Inventing Pentecostalism
Pandita Ramabai and the Mukti Revival from a Postcolonial Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/ptcs.v13i2.173Keywords:
Mukti Revival, Pandita Ramabai, Pentecostal History, Postcolonial Studies, Minnie AbramsAbstract
The so-called Mukti Revival at Pandita Ramabai’s mission and orphanage in Kedgaon (India) has recently gained popularity as one of the early birth places of global Pentecostalism. However, as sources imply, at no time has there been a common understanding of what “really” happened at Mukti. In this article I suggest how the emergence of knowledge about an event finally known as Pentecostal awakening led to the= exclusion of other interpretations and narratives of what happened at Mukti. I will examine the role of the two groups of people responsible for the formation of the historical reality of the revival: the authors of the contemporary source material as well as the Pentecostal historians who have finally fixed the story of a Pentecostal Mukti Revival. In conclusion, I will discuss the influence of the colonial context on the making of historical reality as well as the concept of history as a discursive negotiation process.
References
Abrams, M.F. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire: Matt. 3:11, 2nd edn. Kedgaon: Mukti Mission Press, 1906.
—. “How the Recent Revival was Brought About in India: The Power of Intercession”. The Latter Rain Evangel 1.10 (July 1909): 6–13.
—. “India: A Message from Mukti”. Confidence: A Pentecostal Paper for Great Britain 1.6 (September 1908): 14.
[—.] “Manifestations of the Spirit in India”. The Apostolic Faith 1.9 (June–September 1907): 4.
—. “Mukti Mission”. Mukti Prayer Bell (September 1907): 17–23.
—. “A New Outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Mukti: Accompanied by the Gift of Tongues”. Faith Work in India: An Occasional Paper Concerning Christian Work Carried on Without Guaranteed Human Support 14 (July 1907): 3–4.
—. “Word from Our Recent Outgoing Missionaries”. The Latter Rain Evangel 3.4 (January 1911): 12–13.
Anderson, A. Spreading Fires: The Missionary Nature of Early Pentecostalism. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2007.
—. To the Ends of the Earth: Pentecostalism and the Transformation of World Christianity. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013.
—. “Varieties, Taxonomies and Definitions”. In Anderson et al., Studying Global Pentecostalism, 2010: 13–29.
Anderson, A., M. Bergunder, A. Droogers and C. van der Laan (eds). Studying Global Pentecostalism: Theories and Methods. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/california/9780520266612.001.0001
Barratt, T.B. When the Fire Fell and an Outline of My Life. Oslo: Hansen & Sonner, 1927.
Barrett, D.B. and T.M. Johnson. “Global Statistics”. In Burgess and van der Maas, The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, 2002: 283–302.
Bartleman, F. Around the World by Faith: With Six Weeks in the Holy Land. Los Angeles, CA: F. Bartleman, 1920.
—. Azusa Street: An Eyewitness Account. Gainesville, FL: Bridge Logos, 2006.
Bergunder, M. “The Cultural Turn”. In Anderson et al., Studying Global Pentecostalism, 2010: 51–73.
Burgess, R.V. “Pandita Ramabai: A Woman for All Seasons”. Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies 9.2 (2006): 183–98.
Burgess, S.M. “Pentecostalism in India: An Overview”. Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies 4.1 (2001): 85–98.
Burgess, S.M. and E.M. van der Maas. “Introduction”. In Burgess and van der Maas, The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, 2002: xvii–xxiii.
— (eds). The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, rev. edn. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002.
Dyer, H.S. Revival in India: Years of the Right Hand of the Most High. London: Morgan & Scott, 1907.
Foucault, M. “Nietzsche, Genealogy, History”. In D.F. Bouchard (ed.), Language, Counter Memory, Practice: Selected Essays and Interviews. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1977: 141–64.
Frodsham, S.H. With Signs Following: The Story of the Pentecostal Revival in the Twentieth Century, rev. edn. Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1946.
Garr, A.G. and L. Garr. “The Work Spreads to India”. In B.F. Lawrence, The Apostolic Faith Restored. St Louis, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1916: 96–105.
Goff, J.R. Fields White Unto Harvest: Charles F. Parham and the Missionary Origins of Pentecostalism. Fayetteville, AR: University of Arkansas Press, 1988.
Haustein, J. Writing Religious History: The Historiography of Ethiopian Pentecostalism. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2011.
