Bengali Christians
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2022) |
বাঙালি খ্রিস্টান (Bangali Khrishtan) | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 1,370,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Indian Orthodox | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Bengali Muslims, Bengali Hindus, Bengali Buddhists | |
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Bengali Christians (
Bengali Renaissance
.
Bengali Christians played significant role in
Bengali culture, education, commerce and society. Some of the most influential thinkers and advocates during the Indian independence struggle from British Raj where Bengali Christians. The region is home to venerable missionary institutions, including the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa
.
Archdiocese of Calcutta
History
Christianity was established in Bengal by the
Jesuit missionaries also established churches in Bandel and Dhaka. In 1682, there were 14,120 Roman Catholics in Bengal.[1]
Denominations
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church in Bangladesh is based in the
Archdiocese of Dhaka, with dioceses in Dinajpur, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Rajshahi and Archdiocese of Chittagong, with dioceses in Barisal and Khulna.[6]
- Province of Dhaka: Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dhaka
- Province of Chittagong: Metropolitan Archdiocese of Chittagong
The
Archdiocese of Calcutta
.
- Province of Calcutta: Metropolitan Archdiocese of Calcutta
United Protestantism
In the Indian subcontinent, various Protestant denominations merged to form United Protestant Churches, such as the Church of North India and the Church of Bangladesh.[7][8][9]
There are three dioceses of the United Protestant Church of Bangladesh:
- Church of Bangladesh Diocese of Dhaka
- Church of Bangladesh Diocese of Kushtia
- Church of Bangladesh Diocese of Barisal
India (West Bengal):
St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata is the seat of the Diocese of Calcutta (1813) of the United Protestant Church of North India (CNI).
- Diocese of Barrackpore
- Diocese of Durgapur
- Diocese of Calcutta
Other denominations
Other denominations include:[6]
- Assemblies of God in India
- India Pentecostal Church of God
- The Pentecostal Mission
- Armenian Apostolic Church
- Bengal Orissa Bihar Baptist Convention
- Brethren in Christ Church
- Church of God (Anderson)
- El Shaddai
- New Life Fellowship Association
- Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha (BBCS)
- Isa-e Church (Bangladesh)
Demographics
Bengali Christians are considered a model minority in South Asia and usually enjoy a high literacy rate, low male-female sex ratio and a better socio-economic status.[10] Christian missionaries operate many schools, hospitals and shelters for the poor. They receive support from the Indian and Bangladeshi governments.
Dhaka, Chittagong, Barisal, Khulna and Northern District Side have significant Christian populations.
Culture
Lusophone heritage
Some Catholic Bengali Christians have Portuguese surnames. In a tradition similar to Bengali Muslims (who have Arabic and Persian names), Bengali Christians adopted Portuguese surnames due to the early influence of Portuguese missionaries in spreading Christianity. Common Catholic Bengali Christian surnames include Gomes, Rozario, D'Costa, Gonsalvez, Cruze, Dias, D'Silva and D'Souza among others.[11]
Christmas is known as "Boro Din" (Big Day) and is a public holiday in both Bangladesh and Indian West Bengal.
Notable Bengali Christians
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (September 2021) |
- Krishna Mohan Banerjee, Educationist, linguist and Bengali Christian missionary, First President of the Bengal Christian Association.
- Lal Behari Dey, Bengali Christian Missionary, writer and journalist
- Ram Chandra Bose, Educator, evangelist, and writer.
- Kali Charan Chatterjee, Bengali christian Missionary and first moderator of the Presbyterian Church in India.
- Kali Charan Banerjee, Lawyer, Indian independence movement activist and founding member of the Indian National Congress.
