The state of Mizoram observed ' Missionary Day ' on Monday, January 11 to commemorate the 127th anniversary of the arrival of two missionaries from Wales to the state in the 1890s.

All government institutions and some corporate establishments remained closed as the state government declared the day as a public holiday.

A few churches offered prayers in church followed by prayers at the memorial stones of the missionaries from Wales, J.H. Lorrain and Rev. F.W. Savidge at McDonald Hills in Aizawl. However, worship services could not be held due to the prevalent COVID-19 restrictions.

Locals remembered two missionaries that set foot on the state, which was then called the Lushai Hills back in 1894.

It is only this time that there were no such events due to the COVID-19 situation. In the past, the churches in the state have always been organizing prayer services and community events to commemorate Missionary Day.

Rev JH Lorrain and Rev FW Savidge were fondly called by the Mizos as ‘Pu Buanga’ and ‘Sap Upa’ respectively. The two arrived via boats from Assam on the banks of river Tlawng near Sairang village on January 11, 1894. They preached Christianity in the state which led to the conversion of almost the entire Mizo population into the Christian faith.

Moreover, the two missionaries are credited for the creation of the Lushai (Mizo)-English Dictionary, known to the locals as Pu Buanga Dictionary. They also established the Presbyterian Church in the northern part and the Baptist Church in the southern part of the state of Mizoram.

In addition, the Welsh duo also created Mizo alphabets, which they did by incorporating the Roman script.

The Presbyterian Church, being the largest denomination of the state began observing Missionary Day from 1974 although the Baptist Church of Mizoram (BCM) was already observing this day with complete sanctity since 1971.

Image courtesy: Times of Mizoram.