>Nolicmahr at 12:10, 5 June 2021

2021-06-05T12:10:32Z

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{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Bettiah Christians
| native_name = बेतिया मसीही {{Nastaliq|بیتیاہ مسیحی}}
| native_name_lang = [[Hindi-Urdu]]
| image =
| caption =
| population = 16,000<ref name="Kalapura2020"/>
| regions = [[Indian subcontinent]]
| langs = {{flatlist|
* [[Hindi]]
* [[Urdu]]
* [[English language|English]]}}
| rels = [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[Christianity]]
| related_groups = {{flatlist|
* other [[Indo-Aryan peoples]]}}
}}
The '''Bettiah Christians''' ({{lang-hi|बेतिया मसीही}}, {{lang-ur|بیتیاہ مسیحی}}, transliteration: ''Béttiah Masīhī''), also known as '''Betiawi Christians''', are the northern Indian subcontinent's oldest Christian community, which emerged in the 18th century.<ref name="John2000">{{cite book |last1=John |first1=Jose Kalapura |title=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol. 61 |date=2000 |publisher=Indian History Congress |page=1011-1022 |language=English}}</ref><ref name="Kalapura2020">{{cite journal |last1=Kalapura |first1=Jose |title=Centenary History of Patna Jesuit Mission |journal=Patna Ganga Lahar |date=April 2020 |publisher=Jesuit Conference of South Asia |language=English|quote=It is estimated that the Bettiah Christians comprise some 16000 members and are presently dispersed in various urban centres of north India and abroad. The making of the Bettiah Christians, the oldest Christian community in northern India, is a signal achievement of the Capuchins the Jesuits later.}}</ref> Upper-caste [[Hindu]]s and [[Muslims]] who [[converted to Christianity]] in the 18th and 19th centuries constitute the majority of the [[Indo-Aryan peoples|Indo-Aryan]] ethnoreligious community of Bettiah Christians.<ref name="John2000"/> The origins of the Bettiah Christian community lie in [[Champaran]], in which the king of the [[Bettiah Raj]] in India, Maharaja Dhurup Singh, invited Roman Catholic missionaries of the [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin]] to establish the Bettiah Christian Mission there.<ref name="John2000"/>

Bettiah Christians are known for working in education, serving as teachers and professors.<ref name="UCA"/> A number of them have served in ecclesiastical positions as bishops, nuns, [[brother (Christian)|brothers]] and priests.<ref name="UCA"/>

== History ==
[[File:Portrait of Benedictus XIV - Agostino Masucci.png|thumb|[[Pope Benedict XIV]] blessed the Bettiah Christian Mission under the Capuchins in a letter to Maharaja Dhurup Singh dated 1 May 1742.]]
The [[Bettiah Raj]] in India was established by Ugrasen Singh, a [[Bhumihar]] ruler who established the state in India in the early 17th century A.D.<ref name="John2000"/> His son, Gaja Singh, was declared a [[Raja]] by the [[Mughal India]]n emperor [[Shah Jahan]].<ref name="John2000"/>

In 1713, Christian missionaries of the [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin]] established a hospice in [[Patna]], India.<ref name="John2000"/> Maharaja Dhurup Singh, the ruler of the Bettiah Raj, developed a close friendship with Italian Capuchin missionary priest Joseph Mary Bernini, who practiced [[medicine]] and [[faith healing]], as well as being fluent in [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] and [[Sanskrit]].<ref name="John2000"/><ref name="Putra"/> The queen of Maharaja Dhurup Singh, was ill and [[Giuseppe Maria Bernini|Joseph Mary Bernini]] came to their Bettiah Palace to [[Christian prayer|pray]] for her and treat her; the queen was cured of her "incurable illness" and as a result, Singh invited Bernini to found the Bettiah Christian Mission.<ref name="UCA1995">{{cite web |title=Bihar Christians have fostered faith harmony 250 years |url=https://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/1995/11/07/bihar-christians-have-fostered-faith-harmony-250-years&post_id=48221# |publisher=[[Union of Catholic Asian News]] |access-date=14 November 2020 |language=English |date=6 November 1995 |quote=Cherubim John, a writer and historian, said the Bettiah community began after Italian Capuchin Father Joseph Mary Bernini cured the local queen of an "incurable" illness. The king donated 16 hectares of land later known as the "Christian Quarters" to the Capuchins. The king allowed Father Bernini, who was on his way to Tibet, to preach, and helped build a church next to his palace.}}</ref><ref name="John2000"/> To secure Bernini's presence at the Bettiah Fort, Maharaja Dhurup Naryan Singh wrote to [[Pope Benedict XIV]] asking that priests be sent to [[Bettiah]] and on 1 May 1742, Pope Benedict XIV replied stating that the Capuchin priests could remain there and preach the [[Gospel]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Diocese of Bettiah |url=https://www.ucanews.com/directory/dioceses/india-bettiah/50 |publisher=[[Union of Catholic Asian News]] |access-date=15 November 2020 |language=English |quote=One of the Capuchin missioners, Father Joseph Mary, spent some time in Bettiah in 1740 en route to Tibet, and he managed to cure the queen of Bettiah of a serious malady. The King of Bettiah, Dhruva Singh, asked the priest to stay in his kingdom, but the priest said he could not do so unless the Vatican granted permission. Subsequently, Dhruva Singh wrote two letters to Pope Benedict XIV requesting that the missioners be allowed to open a station in Bettiah. The pope replied to him on May 1, 1742, saying the Capuchins could stay and preach the Gospel in the kingdom. Father Joseph Mary thus founded the Bettiah Mission in 1745.}}</ref> Raja Dhurup Singh donated 16 hectares of land, which became known as the Christian Quarters, to the Roman Catholic missionaries of the Capuchin Order.<ref name="John2000"/>

