Maarg Manthan · Topic 8.9

Christianity

Art & Culture › Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism · Topic 8.9

Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible. In India it is among the oldest outside faiths: tradition holds that the apostle St Thomas reached the Malabar coast around 52 CE, giving rise to the Syrian Christians or Thomas Christians of Kerala. Roman Catholicism spread after the Portuguese arrival in 1498, with St Francis Xavier reaching Goa in 1542, and Protestant missions grew under the Danes, such as at Tranquebar in 1706, and the British, such as William Carey at Serampore. Christians were about 2.3 percent of Indians in Census 2011.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism

At a Glance

Founder figure Jesus Christ, scripture the Bible
Early arrival St Thomas, Kerala, about 52 CE
Catholic spread Portuguese Goa, 1500s
Protestant missions Tranquebar 1706, Serampore
Census 2011 About 2.3 percent
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism

Where Does It Fit?

This is the ninth topic of the macro on religion and philosophy. It follows the topic on Islam and shows another external faith that became part of India long before colonial rule. Previous topic: Islam. Next topic: Zoroastrianism.

How Did Christianity Spread in India in Stages?

Stage	Period	Key events
Early Christians	About 52 CE onwards	St Thomas is believed to have landed at Muziris near Kodungallur and set up seven churches. Syrian Christians trace their lineage to this mission and to later migrations from West Asia
Portuguese era	1498 onwards	Vasco da Gama arrived at Calicut in 1498. Goa was taken in 1510. St Francis Xavier arrived in 1542. The Synod of Diamper in 1599 brought the Kerala church under Latin rule
Revolt of the Thomas Christians	1653	The Coonan Cross Oath at Mattancherry rejected Portuguese control and led to the Malankara church split
Danish and German missions	1706 onwards	Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg began the Protestant mission at Tranquebar in Tamil Nadu
British era	1793 onwards	William Carey and the Serampore missionaries wrote, printed and taught in Bengali. The Charter Act 1813 allowed missionaries and funds for education
Post-1947	Present	Large Christian populations in Kerala, Goa and the northeast; the churches run many schools and hospitals

What Are the Main Churches, Places and Persons?

Syrian Christians: also called Thomas Christians or Nasranis, in Kerala; they use Syriac in liturgy in some churches
Catholic: the largest group, in communion with the Pope; Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara rites are present
Orthodox and Jacobite: Malankara churches that follow an Eastern tradition
Protestant: Church of South India (1947) and Church of North India (1970), joint churches of several Protestant groups
Bom Jesus Basilica: at Old Goa, holds the relics of St Francis Xavier; it and the other Churches and Convents of Goa were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986
Mother Teresa: founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata in 1950, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and the Bharat Ratna in 1980, and was canonised on 4 September 2016
St Alphonsa: the first woman of Indian origin to be canonised, in 2008
Christian-majority states: Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya

What Else Should You Remember?

Alternate names: Christian, Isai in Hindi, Nasrani in Kerala, and Masihi in Urdu; the Bible has the Old and New Testaments
Festivals: Christmas on 25 December, Good Friday and Easter, and the Feast of St Francis Xavier in Goa
Education: missions established modern schools, colleges and printing, such as Serampore College, founded in 1818
Printing and language: Christian missions developed printing and grammars of Indian languages, including Bengali, Tamil and Konkani
Constitution: Article 25 gives freedom of religion, and Article 30 allows minorities to run educational institutions
Minorities: Christians are a notified minority community at the national level under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992
Reform links: Raja Ram Mohan Roy was influenced by Christian ethics, as seen in his Precepts of Jesus, though he stayed within a reformed Hindu line
Church architecture: Gothic, Baroque and Indo-European churches in Goa, Pondicherry, Kochi and Kolkata combine foreign designs with local materials
Famous churches: Santa Cruz Basilica at Kochi, Se Cathedral at Old Goa and St Paul’s Cathedral at Kolkata
Social welfare: Christian bodies run a large share of schools and hospitals, particularly in the northeast and Kerala
Controversies: debates on conversion and anti-conversion laws in several states concern Article 25 and the right to propagate religion
Language point: Konkani and Malayalam printing began with Portuguese and Jesuit presses in the sixteenth century

