The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon [Mizo]

Kum 1885 kum khan, tuk khat chu, 101 Queen Victoria Street, London-a Salvation Army Headquarters-ah chuan, zing lam dar 7:00 bawr velah hian kawngkharpui hmehrik chu a rawn ri ral ral a. In enkawltu chuan va chhawnin, hmeichhe tleirawl kum 17 awm vel, kawr senlar nalh tak haa lo ding hi a va hmu a. Chu tleirawl chuan, ni tlemte kalta khan mi in-a awm turin thingtlang atanga a lo thlen thu a sawi a. A ruaitu turte hnen alo thlen chuan nawhchizawrhna hmun lamah an dah ta daih mai a.

Nawhchizawrhna enkawltu chuan mi mit la thei tur ang berin a cheibawl a, dawrtute lo mutpui tur erawh chuan nawrlui chiahlo in, midangte ang bawka ama thua inzuar mai turin a nghak a ni. Chu hmun chu chhuahsan dan tur a dap nasa hle a, London khawpuiah lah hmelhriat tumah a nei si lo. An khuaa a awm lai khan Salvation Army inkhawmnaah a lo tel tawh a, a thawmhnaw bawma Hlabu kawm hnunglama Salvation Army Headquarters Address awm chu hrechhuakin, in humhim nan pan a tum ta a. A ruk tein zing dar 4:00 ah nawhchi zawrhna hmun chu chhuahsanin, kawr senlar haa Hlabu keng chungin a rawn zawng ta a ni.

Chu tleirawl lokal takah chuan, Bramwell Booth-a pawh hmuithla hmu ang maia sawinghinin a awm a, langsar si lovin an velah mihring hmanga sumdawnna thuk tak a awm ngei a ni tih a chiang ta hle mai. Whitechapel-a mi harsate awmna hmun Salvation Army-in a siama lokalte hi Bramwell-a nupui Florence-i hian alo titi pui thin a. Chuta awm tleirawl pakhat chuan, mi pakhatin a hrai rui a, a harh chhuah chuan nawhchizawrhna hmuna a lo awm reng thu a sawi a. Hmeichhia awm vete chuan Europe khawi emaw bera thawnchhuah annih tur thu an sawi a hriat hnu chuan, tukverh-ah lawn liamin a tlanchhiatsan thu a sawi a ni. England-ah nawhchizawrhna hmun a awm a, ramdanga thawnchhuah an ni thin tih chu an hrechiang leh zual ta a, chu mai piah lamah hmeichhia - naupang kum 10 tling awrhte lamin khawihchhiat an nih tih han hriat chuan a thawng hle mai.  Hnathawh tur tha tak tak tawk tarhin, chumi beiseite chu an lo man a, an duhlo chung man luih te pawh an awm a ni. Hengte hi lo thleng palh ni lovin, felfai taka ruahmanna hnuaia sumdawnna lian tham tak a ni.

Catherine Booth-i pawh khan nawhchizuar tam tak hi an duh reng vanga ti an ni lo tih a sawi uar hle a, hmeichhe naupangte heng hmunah hnim phumin an awm ngei a ni tih a tlangthan khan, a ngaihdan kha mite'n an tawmpui a ni. Tichuan, mihring hmanga sumdawnna chinfel chu Salvation Army kovah nghahin a lo awm ta a, tih makmawh a lo ni ta. Mipui ngaihdan thawng harh tur hian Bramwell-a chuan a nu leh pa thian tha tak, chanchinbu mi William Thomas Stead-a chu sangawi zawnpui atan a sawm a, a ni hi thu leh hla thiam, mite hriat hlawh tak a ni.