In 1749, [[Giuseppe Maria Bernini|Joseph Mary Bernini]] was transferred to [[Chandannagar]] to minister to European Christians but he became "sickened at heart with the loose morals of the settlers in the colonial [French] settlement" and wished to be transferred to a location "where there were no Europeans."<ref name="John2000"/> As such, he returned to his "beloved Bettiah" and Raja Dhurup Singh provided Bernini and his fellow priests the wood to erect a church there.<ref name="John2000"/> At the dedication of the church in 1751 on [[Christmas Day]], copies of a book describing the friendly relations between Hindus and Christians were brought out, with special copies being printed for the king and other distinguished members of his court.<ref name="John2000"/> During this event at which most of the citizens of Bettiah were present, Raja Dhurup Singh participated and provided musicians who played outside the church compound.<ref name="John2000"/>

The German missionary, scientist and geographer [[Joseph Tiefenthaler]] wrote in his account on [[Hindustan]] that within the walled city of Bettiah, also known as the Bettiah Fort, was a Hindu [[mandir]] and the convent of the missionaries of the Franciscan Order.<ref name="John2000"/>

On 15 January 1761, Joseph Mary Bernini, who had stayed at the Bettiah Christian Mission for the remainder of his life, died and his body was said to produce the [[odour of sanctity]].<ref name="Putra">{{cite web |last1=Putra |first1=Bharat |title=Christianity in Bihar |url=http://www.bihartimes.in/articles/bharatputra/christianity-bihar.html |publisher=[[The Bihar Times]] |access-date=19 November 2020 |language=English}}</ref> In the same year, the Bettiah Fort, along with the Bettiah Christian Mission, was attacked by [[Mir Qasim|Mir Qasim Ali Khan]], the [[Nawab of Bengal]].<ref name="John2000"/>

In 1766, Bettiah was attacked by the British under [[Sir Robert Barker, 1st Baronet|Sir Robert Barker]], who damaged the fort and the Catholic church there.<ref name="John2000"/> The [[East India Company]] generally viewed the Italian Capuchins with suspicion and in the 1760s, harassed and imprisoned them for several months; that being said, some individual Englishmen were fond of the Bettiah Christians and financially supported them, and "extended Government help for the care of orphans."<ref name="John2000"/> Raja Jugal Kishore Singh, the ruler of the Bettiah Raj in India refused to accept British rule in his state, fought the British with his army though they ended up retreating to [[Bundelkhand]].<ref name="John2000"/> Following this, the British appointed an estate manager to govern the [[East India Company]].<ref name="John2000"/> Lacking the local expertise to govern Bettiah, the East India Company invited Raja Jugal Kishore Singh in 1771 to rule the region under the auspices of the East India Company.<ref name="John2000"/>

The Government of the East India Company honoured Raja Dhurup Singh, in 1786, gave the Bettiah Christian Mission 60 [[bigha]]s of land within the fort, 200 bighas of land outside the fort, along with the village of Chuhari.<ref name="John2000"/> At that time, there were three Catholic Christian churches in each of these places, with 2500 Christians residing in Bettiah itself, along with 700 Christians residing in Chuhari and 400 Christians residing in Dossaiya.<ref name="John2000"/>

During the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]], the Maharaja of Bettiah sided with the British government and in 1909 through the [[Court of Wards (India)|Court of Wards]], the Bettiah Raj came under control of the British Raj in India.<ref name="John2000"/>