Hollenweger, W.J. Enthusiastisches Christentum: Die Pfingstbewegung in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Wuppertal: R. Brockhaus, 1969.
Irvin, D.T. “Pentecostal Historiography and Global Christianity: Rethinking the Questions of Origins”. Pneuma 27.1 (2005): 35–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157007405774270257
Lawrence, B.F. The Apostolic Faith Restored. St Louis, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1916.
McGee, G.B. “Baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire! The Revival Legacy of Minnie F. Abrams of India”. Enrichment 3 (1998): http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/199803/080_ baptism_fire.cfm (accessed 10 May 2014).
—. “‘Latter Rain’ Falling in the East: Early-Twentieth-Century Pentecostalism in India and the Debate over Speaking in Tongues”. Church History 68.3 (1999): 648–65. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3170042
—. “Minnie F. Abrams. Another Context, Another Founder”. In J.R. Goff and G. Wacker (eds), Portraits of a Generation: Early Pentecostal Leaders. Fayetteville, AR: University of Arkansas Press, 2002: 87–104.
Moorhead, M.W. “Pentecost in Mukti, India”. The Apostolic Faith 1.10 (September 1907): 4.
Nalder, R. “Miracles of Salvation, Healing, Provision and Protection: ‘The Uttermost parts of the Earth for thy possession’: God’s Wonderful Work Through Pundita Ramabai”. The Latter Rain Evangel 1.2 (November 1908): 7–12.
Norton, A. “Natives in India Speak in Tongues”. The Apostolic Faith 1.7 (April 1907): 2.
Pandita Ramabai Sarasvati. “From Ramabai”. The Pentecost 1.7 (June 1909): 9.
—. “From the Bible School in Mukti, India”. The Apostolic Faith 1.12 (January 1908): 1.
—. “A Letter from Pandita Ramabai”. Mukti Prayer Bell (January 1906): 3–5.
—. “More Surprises”. Mukti Prayer Bell (October 1905): 5–19.
—. “Showers of Blessing”. Mukti Prayer Bell (September 1907): 3–13.
[Seymour, W.J.] “Pentecost Has Come. Los Angeles Being Visited by a Revival of Bible Salvation and Pentecost as Recorded in the Book of Acts”. The Apostolic Faith 1.1 (September 1906): 1.
—. “The Work in India”. The Apostolic Faith 1.9 (June–September 1907): 1.
Synan, V. (ed.). The Century of the Holy Spirit: 100 Years of Pentecostal and Charismatic Renewal 1901–2001. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2001.
Žižek, S. The Sublime Object of Ideology. London: Verso, 1989.
—. “How the Recent Revival was Brought About in India: The Power of Intercession”. The Latter Rain Evangel 1.10 (July 1909): 6–13.
—. “India: A Message from Mukti”. Confidence: A Pentecostal Paper for Great Britain 1.6 (September 1908): 14.
[—.] “Manifestations of the Spirit in India”. The Apostolic Faith 1.9 (June–September 1907): 4.
—. “Mukti Mission”. Mukti Prayer Bell (September 1907): 17–23.
—. “A New Outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Mukti: Accompanied by the Gift of Tongues”. Faith Work in India: An Occasional Paper Concerning Christian Work Carried on Without Guaranteed Human Support 14 (July 1907): 3–4.
—. “Word from Our Recent Outgoing Missionaries”. The Latter Rain Evangel 3.4 (January 1911): 12–13.
Anderson, A. Spreading Fires: The Missionary Nature of Early Pentecostalism. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2007.
—. To the Ends of the Earth: Pentecostalism and the Transformation of World Christianity. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013.
—. “Varieties, Taxonomies and Definitions”. In Anderson et al., Studying Global Pentecostalism, 2010: 13–29.
Anderson, A., M. Bergunder, A. Droogers and C. van der Laan (eds). Studying Global Pentecostalism: Theories and Methods. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/california/9780520266612.001.0001
Barratt, T.B. When the Fire Fell and an Outline of My Life. Oslo: Hansen & Sonner, 1927.
Barrett, D.B. and T.M. Johnson. “Global Statistics”. In Burgess and van der Maas, The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, 2002: 283–302.
Bartleman, F. Around the World by Faith: With Six Weeks in the Holy Land. Los Angeles, CA: F. Bartleman, 1920.