A bul tan nan W.T.Stead-a chuan Rebecca Jarrett-i nawhchizawrhna hmun enkawltu ni thin leh nawhchizuar thin tleirawl pathum Whitechapel-a humhimna hnuaia awm, kum 16 hnuailam thah te chu a mal te te in an tawnhriat atangin thil kalhmang hrechiang lehzual turin a zawt chhuak a. Nimahsela, ziaka tlangzarh atan chuan a tawklo tih a hria a, thil nih dan a taka tawn ngei atanga ziah chhuah tulin a hre tlat mai. Bramwell-a leh Stead-a te chuan Salvationists nula pakhat chu Nawhchizawrhna hmuna an awmdan hrechiang lehzual turin ni 10 chhung, enthlatu angin an thawn lut a. A enkawltu in a rinhlelh lohna turin, a pawisa thehluh tur Salvation Army in a tumsak a. Dawrtute lakah a him hram nain, tawnhriat duh awmlo tak tak a tawng nual a ni. An rinhlelh ang ngeiin, enthlatu hian naupang kum 13 tlinglo te pawh he hmunah hian tihluihna in an lo awm ngei tih a hmu a. Stead-a ngei pawh chuan awlsam takin tleirawl kum 16 tlinglo pahnih lai chu, nemngheh nan pound 10 in a lei a, a zilh hrep nghe nghe a ni.

Tichuan, naupangte nawhchizawrhna khura hruailuh an nih dan, W.T.Stead-a magazine 'Pall Mall Gazette' a chhuah turin, a taka tih dan tur an ruahman ta a. Hmeichhe naupang kumtlinglo lei leh tuipui rala thawnchhuah a awlsam dan leh tihfo anihzia tarlanna turin.

Rebecca Jarrett-i chuan hmeichhe naupang hralh duh a zawng ta a, nawhchizawrhna hmun lo enkawl tawh thin anih avangin atan a harsa lem lo. Hmeichhe naupang Eliza Armstrong-i, kum 13 mi chu pound 5 lekin a nu hnen atangin a lei theih a. A thianghlim ngei ani tih finfiah a tul avangin, finfiah hmain pound 3 pek a ni a, finfiah hnuah pound 2 hlan leh a ni. Tichuan, naupang Eliza chu chloroform hmanga tihruih a ni. W.T.Stead-a chuan a dawrtu angin Nawhchizawrhna hmunah chuan, room pakhatah a awmpui a. Chumi hmun atang chuan hruai chhuakin, tuipuiah lawng hmangin France ram pana thawn a ni a, an thawnchhuah hma hian a thianghlim leh thianghlim loh finfiah leh a ni. Buaina engmah tawk lovin France rama Nimes-ah Salvation Army rescue home-ah enkawl zui a ni.

W.T.Stead-a thuziak 'The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon' chu Pall Mall Gazette-ah tihchhuah a ni nghal a. English hmeichhe naupang kum-13 mi lek chu pound 5-a lei a ni a, nawhchizawrhna hmunah a hriat ngailohte khawih chingpen tura dah a nih mai bakah, tuipui ralah harsatna awm miah lova phurh thlen a ni, chawhmeh tel ang lek in. He hmeichhe naupang hi khawih chhiat nilo mahse, hetiang tak hian hmeichhe naupangte sumdawnna atan hruai kawiin an awm thei tih chiang takin tarlan a ni ta.

The MAIDEN TRIBUTE OF MODERN BABYLON tih thupuia hman hi a nihna takah chuan huat tura phuah a ni reng a. Khatih hunlai Victorian era Britain kha khawvel dang zawng zawng aiin an in dah chungnung a, naupang nawhchizawrh tir tihte chu thu tawmkailo ngawih ngawih, hmanlai Babulon sakhuana anga tenawm leh dukdaklo anga ngai an ni. Chuvangin, Stead-a thuziak khan khawtlang thin a khei zar mai. Pall Mall Gazette-a a thuchhuah hmang chuan England-in hmun biru thei ang bera khungbo a duh tak mai chu khawvel mithmuhah a rawn phochhuak ta si a. Chutiang anih takah chuan, British mipui thinrimna chu Stead-a demte chungah tuan zet mahse, amah Stead-a hmer tel tur pawhin a inpeih nghal at mai. Stead-a, Bramwell Booth-a leh Rebecca Jarrett-i te chu an thiltih avangin an chungthu ngaihtuah ngei a ngai ta. A ram mipuite hriat tura chung thil thleng tenawm an phochhuah duhna leh dan bawhchhetute lo humhim duhtute huatna chu vantlang rilruah a in buk tawk viau a ni.

