| Summary/Abstract |
This paper explores the role and impact of Christianity on the identity of the ‘self’ and the ‘other’ of the Naga converts. Christianity brings with it its own sets of cultures which are assimilated, appropriated or rejected by the converts. When an individual converts to Christianity, he/she assumes a new Christian identity whereof a new perception of ‘us’ and ‘them’ emerges. In the case of the Naga Hills, to be a ‘true’ convert, an individual was required to abandon the markers of his/her previous ‘heathen’ self. This was made into a requirement in order to receive baptism. This in turn involves a rejection of the previous lifestyle and the assumption of a new socio-cultural Christian identity. On the other hand, a non-convert looked upon conversion to Christianity not only as a threat to his/her self-identity but in some cases also to his/her Naga identity. This paper, therefore, seeks to understand the myriad impact of conversion on the individual convert, the reaction and responses of converts to their new Christian identity, their community at large and particularly to the non-converts.
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