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Arrival: St Thomas, Vasco da Gama, Francis Xavier
Events: Synod of Diamper 1599 and Coonan Cross Oath 1653
Places: Bom Jesus Basilica, Tranquebar and Serampore
Persons: Ziegenbalg, William Carey and Mother Teresa
Common errors: crediting Vasco da Gama with Goa, or placing Serampore in Tamil Nadu

As an analytical point, Christianity in India shows both the oldest and the most colonial of external contacts. Its school and hospital network is a social contribution, while debates on conversion show the need to balance religious freedom with public order.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Chronology Arrival and missions
Places Goa and Serampore
Mains Contribution and debate

What Came Next?

The next topic covers Zoroastrianism and the Parsis. Next topic: Zoroastrianism.

Key People and Terms

Nasrani Thomas Christian
Synod Church assembly
Basilica Honoured church
Missionary Preacher of faith
Rite Liturgical tradition
Diocese Church district

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

St Thomas: about 52 CE, Kerala.
Goa taken in 1510; Xavier arrives 1542.
Synod of Diamper: 1599.
Churches of Goa: UNESCO 1986.
Mother Teresa canonised: 2016.

Do Not Confuse With

Synod of Diamper and Coonan Cross Oath Latinisation of 1599 versus revolt of 1653
Tranquebar and Serampore Danish Tamil mission versus Baptist Bengal mission
Syrian and Latin Christians Old Kerala church versus Portuguese-era Catholics

Memory Hook

Thomas in Kerala, Xavier in Goa, Carey in Serampore.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about the contribution of Christianity to education and society. These points give a balanced frame.

Education Schools and printing
Welfare Hospitals and service
Debate Conversion and rights

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the contribution of Christian missions to education and social change in India.”

How to Answer

History Early to colonial.
Education Press and schools.
Welfare Health and service.
Debate Conversion issues.

GS Relevance

Prelims: arrival and spread of Christianity, missionaries, churches, sects. GS Paper 1: Indian culture, religion, colonial history.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Christianity come to India?

According to tradition, the apostle St Thomas came to the Malabar coast in Kerala around 52 CE and founded the community of Syrian Christians. Catholic missions grew after the Portuguese arrived in 1498, and Protestant missions grew from the early eighteenth century under the Danes and the British.

Who was St Francis Xavier?

St Francis Xavier was a Spanish Jesuit missionary who arrived in Goa in 1542 and worked in western and southern India. He died in 1552 on an island off China, and his body is kept at the Bom Jesus Basilica in Old Goa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.

What was the Synod of Diamper?

The Synod of Diamper was a church assembly held in 1599 at Udayamperoor near Kochi under Archbishop Menezes of Goa. It brought the Syrian Christians of Kerala under Latin Catholic rule and changed their liturgy, causing resentment that led to the Coonan Cross Oath of 1653.

What is the difference between Syrian Christians and Latin Catholics in India?

Syrian Christians trace their origin to St Thomas and used Syriac liturgy in Kerala long before European contact. Latin Catholics came from the Portuguese missions from the sixteenth century and follow the Latin rite of Rome. Many Syrian groups later came into communion with Rome as Syro-Malabar Catholics.

Why is Christianity important for UPSC?

Christianity is asked in Prelims through arrival dates, missionaries, the Goa churches and UNESCO listing, and in Mains through the contribution of missions to education, printing and healthcare, and the debate on religious freedom. It connects culture with colonial history and constitutional provisions.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Churches and Convents of Goa are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

True

Inscribed in 1986.

2 The Synod of Diamper was held in 1653.

False

It was held in 1599; 1653 is the Coonan Cross Oath.

3 Ziegenbalg began a Protestant mission at Tranquebar.