He Maiden Tribute chungchanga article hmasaber chu July, 1885 khan tihchhuah a ni a, a zawmna article 3 te nen kar indawta tihchhuah a ni. Stead-a chuan mipat –hmeichhiatna lama sumdawnna chungchang tarlangin, a hming ‘Lily’ tia thupsak Eliza Armstrong-i hralh anih dan kimchang taka ziakin, London-ah thinrimna namenlo a kaiharh nghal a. Bramwell Booth-a chuan, ‘A tluk tur awmlo turin, chanchinbu kaltlanga British mipuite, thli nataka chhem ang mai hian a tinghing a ni’, tiin a chhinchhiah. Mipui mimir a tham nat em emna chhan pakhat chu, article chhuahtu Pall Mall Gazette hi chanchinbu rintlak, thu belhchian dawllo chhuah ve ngailo, clubmen te rawn ber a ni miau a. Chuvangin, Stead-a thuziak chu ngaihzam mai mai chi a ni hauh lo, loh theih lohvin chhiartute chuan mipat-hmeichhiatna kaihhnawih sumdawnna a awm ngei a, zalen takin England dan hnuaiah kalpui anih chu rinhlelh rual a ni ta lo.

Kum 1885 nipui laia Parliament upper house thukhawm chuan a tum-3 na atan hmeichhia-tleirawlte humhimna tur bill a ngaihtuah nawn a lo ngai ta. He bill hian mipat-hmeichhiatna chungchanga anmahni thlemtute laka thutlukna siam tura kum puitlinga a ngaihte kum bithliah tihsan chu a tum ber a ni. Europe ram dangah chuan kum 18 tih anih tawh laiin, England-ah chuan kum 13 chauh a la ni si a, Bramwell Booth-a phei chuan thil awmlo leh chimawm takah a ngai a ni. Catherine Booth-i pawhin England dan keng kawhtute’n an dan siama kak zau tak awm an tarlanna ni hialin a sawi. He bill hian tum-2 zet lower house-a sawihona a paltlang zo tawhlo a, a chhan chu upat hmel taka lang hmeichhia kum naupang zawkte’n putar hausa takte an thlem a, verther taka an rosum an laksak venna niin an ngai tlat. A tum 3 na tura lower house-in a ngaihtuah leh hun chiah tinzawnin he Maiden Tribute article te chhuah ani hian mipui-mimir chhia leh tha hriatna a kaiharh a ni. Tichuan, he bill hi pass anih hlauh chuan ‘Lily’ te ang hmeichhe naupang khuaikhem thin tute thiamloh chantir a awlsam phah dawn a ni.

Stead-a thuziakin a chawh phur mek chhem alh zual turin Sipai Pawl chuan bill pass ngei anih theihna turin thehlar lamah tan an lo la bawk a. July ni 18-a War Cry chhuak chuan chhiartute ‘Hmeichhe Naupang Humhim’ tura ngenna thuchah danglam tak a rawn keng tel a:

Hemi chungchanga House of Commons hnena ngenna atan, ramchhunga Corps leh Headquarters-ah te hming sign-na tur ni engemawzat dah a ni ang. Officer leh Sipai tinte chu hming ziak tura beisei annih bakah midang a tam thei ang ber an thlawpna hmingziak lakhawm turin a ngen a ni.

Kar hnih chhungin mi 393,000 te thlawpna hming ziak lakkhawmin a awm.

