Soldier Saints, Missionaries and the Mountains

Abstract This paper intends to contextualise the life of Christianity in British India through developments military theology late eighteenth and nineteenth century that put forth image ‘soldier saint’- a true Christian soldier, blood faith. discourse intensified after turned civilian Indian rebellion 1857 which was immediately coloured vs heathen terms, following which, spiritual needs soldiers came into focus with East Company. The deaths, rituals continued traditions burial soldiers, officers, civilians have been marked some prominent cemeteries war memorials India. While studies these sites memory focused on graves, tombs, parts north, west south India, frontier region northeast has remained outside most studies. chosen eastern Himalayan territories comprising Sikkim Kalimpong fall or near Silk route bring attention history territorial aggression resulting material lesser-known Further. analyses lesser discussed fiction region’s human geography. recognises need study inter-religious relations materiality afterlives shaped large extent by soldiers-both native, chaplains, gravediggers, priests nurses caregivers whose lives are recorded death. By doing so, this hopes new dimensions inclusion religion, postcolonial gothic imaginary theology.