- Brahmabandhav Upadhyay, Bengali theologian, journalist and freedom fighter in the Indian independence movement
- Lolita Roy, social reformer and suffragist in the British suffragist movement
Religious Leaders
- Rev. Nirod Biswas, first Indian Anglican Bishop of Assam
- Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario
- Poulinous Costa, Archbishop
- Michael Rosario, Archbishop
- Moses Montu Costa, the late Archbishop of Chittagong
- Rt. Rev Shourabh Pholia, Bishop of Barishal Diocese
- Theotonius Amal Ganguly, former Bishop of Dhaka
- Rt. Rev Hemen Halder, Bishop of Kushtia Diocese
- Alvin P Bhakta, Reverend
- Nathaniel Shetu Munshi Reverend
- Nibaron Das Bishop
Freedom Fighters
Arts
- Michael Madhusudan Dutt, 19th century poet and playwright
- Toru Dutt, poet
- Badal Sircar, noted Bengali playwright and dramatist.
- Samar Das, musician
- Debabrata Biswas, musician
- Andrew Kishore, Bangladeshi playback singer
- Robin Ghosh, Bangladeshi playback singer and film music composer
- Tony Dias, Bangladeshi television actor and director
- George Lincoln D'Costa, Bangladeshi Metal Singer
Industry
- Samson Chowdhury, founder of Square Pharmaceuticals, Bangladesh
- Tapan Chowdhury (businessman), Bangladesh
- Anjan Chowdhury, Bangladesh
Scholars
- British India
- Radhanath Sikdar, Indian mathematician
- Ashis Nandy, Indian sociologist
- Sukumari Bhattacharji, Indologist
Educators
- Mona Hensman, née Mitter, former Principal, Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai
- Surendra Kumar Datta, former Principal, Forman Christian College, Lahore, Pakistan.
- S. K. Rudra, first Indian Principal of St. Stephen's College, Delhi
Journalists
Politicians
- Harendra Coomar Mookerjee, First Governor of West Bengal and member of constituent assembly.
- Hubert Costa, Bangladeshi-Polish Member of Parliament
- Bangladesh Awami League) and formerly representing Mymensingh-1(constituency) (whom his son became his successor).
- Bangladesh Awami League) and the only Catholic, currently representing Mymensingh-1(constituency) (whom his father was also his predecessor).
- Gloria Jharna Sarker, Bangladesh's first Christian Woman MP (2019)[1]
Bangladesh Army
Indian Defence Services
- General in the Indian Army
Sports
- Sudhir Kumar Chatterjee, Indian footballer
- Paresh Lal Roy, Indian boxer
- Hemanta Vincent Biswas, Bangladesh national team footballer
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 0802824137
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Ray, Aniruddha (1976). "Case Study of a Revolt in Medieval Bengal: Raja Pratapaditya Guha Roy". In De, Barun (ed.). Essays in Honour of Prof. S.C. Sarkar. Delhi: People's Pub. House
- ^ "Chronicle/Snippets". Archived from the original on 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
- ^ Ahmed, S.M. Tanveer Ahmed. Christian Missions in East Bengal.
- ^ a b World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, 2001 Volume 1, p. 368-371
- ^ "Church of North India". World Methodist Council. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
The Church of North India is a united church which came into being as the result of a union of six churches on 29th November 1970. The six churches were: The Council of the Baptist Churches in Northern India, The Church of the Brethren in India; The Disciples of Christ; The Church of India (formerly known as the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon); The Methodist Church (British and Australian Conferences); The United Church of Northern India. ... The Church of North India is a full member of the World Council of Churches, the Christian Conference of Asia, the Council for World Mission, the Anglican Consultative Council, the World Methodist Council and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.
- ^ "Church of North India". World Council of Churches. n.d. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
- ISBN 978-1-4744-3984-8.
The Church of Bangladesh incorporates Anglican and Presbyterian traditions and plays an important role in enhancing the spiritual and socioeconomic life of Christian and non-Christian Bangladeshis.
- ^ "Indian Christians Treat Their Women Better, Sex Ratio Highest". 25 December 2007. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
- ^ "Você fala Bangla?". Dhaka Tribune. 25 January 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.