Chutih lai chuan, Stead-a tihdan dungthulin, Catherine Booth-i chuan England-a mi challang deuhte kaichhana sawm turin hma a la ve thung a. Stead-a ai maha kal thuiin, Archbishop of Canterbury ni lovin British Prime Minister leh Queen Victoria te hnenah lehkha a thawn a. Lalnu aiawhtu hnen atanga chhanna a dawnah chuan, sorkar inrelbawlnaah a inrawlh theilo naa, Army te’n hmeichhe naupangte humhimna tura an hmalakna chu a thlawp tih a rawn hriattir a. Lalnu hnen atanga thuziak a dawn te chu London-a Sipai Pawl inkhawmna hrang hrangah sawichhuah a ni.

Ngenna an siam, mi chi hrang hrang thlawpna hmingziak chu 4 km laia sei lehkhazial a ni a, lower house-in bill a ennawn tur niah chuan thehluh a ni. Westminster lalin panin, vutbuak rawng sakawr pali in sakawt tawlailir a hnuh chuan hma a hruai a, Parliament thutkhawm laia rimawi tum phal anih loh avangin kawng chanve thlengin Band-pu 50 rualin hma an hruai a, mite hriat hlawh tak Sipai Pawl uniform hain hmeichhia 300 rual an kal bawk a. Officer 8 te’n kuang zawn angin chu lehkha zial chu an kokiah puin House of Commons chhuatlaiah an zalh ta a ni.

An ngenna siama siamthat an phut thil 4 chu:

1. Hmeichhia te mahnia thutlukna siam thei chin kum bithliah chu kum 18 a tihsan ni rawh se.

2. Nawhchizuar tura mite lak/dap khawm chu dan bawhchhiatna ni rawh se.

3. Nawhchizawrhna in ni a rinhlehte chu Police te’n luh theihna leh dap theihna nei rawh se.

4. Hmeichhiate thlem/khuaikhem chu dan bawhchhiatna ni rawh se.

Upper House rawtna kum bithliah kum 15 a tihsan chu lehthalin lower house-ah chuan vote 179/71 hmangin kum 16 ah tihsan a ni ta a, chu mai bakah nawhchizawrhna hmun zawng zawng tihtawpna dan nen. Sipai Pawl in a nawr telloh mipa leh mipa inkawp chu he dan thar hian a hmer tel nghal a, chumi hmang chuan 1895 khan lemchan-ziaktu lar Oscar Wilde-a chu man niin kum hnih chhung hrehawm taka hnathawk turin taninah khung a ni. Hmeichhiate kumtlin kum tihsan hi Stead-a leh Sipai Pawl tan chuan hnehna ropui tak a ni a, chumi piah lamah an in rawlh avang hian, ti-deka rorelna kalpui thin lower house chu chhem alha awmin, tum 2 lai alo hnawl tawh bill pass-in a awm theih phah ta a ni.

Amaherawhchu, thu thehdarh anih theih dan hailan a han nih meuh chuan mipui-mimir thinurna an chungah a fu hneh hle mai. Lehkhabu hralhchhuaktu W.H.Smith company chuan Stead-a article a tel avangin Pall Mall Gazette an hralh duhlo a, Parliament member pakhatin House of Commons-ah ngenna siamin zahmawh rawngkai a ziah avangin Stead-a chungthu ngaihtuah turin a ti bawk a. Tichuan, Bramwell Booth, Rebecca Jarrett-i leh W.T.Stead-a te chu 1861 dan hmangin naupang rubo-ah puh an ni a, he dan hmang hian naupang rubo tak tak tute chu man an la ni ngai hauhlo thung. Eliza Armstrong-i nu lah a thenawmte’n a fanu a hralh avanga an selna anka do zo lovin, mi ina hnathawk tur chauhva hralh angah a inchhal thar leh a, thubuaiah a changlo thei ta lo. Heng mi pathumte hi mipuite chuan dem thar lehin, siamthatu aiin tisualtuah puh an ni ta a ni.

