The Role of Natives in the Wesleyan Methodist Mission

The Role of Natives in the Wesleyan Methodist Mission: Hyderabad State from 1879 to 1947 offers a bold and insightful re-reading of Methodist mission history in the Deccan. Moving beyond traditional missionary-centred narratives, this work uncovers the hidden yet decisive role of Dalit and native Christians as pioneers of faith, resilience, and social transformation. Set against the realities of caste oppression, recurring famine, and the political landscape of the Nizam's rule, the book reveals how local believers became the true carriers of the Gospel within their own communities. Drawing on rich archival sources, census data, and subaltern historiography, it presents mission as a dynamic partnership rather than a one-sided enterprise. This study is a significant contribution to Indian Christian historiography, restoring voice, dignity, and historical agency to those who have long remained at the margins of recorded history.

Rev. Samuel Raja Sekhar Bobbili is Assistant Professor of History of Christianity at Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College, Shamshabad, Hyderabad. He holds B.D. from Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, and M.Th. from the Advanced Institute for Research on Religion and Culture (ARRC), Hyderabad. He began his ministry as a Missionary Pastor in 1996 and later served as Senior Auxiliary Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Auxiliaries of the Bible Society of India. His scholarship reflects a sustained engagement with mission history, Dalit Christianity, and subaltern approaches to Indian church history.