Day 25: 170th Birthday Of Ferdinand Hahn, Our Para Dada

Today there was a brief meeting of the church leaders and HRDC staff to celebrate Ferdinand Hahn"s birthday. I was glad to have a chance to give cake to the people who have been hosting us so graciously. of course we got some more flowers

we sat and had cake first and then lunch and had great conversation. I was able to tell them some of the early stories that I've written already for my novel.

The paper, Prubhat Kabar, had an article that I will translate.

Church History of India Seminar
"To know history and learn from it is important," Mary Girard
Picture l: Mary Girard spoke at the seminar
Picture 2: The audience of the program

by Sanwad Dutta, Ranchi

Translators of the Bible in Kurukh and Mundari languages, German missionaries Ferdinand Hahn (1846-1910) and Dr. Alfred Nottrott, were presented by Mary Girard and Wolfram Peetz Nottrott. Remembering their history and learning it is important. They were speaking at a scholarly seminar of the Church History Association of India at the Gossner Theological College Auditorium. No the have come from America.

Translation work was done in Kurukh
Mary Girard said that Karl Heinrich Ferdinand Hahn translated the language grammar of the Orson and A sure people. He translated various portions of the Old Testament of the Bible into Kurukh. in order to serve the people he had to learn the Kurukh language, listen to what the people said, and emphasised education and health services. He worked in Ranchi, Chaibassa, Lohardaga, and Purulia among the forest/hunter people. In Lohardaga, Purulia, and Muzzuferpur he worked among leper families. Consequently the British Government awarded him with the Kaiser-E-Hind (Pratham Shree) for his special services.

The Teacher of Birsa Munda translated the Mundari language.

Secondly, Wolfram Peetz Nottrott told that Alfred Nottrott was the teacher of Birsa Munda. When Birsa Munda was in jail, he went to the jail to meet him. Alfred Nottrott prepared the Mundari grammar and translated the Old and New Testament of the Bible into Mundari. He went to Burju (Kunti), Chaibassa, and Ranchi and worked among the poor.

The leader of the meeting was Rev. T. S. C. Hans. Rev. M.M. Ekka welcomed the other dignitaries. On occasion: Bishop CD Jojo, Bishop Nirmal Mind, Theodore Feierbrandt, Father Emmanuel Barla, Father Augustine Kerketta, Eliazer Topno, Rev Iran Topno, Rev Nirmal Bage,  and Rev Neeraj Jackmuck Ekka and other Theological dignitaries.

Today there was a brief meeting of the church leaders and HRDC staff to celebrate Ferdinand Hahn"s birthday. I was glad to have a chance to give cake to the people who have been hosting us so graciously. of course we got some more flowers