London-a criminal court Old Bailey-ah Bramwell, Jarrett leh Stead-a te chu dan lo anga a nu leh pate hnen atang leh an phallo chung Eliza Armstrong-i laksaktuah puhin kum 1885 favang-ah an chungthu rel a ni ta. Rorelna hnaihah chuan mi tawrawt rual an pungkhawm a, mi pangngai chinte lahin mipat-hmeichhiatna lama sumdawnna dodal inti chungin Sipai Pawl hmalak dan erawh an thlawp duh si lo. An hmalak dan Sipai Pawlin lo thlawp velo ngawt turin engtinmah hma an la ve der bawk si lo. General William Booth-a chuan, ‘An chungthu ngaihtuaha awm chu mite seh thin sihal hrem aia hmelma an awm avanga ui lo bauh thinte hrem ang ani. Hmeichhia tleirawlte paltlang thil rapthlak tak laihlana awmte khuahkhirh tur hian engemawtal tih awm tak a ni si a…kei mi thawng ber chu an hrehawmna leh tawrhna nasa takte hi a ni zawk asin!’, tiin thubuai siamtute lakah demna thu hriam takin a phuhchhuak hial a ni.

Stead-a te thlavang hauh turin Archbishop of Canterbury pawh a lo tel ngei a, amaherawhchu thu a sawi ve phalsak a ni ta lo. Khawtlangin an do rawn takah chuan Stead-a’n anmahni pui tura kaichhan alo sawm sa te chu an tangkai ta lo. Jarrett-i tan a tawrh hlelhawm lehzual a, Armstrong thubuaia a tel vena piah lamah, inzuarturte zawngkhawmtu hna a lo thawh tawhna chinlehin a awm si a. Kum khat awrh Sipai Pawl zawma nunthar zawh ve tan chauh a ni a, nawhchizawrhna khawvelah hmelhriat tam tak a la nei si a, thenkhat humhim a tumna lamah dawtte pawh a sawi phah hial a ni.

An chunga rorelna inlumlet dan chu lungchhiatthlak leh hriatthiam har tak a ni. An dikna tanchhan tura an thusawite lah anmahni thiamloh chantir tura kawihher a ni thul. Jarrett-i phei chu rilru phili taka siam a ni, Florence Booth-i phei chuan, ‘Attorney General hian kawng tinrengin a chhaih kual a ni’, a ti hial. An ukil rawih Charles Russell-a chuan theihtawp chhuahin Jarrett-i tan darkar hnih zet a ngen sakna chuan court-a awm zawng zawng, Judge chenin an mittui a kaihchhuah sak hial a ni.

A tawpah chuan Jarrett-i chu thla-ruk, Stead-a thla-thum tang tura an chungthu rel a ni a, Bramwell-a erawh chhuah zalen a ni hram a ni.

W.T.Stead-a hian April 1912-a Titanic lawnglian pil ruala a nunkawng a zawh tawp hma zawng kha chu a lungin tan champhaah, a lungin tan kawr a ha ziah thin a, chhinchhiahna ropui takah a ngai a ni. Rebecca Jarrett-i pawh kum 87 thleng a dam a, a damchhung zawng hian London-a hmeichhia humsual daite tanpuiin a in hmang ral thak a ni.

Kum engemzawzat hnuah Pi Armstrong-i chu Eliza Armstrong-i hringtu nu diktak a ni lo tih hriatchhuah a ni a. Bramwell Booth-a chuan a lehkhabu Echoes & Memories-ah, a hunlai khan he thu hi hriatchhuah lo ni sela chu roreltute thutlukna kha a danglam ngei a rin thu a sawi. Tichuan, Bramwell-a chu Salvation Army General niin, kum 1929 a thih hma lawk thlengin he dinhmun hi a chelh a ni. A boral hma hian, hmeichhiate puitlin hun kum bithliah tihsan ani chu hnehna ropui tak anih piah lamah, a hnua hekna an tawh avanga rorelna an paltlang kha Sipai Pawl hnathawh tlangzarhna hmanrua tha tak nia a hriat thu tihian a ziak:

