Encyclopaedic dictionary on South Asia Christianity released

A comprehensive encyclopaedic dictionary that documents the historic presence and contributions of Christianity in South Asia was released by the Oxford University Press (India) earlier this month.

The 'Oxford Encyclopaedia of South Asia Christianity' was prepared by the Mylapore Institute for Indigenous Studies (MIIS), Chennai, a research institute that promotes the study of indigenous Christianity within South Asia.

The dictionary, according to the editorial team, presents a scholarly and academic witness to the presence of the Gospel in South Asia, in an attempt to clarify the meaning of mission in the midst of social, political, and economic change.

The project was conceived and carried out by an MIIS team led by Dr Roger Hedlund, Dr Jesudas Athyal, Dr Joshua Kalapati, Jessica Richard, among others.

According to the institute, the project has been over 10 years in the making. "It constitutes years of labour and faith and the diligent contributions of hundreds of writers, informants and consultants across South Asia," said the director and chief Editor, Roger Hedlund.

The two-volume ecumenical encyclopaedia meticulously documents the contributions of Christianity in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Also found are essays on Afghanistan, Myanmar and on the global South Asian diaspora.

One of the stand-out features of the dictionary is that it is composed of scholarly contributions by Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Pentecostal, and indigenous independent writers and editors.

The two-volume set has more than a 1,000 entries and will provide a basic reference tool for Christian laity, students, scholars, historians, researchers, church leaders, pastors and missionaries.

"The work documents the extensive apostolic heritage and the growth of the indigenous church in the post-colonial era, including that of the recent upsurge of Christianity in some regions like North-East India and Nepal," said Dr Hedlund.

He informed that the topics cover "events, people, institutions, concepts, theological issues, churches, denominations, historical developments, and contemporary themes" in view of the South Asian context.

Furthermore, the dictionary goes on to explain the contributions of Christians from South Asia to various aspects of theology, ecclesiology, missiology, ecumenics, sociology, nation-building, politics, economics, culture, religion, and society.

The dictionary, priced at Rs 2950, is available at all Oxford University Press branches and bookstores.