Hume Memorial church Ahmadnagar, the church built by American Marathi mission in 1902[5]
In the 18th Century Missionaries reached to the untouchables and poor sections of society, imparting western education and raising awareness of human rights and sharing the gospel, teching the bible inspired many.[6] Education, healthcare, social reform, and the active efforts of missionaries have played a significant role in the spread of Christianity.[7] Around the turn of the 18th century,BritishBaptistmissionaryWilliam Carey was instrumental in translating theBible into theMarathi language.[8] Most of the converts were lower-casteHindus with some upper-caste Hindus andMuslims.[9]
Ahmednagar
Church in Vadule village Church InNevasa, Ahmednagar
TheAmerican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions established their first foreign mission with the American Marathi mission inBombay on 21 December 1813, it was the firstProtestant Mission inWestern India and spread into hundreds of villages.[10] The mission center moved from Bombay toAhmednagar in 1831 because it was closer to the center of Marathi country. Schools, Boardings, Colleges and theological institutions were created by Marathi mission in late 1800, aiding famine and reaching untouchables increased Christian Converts in area.[10]
European and American missionaries established missions inPalghar andDahanu inPalghar district. Most of the converted Christian community from these areas are local native belong to the Second District of the Church of the Brethren (F-257 Bom).[12]
The city of Pune is home to the headquarters of theDiocese of Pune. The Diocese has a significant Marathi Catholic population.[15]
There are several Marathi Methodist, Anglican, Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Church of the Nazarene, Pentecostal and Church of Christ missions across the city.[15]
The mission eventually became independent and then came under the American Presbyterian mission which established further churches in Sangli, Islampur, Panhala and other towns. These together continue under the Kolhapur Church Council.
TheChurch of North India has a number of churches in Kolhapur under the Diocese of Kolhapur.
Culture
There are similarities of customs and culture between Hindus and Marathi Christians, such as dress, food and cuisine. The Hindu custom of wearingSaree,Mangalsutra and placingBindis is still prominent among native Christians. Marathi Christian highly retain their Marathi culture, and they have kept their Pre-Christian surnames.[16] In Maharashtra, great Marathi poetNarayan Wamanrao Tilak realised that a Hindu-Christian synthesis was simply not possible, unless the Christian religion had deep roots in the Indian culture. He trained the Marathi Christians to worship and singBhajan andKirtan.[17]
The Indian ConstitutionScheduled Castes Order, 1950, currently stipulates that only individuals professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism can be deemed members of a Scheduled Caste and hence reservation benefits are not given to Christians who converted from schedule caste, however The "Bombay East Indians non dalit community" was granted Other Backward Class (OBC) status by the Government of Maharashtra in 2006.[18][19]
Chandu Borde, a former cricket player from the Pune district. He played for theIndian cricket team in 83 matches between 1958 and 1969. His younger brother Ramesh was also a noteworthy cricket player.[26]
Vijay Hazare, acricket player from the Solapur district. He captained the Indian cricket team in fourteen matches between 1951 and 1953. He alsocaptainedBaroda, with whom he won theRanji Trophy in 1959. Hazare is considered by many to be one of the bestmiddle-order bats to play for India.[27]
Vinod Kambli, a former Indian international Cricketer, who played for India as a left-handed middle order batsman, as well as for Mumbai andBoland, South Africa.[28] Kambli converted to Catholicism after his second marriage.[29]
^ MRL3 BOMBAY 1813-1962 - “Bombay, circa 1813–1962, Box 1, Folder 3” - belongs to the American Marathi Mission Records housed at the Burke Library, Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University.
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