End of Trip Summary 3:

Some Historical Notes regarding
Missionary  Ferdinand Hahn

Audiance at Public Lecture included Dr. Nirmal Minz and his wife Paraklita, two strong, dispite their years, Adivasi leaders.

One of the biggest surprises for me, was to find in Jharkhand a keen interest in Ferdinand Hahn, my great great grandfather. Initially I thought it was an interest only among a few scholars of the Gossner Evangelical Luther (GEL) church and the Northwest GEL as a founding missionary of the church. However, when I went to Lohardaga (45 miles from Ranchi) I further discovered that he was remembered for his civic and advocacy leadership. He had layed a legacy of civil participation in the Church that continues on till today. Anyone studying the Jharkhand Adivasi history, language and culture would come across the name of Ferdinand Hahn. The fact is that they share a historical connection as part of their heritage with my family through our ancestor, Ferdinand Hahn. 

It was encouraging and humbling to find the recognition of Hahn's significant contribution in preserving Adivasi (tribal) language, culture, and identity. With the Jharkhand movement and the creation of the state in 2000 there is a growing awareness and interest in the unique history. While visiting several colleges and Universities in Ranchi of extensive efforts to promote tribal languages. The Central government had just passed a law permitting students to take exams in their mother tongue.

​Two of the missionaries recognized among Adivasis for their work in preserving language are my anscestors. In addition to Ferdinand Hahn's work among the Oraon (language Kurukh),  Alfred Nottrott worked among the Munda. He is a great great uncle.  His brother Ludwig Nottrott, my great great grandfather, also did some writing from Germany on the history of the Adivasi in this region.

Along with my father and cousin everywhere we went we were received with overwhelming hospitality. The fact that the descendents of these important figures in Adivasi history had come to visit was a great honor. Mutually we shared a common interest in the contributions of these anscestors. Together we share a rich heritage that these anscestors passed on to this generation.

Despite the fact that I am not researching this heritage as an academition I was greatly honored that they asked me to Give a lecture on Ferdinand Hahn at the First Public Lecture on Adivasi culture and language.

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Newspapier article about the Public Lecture Series in which I was partipant at the Gossner Theological College

I've already wasted some time in trying to figure out how to edit the video and power poin presentation. Since I lack the technical skills I've decided to submit the raw footage of most of the lecture if anyone is that interested in hearing the talk. I am not a public speaker, and find it very ackward. So I apologize ahead of time.  In regards to the content, I  have found that even over the past two months I have learned still more about Ferdinand Hahn's work and impact.  I will be now turning my attention to writing an upadated biography on his life, that I hope to complete within this year while I continue the historical novel based on the life of his wife.

Photos from first fifty years of Gossner Evangelical Mission in Chotannagpur