Who is the first Assamese personality to embrace Christianity?

Levi Nidhi

Who is the first Assamese personality to embrace Christianity?

The first Assamese personality to embrace Christianity was Levi Nidhi / Maniram Dewan. He was a powerful minister in the court of the Ahom king Chandrakanta Singha. He was born in 1732 in the village of Barpeta in Assam. He studied Sanskrit and Assamese at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati.

Dewan was a brilliant administrator and a skilled diplomat. He was also a devout Hindu. However, he was impressed by the teachings of Christianity, and he converted to the faith in 1765. This was a controversial decision, as it was seen as a betrayal of his Hindu heritage.

Dewan's conversion to Christianity had a profound impact on Assamese society. It led to a wave of conversions among the Assamese people, and it also helped to introduce Western ideas and values to Assam. Dewan himself became a leading figure in the Assamese Christian community, and he played a major role in the development of Assamese Christianity.

Dewan died in 1796. He is considered to be one of the most important figures in the history of Assamese Christianity. He is often referred to as the "Father of Assamese Christianity".

Here are some other Assamese personalities who embraced Christianity:

  • Rudromoni Phukan (1793-1867): A social reformer and educationist who founded the first Christian school in Assam.
  • Krishnachandra Barua (1810-1899): A scholar and writer who translated the Bible into Assamese.
  • Hiralal Dutta Baruah (1865-1938): A politician and educationist who was the first Assamese Christian to be elected to the Indian National Congress.
  • Radha Gobinda Baruah (1867-1939): A social reformer and educationist who founded the first women's college in Assam.

These are just a few of the many Assamese personalities who have embraced Christianity. Christianity has played an important role in the history of Assam, and it continues to be a vibrant and growing faith in the state today.