Rorelna kha Army tan thil tha tak a ni. Mite’n min hriat lar phah a, mibo leh chanhaite khaichhuahna kawngah, hmahruaitu dinhmunah thawklehkhatah min dah a ni. Mi thiltithei takte’n min hmelmak phah mahsela rei a daih lova, kan nghawngkawl min bah puitu tur tam tak min siam saka, chung mite nen chuan tun thlengin inkungkaihna tha kan neih phah a ni. He thil danglam tak kan paltlang avang hian hmeichhia humsual daite tana kan rawngbawlna zau taka hawnsak kan ni.

He Maiden Tribute campaign hi thil hlauhthawnawm leh theh lar nasat em em bawk si a ni a. Sipai huaisen tlemte chauh hmalakna chuan ram pumhuap khawih pha danglamna a thlen a, hmeichhe naupang tam tak hnehchhiaha an awmna tur tidanglamin kawng thar a sial sak a ni.

Stead, Jarrett leh Bramwell te inpekna leh tumruhna a ngaihsanawm hle, mihring hmanga sumdawnna (human trafficking) do tura lo penchhuakin, an hunlaia dan lo anga sumdawnna an do ngam. Mipuite’n an bengkhawm theihna turin thil hlauhawm leh hmingchhiatthlak tak an tawn tlang a, siam that ngai em em, vantlangin a hlamchhiah si chu sut-enin a awm phah ta a ni.

Tunlai hunah hian, khawvel hmun hrang hrangah, mihring hmanga sumdawnna hi a la bo lo tih kan hre theuh awm e. Catherine Booth-i chuan, ‘kan hmalam hun tieng tur chuan, kan tun hun hi kan thawn-harh/ chawhbuai a ngai’, a lo ti a. Danglamna thlen tur chuan dodalna leh sawiselna kan hmachhawn ngam a ngai a, mihring hmanga sumdawnna hluar em emna khawvelah hian pen chhuaka dodal tur kan ni. Salvationist mi hrat khawkheng, mitlemte te’n an lo tan tawh chhunzawm zel hi kan kova nghah a ni tih i hre thar leh ang u. Dolet tura theihna neilo, phuarbeh tlatte chhuah zalen a, an dikna lanchhuah tir turin, I penchhuak ang u khai!

 

[From the Book 'Insane' - Translated by Jean Ralte]

The Salvation Army is serving in India since 1882

Down the ages India has been the target for invasions: the Persians, Greeks, Parthians, Bactrians, Scythians, Huns, Turks and Arabs, but never was there a more bizarre invasion than the one which took place on 19 September 1882. An army of four making its way to Bombay on the P & O SS Ancona, Major Frederick de Lautour Tucker, Captain Henry Bullard, Lieutenants Arthur Norman and Mary Ann Thompson. Other armies had come to conquer, this Army came to serve, but the English and vernacular newspapers had it that ‘The Salvation Army was attacking India!’        

When they started out from London there were six of them, but it was found necessary for Mrs Louisa Tucker to accompany one young woman-officer back to England for personal reasons and they disembarked at Port Said, Mrs Tucker sailing again for India on the next available ship.      

The authorities in India, being unfamiliar with The Salvation Army’s military jargon, visualized the landing of a formidable force which might cause communal riots resulting in violence and bloodshed, consequently the Bombay police were lined up on the quayside at Apollo Bunder for the Army’s arrival. 

After the four had stepped ashore the superintendent of police approached them asking, ‘When will the rest of your army land?’ Major Tucker replied, ‘We are the whole Army,’ at which the police officer in evident amazement and, one may assume, with a grin, said, ‘We were expecting you to arrive 1,000 strong!’      

