Old Testament in the Bengali language

Christianity’s presence in India, dating back centuries, gained prominence with the colonisation of the country by European powers. Colonising states such as Portugal, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Britain used religion to justify their colonial endeavours, arguing that native peoples needed European aid and Christianity in order to make them civilised. Missionaries, driven by a duty to convert ‘heathens’, played a crucial role in this process. In 1793, the Leicester Particular Baptist Society, later known as the Baptist Mission Society (today known as BMS World Mission), faced hostility from the East India Company when starting missionary work in Kolkata, with the company believing its monopoly was under threat. Denied the opportunity there, the Baptist Mission Society instead went to the nearby Danish colony of Serampore, and was granted permission by the King of Denmark to commence its mission. There, the missionaries established the Serampore Mission Press in 1799. Subsequently, the British colonial administration permitted the mission to open a chapter in Kolkata, leading to the establishment of the Baptist Mission Press. These presses were merged in 1837. Beyond book translation and printing, the Baptist Mission contributed to India’s Western education system by establishing schools and a college, leaving a lasting impact on the country’s academic landscape. These missionaries, as well as others from different denominations, not only spread Christianity in India but also contributed to religious divisions that persist today. The historical interplay between Christianity, colonisation and missionary activities has left an enduring mark on India’s cultural, religious and educational fabric. This object therefore illustrates a fundamental dynamic in European colonial expansion.