== Traditional occupations ==
[[File:St joseph bth building.jpg|thumb|St. Joseph's School in Bettiah is a [[Catholic school]] served by the Bettiah Christian community.]]
At the time of their [[conversion to Christianity]], the Bettiah Christians were largely upper-caste Hindus and Muslims who were scholars, cultivators and farmers, as well as artisans involved in carpentry, goldsmithery, masonry, and blacksmithery.<ref name="John2000"/> The [[Brahmins]], however, gave up their priestly work.<ref name="John2000"/>

The majority of Bettiah Christians became involved in the education sector, serving as teachers and professors.<ref name="UCA"/> Among the first schools opened by the Bettiah Christian Mission included St. Stanislaus Mission Middle English School in 1860, along with St. Aloysius Pathsala and Jubilee Memorial Nursery School; these have produced hundreds of graduates.<ref name="Kalapura2015"/> [[Khrist Raja High School, Bettiah|Khrist Raja High School]], established in 1922, has been widely attended by members of the Bettiah Christian Indian community too.<ref name="Kalapura2015"/> Female education was a priority of the Bettiah Christian Mission, with St. Teresa's Mission Middle English School being founded in 1922, along with St. Teresa's Teacher Training College in 1928.<ref name="Kalapura2015">{{cite journal |last1=Kalapura |first1=Jose |title=Philanthropic Organizations and Community Development: The Case of the Bettiah Christians in India |journal=Asian Journal of Social Science |date=1 January 2015 |volume=43 |issue=4 |pages=408–412 |doi=10.1163/15685314-04304005 }}</ref> As of 1995, there are twenty-seven schools in [[Bettiah]] managed by the Bettiah Christian community.<ref name="UCA"/> While the literacy rate of Bettiah in general was 52.8% in 1991, among the Bettiah Christian community, it stood at 70.09%.<ref name="Kalapura2015"/>

== Clothing ==
[[File:Ethnic.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[lehenga]] was the traditional dress worn by Bettiah Christian women.<ref name="John2000"/>]]
The [[lehenga]], a garment worn by women in northwestern India, was the traditional dress worn by Bettiah Christian women.<ref name="John2000"/> Since the 1950s, Bettiah Christian women are indistinguishable in dress from their neighbours, wearing the [[saree]] and [[shalwar kameez|shalwar qameez]].<ref name="John2000"/><ref name="Jha2015">{{cite web |last1=Jha |first1=Abhay Mohan |title=In Bettiah, Christian brides wear sindoor, colourful saris |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/In-Bettiah-Christian-brides-wear-sindoor-colourful-saris/articleshow/46604421.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 November 2020 |language=English |date=18 March 2015}}</ref>

During weddings, men usually don Western-style [[suit]]s.<ref name="John2000"/>

== Castes ==
{{quote box
| width = 30%
| align = right
| quote= Being principally descendants of Brahmins, they hold a fair social position, ... [though] one-fourth are carpenters, one-tenth blacksmiths, one-tenth servants, the remainder are carters.
| source = —[[William Wilson Hunter]] (1872)<ref name="John2000"/>
}}
The majority of Bettiah Christians are [[upper-caste]] converts from [[List of converts to Christianity from Hinduism|Hinduism]] and [[List of converts to Christianity from Islam|Islam]]; they are composed of individuals with the following castes:<ref name="John2000"/><ref name="Kalapura2015"/>
*[[Brahmin]]<ref name="John2000"/>
*[[Bhumihar]]<ref name="John2000"/>
*[[Rajput]]<ref name="John2000"/>
*[[Kayasth]]<ref name="John2000"/>
*[[Bania (caste)|Bania]]<ref name="John2000"/>
*[[Lohar]]<ref name="John2000"/>
*Hazam<ref name="John2000"/>
*[[Mahto]]<ref name="John2000"/>
*[[Koeri]]<ref name="John2000"/>
*[[Kumhar]]<ref name="John2000"/>
*[[Raut (caste)|Raut]]<ref name="John2000"/>

