the tea garden. The chapel is described as “very imposing on top of the hills and of highest elevation in the area. The river Tenhai flows through a narrow valley down. The bungalow of the planter and the tea factory were on another small hill. Much of the hillock could be seen from a great distance”.A marble plaque on this nondescript chapel, almost in ruins now, records the man behind its making. “In affectionate memory of AJM Maclaughlin CIEVD Lt Col commanding the Surma Valley Light Horse-1900-1909 who built this church in the year 1909”. Whatever may be the history of the church and the genesis of Christmas celebrations in Cachar, now Barak Valley, it is now a grand and great event, participated in by cross sections of people, irrespective of caste and creed. Churches across the hills, dales and plains of the valley have been spruced up for this divine celebration. source: sentinel assam