—. Azusa Street: An Eyewitness Account. Gainesville, FL: Bridge Logos, 2006.
Bergunder, M. “The Cultural Turn”. In Anderson et al., Studying Global Pentecostalism, 2010: 51–73.
Burgess, R.V. “Pandita Ramabai: A Woman for All Seasons”. Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies 9.2 (2006): 183–98.
Burgess, S.M. “Pentecostalism in India: An Overview”. Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies 4.1 (2001): 85–98.
Burgess, S.M. and E.M. van der Maas. “Introduction”. In Burgess and van der Maas, The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, 2002: xvii–xxiii.
— (eds). The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, rev. edn. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002.
Dyer, H.S. Revival in India: Years of the Right Hand of the Most High. London: Morgan & Scott, 1907.
Foucault, M. “Nietzsche, Genealogy, History”. In D.F. Bouchard (ed.), Language, Counter Memory, Practice: Selected Essays and Interviews. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1977: 141–64.
Frodsham, S.H. With Signs Following: The Story of the Pentecostal Revival in the Twentieth Century, rev. edn. Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1946.
Garr, A.G. and L. Garr. “The Work Spreads to India”. In B.F. Lawrence, The Apostolic Faith Restored. St Louis, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1916: 96–105.
Goff, J.R. Fields White Unto Harvest: Charles F. Parham and the Missionary Origins of Pentecostalism. Fayetteville, AR: University of Arkansas Press, 1988.
Haustein, J. Writing Religious History: The Historiography of Ethiopian Pentecostalism. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2011.
Hollenweger, W.J. Enthusiastisches Christentum: Die Pfingstbewegung in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Wuppertal: R. Brockhaus, 1969.
Irvin, D.T. “Pentecostal Historiography and Global Christianity: Rethinking the Questions of Origins”. Pneuma 27.1 (2005): 35–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157007405774270257
Lawrence, B.F. The Apostolic Faith Restored. St Louis, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1916.
McGee, G.B. “Baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire! The Revival Legacy of Minnie F. Abrams of India”. Enrichment 3 (1998): http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/199803/080_ baptism_fire.cfm (accessed 10 May 2014).
—. “‘Latter Rain’ Falling in the East: Early-Twentieth-Century Pentecostalism in India and the Debate over Speaking in Tongues”. Church History 68.3 (1999): 648–65. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3170042
—. “Minnie F. Abrams. Another Context, Another Founder”. In J.R. Goff and G. Wacker (eds), Portraits of a Generation: Early Pentecostal Leaders. Fayetteville, AR: University of Arkansas Press, 2002: 87–104.
Moorhead, M.W. “Pentecost in Mukti, India”. The Apostolic Faith 1.10 (September 1907): 4.
Nalder, R. “Miracles of Salvation, Healing, Provision and Protection: ‘The Uttermost parts of the Earth for thy possession’: God’s Wonderful Work Through Pundita Ramabai”. The Latter Rain Evangel 1.2 (November 1908): 7–12.
Norton, A. “Natives in India Speak in Tongues”. The Apostolic Faith 1.7 (April 1907): 2.
Pandita Ramabai Sarasvati. “From Ramabai”. The Pentecost 1.7 (June 1909): 9.
—. “From the Bible School in Mukti, India”. The Apostolic Faith 1.12 (January 1908): 1.
—. “A Letter from Pandita Ramabai”. Mukti Prayer Bell (January 1906): 3–5.
—. “More Surprises”. Mukti Prayer Bell (October 1905): 5–19.
—. “Showers of Blessing”. Mukti Prayer Bell (September 1907): 3–13.
[Seymour, W.J.] “Pentecost Has Come. Los Angeles Being Visited by a Revival of Bible Salvation and Pentecost as Recorded in the Book of Acts”. The Apostolic Faith 1.1 (September 1906): 1.
—. “The Work in India”. The Apostolic Faith 1.9 (June–September 1907): 1.
Synan, V. (ed.). The Century of the Holy Spirit: 100 Years of Pentecostal and Charismatic Renewal 1901–2001. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2001.
Žižek, S. The Sublime Object of Ideology. London: Verso, 1989.
Published
2014-07-11
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Suarsana, Y. (2014). Inventing Pentecostalism: Pandita Ramabai and the Mukti Revival from a Postcolonial Perspective. PentecoStudies, 13(2), 173-196. https://doi.org/10.1558/ptcs.v13i2.173