Major Tucker knew that strength lay not in numbers, and in high spirits he and his little band started marching down the crowded streets of Bombay. Carrying the Army banner he was followed by Captain Bullard playing the cornet, Lieutenant Norman beating the drum and Mary Thompson jingling a tambourine. No wonder they caused a stir! Never before had the proud Britons been seen on the streets of India in such a guise. Not only was the music a novelty, but the party was dressed in a blend of Indian-European dress. The men wore turbans with a red band on which Muktifauj (The Salvation Army) was inscribed, long yellow coats similar in cut to the Indian achkhan and white trousers. Mary Ann Thompson, brave woman, wore a yellow dress set off by a hat with the Salvation Army band of red ribbon. All four wore boots.

A procession with drum and trumpet was no unusual sight to the people of Bombay. Processions of all kinds, wedding, funeral and religious were part of the daily street scene. It was the contrast between the dress and the white skin which caused curiosity. If it had been Tucker’s intention to arouse interest he certainly succeeded, but the ‘uniform’ had a more important aim. It was an attempt to identify the Salvation Army missionary officers with the people of India, the yellow colour being used by India’s ‘holy men’.     

The Founder of The Salvation Army, when sending out his very first missionary force to India had instructed them:

With the apostle, to become all things to all men, in order that you may win them to your Master. This must mean, if anything at all, that to the Indians you must be Indians.

The ring leader of the Muktifauj pioneer officers to India - Commissioner Frederick St. George de Lautour Booth-Tucker, OF (21 March 1853 – 17 July 1929) was born in Monghyr in India, the son of William Thornhill Tucker, a Deputy Commissioner in the Indian Civil Service and author of an English-Persian dictionary. He was educated at Cheltenham College from 1866 until 1873, leaving when he was 20 years old. During his time at the college he was known as a keen scholar and athlete. He joined the Indian Civil Service (now IAS) as an Assistant Commissioner in 1874, being posted to Amritsar, Simla and later to Dharamsala, where in addition to being Assistant Commissioner he was also Assistant Magistrate. In 1875, he was converted during the Moody and Sankey campaigns in London. Against the wishes of his wife and parents, Tucker joined The Salvation Army in 1881 while on leave in England from the Indian Civil Service and came to work in the Army's legal department at International Headquarters in London. He was posted to the Camberwell Corps in July 1882. 

 

Tucker saw the Indian caste system as his main obstacle, and so he decided to work among India's sixty million outcasts. He and his fellow Salvationists adopted the way of life of the outcasts. Their Salvation Army uniforms were replaced with the saffron robes of the Indian fakir, and they assumed Indian names, Tucker being known as "Fakir Singh", meaning the "Lion of God".

Tucker's preaching of equality and salvation proved popular with the members of outcast society, many of whom were converted. Following this success in India, Tucker was promoted to the rank of Commissioner. His first wife, Louisa Tucker, died in India on 27 February 1887 during a cholera epidemic, and on 10 April 1888 he married Emma Booth, the daughter of William and Catherine Booth at Clapton Congress Hall. As was the usual practice in the Booth family at that time, Tucker added his wife's maiden name to his own, becoming Booth-Tucker.

In 1913, Frederick Booth-Tucker was invested with the gold Kaiser-i-Hind Medal (First Class) by the Viceroy of India, Lord Hardinge, in recognition of the many years of service he had given to the poor of India. In 1920, he was admitted to the Order of the Founder, The Salvation Army's highest accolade.          

‘The Army did not spread abroad by the determination of its leaders,’ wrote St John Ervine, ‘it spread by the force of its own energy and strength.’ General Frederick Coutts adds in No Discharge in this War: ‘The notion of William Booth as a religious Alexander sighing for fresh worlds to conquer is as wide of the mark as can be. New shoots began to grow in unexpected places seemingly of their own accord. The wind blew where it listed.’ And the wind of the Spirit blew also over India.

 

 As we celebrated Muktifauj 141th Anniversary, there are now 6 Territories in India with a National Secretariat in Kolkatta. There are a number of schools from Primary to College, Nursing Schools, Hospitals