In the Christian Quarters of Bettiah, historically, [[Sunar|sonars]] (goldsmiths) resided in Sonar Patt, [[Lohar|lohars]] (blacksmiths) resided in Lohar Patt, [[Kayastha|Kayasths]] (accountants) resided in Kayasth Patt, [[Barhai|barhais]] (carpenters) resided in Barhai Patt, etc.<ref name="John2000"/> In 1790, the Bettiah Christians in a historic caste [[panchayat]] voted to abolish "caste ''[[jāti|jati]]'' norms for marriage and dining."<ref name="John2000"/> Due to their patronage by the Bettiah Rajas and the [[zamindari]] position of the Bettiah Christian Mission authorities, the Bettiah Christian converts mixed freely with Hindus and Muslims, "without any discrimination".<ref name="John2000"/> Due to the "inter-community marriages and participation in shared community activities sch as life-cycle rituals, festivals, ceremonies, [and] social functions", the Bettiah Christians "oriented to the ideal of a casteless community".<ref name="John2000"/>
Today, the Bettiah Christians stress a "brotherhood in religion" over caste, forming amicable relationships with Christians of other communities, including [[Dalit Christians]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Robinson |first1=Rowena |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oRtBDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT83 |title=Margins of Faith: Dalit and Tribal Christianity in India |last2=Kujur |first2=Joseph Marianus |date=2010-07-19 |publisher=SAGE Publishing India |isbn=978-93-86042-93-4 |language=en |quote=An inter-caste, inter-ethnic Christian 'brotherhood in religion' has been emerging as Dalit Christians along with other migrant groups such as Tribal Christian from Chotanagpur, the Bettiah Christians and Christians belonging to other ethnic groups make Urban parish communities.}}</ref>

== Marriage ==
With regard to [[Christian views on marriage|marriage]], the Bettiah Christians are generally strict as they are a high-caste community.<ref name="UCA"/>

During weddings, at the conclusion of the [[Nuptial Mass]], the groom applies [[sindoor]] to the parting in his bride's hair.<ref name="Jha2015"/>

== Ecclesiastical life ==
The first Roman Catholic [[Priesthood in the Catholic Church|priest]] from the Bettiah Christian community was ordained in 1861.<ref name="UCA"/> As of 1995, two bishops of the [[Catholic Church]] from the Bettiah Christian community have been ordained.<ref name="UCA"/>

The [[Sisters of the Sacred Heart]] was founded in Bettiah in 1926, with the [[religious order]] focusing on service in villages; it has established several schools.<ref name="Kalapura2015"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Superior general of Patna Sacred Heart Sisters dies suddenly |url=https://mattersindia.com/2020/07/superior-general-of-patna-sacred-heart-sisters-dies-suddenly/ |publisher=Matters India |access-date=31 January 2021 |language=English |date=30 July 2020}}</ref>

== Interfaith relations ==
{{Christianity in India sidebar}}
The tradition of communal harmony between the Bettiah Christians and other religious communities has been maintained since the dedication of the first Catholic Christian church in Bettiah:<ref name="John2000"/>
{{quotation|After the blessing of the new church at night, the Christian ''pooja'' (Mass) was repeated in the morning when more people came to attend the church service, including the nephew of the Raja and his retinue. The attendance of the Raja's court along with the Hindus, seems to be the beginning of a beautiful practice in religious harmony and dialogue still in vogue at Bettiah church. Every year at Christmas and on Good Friday, hundreds of non-Christians, particularly Hindus, largely in family groups, visit the church and offer prayers both inside it and at the shrine of Mother Mary, outside.<ref name="John2000"/>}}
Since their inception, the Bettiah Christians have maintained a spirit of communal harmony with Hindus and Muslims.<ref name="UCA">{{cite web |title=Bihar Christians have fostered faith harmony 250 years |url=https://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/1995/11/07/bihar-christians-have-fostered-faith-harmony-250-years&post_id=48221# |publisher=[[Union of Catholic Asian News]] |access-date=14 November 2020 |language=English |date=6 November 1995}}</ref> Adherents of other faiths often visit the churches of the Bettiah Christians and pray there, especially at the grotto containing a statue of [[Mother Mary]].<ref name="UCA"/>

== Bettiah Christian diaspora ==
Educational opportunities fueled the migration of some Bettiah Christians to other urban centres of northern [[colonial India]].<ref name="Kalapura2020"/><ref name="John2000"/> The Cornelius family was among the first Bettiah Christian migrants to the city of [[Kanpur]].<ref name="Mascarenhas2010">{{cite book |last1=Mascarenhas |first1=Cyprian Eugene |editor1-last=Noronha |editor1-first=Allan de |title=St. Patrick's Church Kanpur Sesquicentennial Souvenir |date=2010 |publisher=Krishna Graph & Prints |page=41 |language=English}}</ref> Some Bettiah Christians are now settled abroad in the [[United Kingdom]], [[United States]], [[Australia]] and [[Canada]].<ref name="Kalapura2020"/><ref name="Mascarenhas2010"/><ref name="Jha2015"/>

== See also ==
*[[Anglo-Indians]]
*[[Punjabi Christians]]
*[[Christian Brahmins]]
*[[Christian Kshatriyas]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Christianity in Bihar]]
[[Category:Christian communities of India]]
[[Category:Christian communities of Pakistan]]

Bettiah Christians - Revision history

>Nolicmahr at 12:10, 5 June 2021