Finally! Thangkhal New Testament Arrives

"New Testament in Thangkhal dialect released after many decades"

A HISTORIC moments for the Thangkhals in Manipur, a New Testament Bible in Thangkhal dialect has been released at Thangkhal Bible Church, Tuibuang Village, Churachandpur District on July 16, 2010 for the first time ever. 

The Thangkhals does not have their own Church for more than 40 years and Bible for almost 30 years in the past, now they can leaps in boundless joy. A big joy for us!

Brief history

‘Thangkhal is a dialect-based community in Manipur. The word ‘Thangkhal’ derives from its village name, somewhere in Kawlgam, in which the Zous and Sukte tribes settled together in olden days. Haidawi, Khodai, Khuongnung, Tungkuo and Thangkhal are considered as the composite dialects of Zo tribe.

Thangkhal comprised of different clans practising same custom, culture and tradition from time immemorial. This lesser-known group ranging from 2000-3500 population identified themselves as ‘Thangkhal’ is constantly seeking tribe recognition; while some of them strongly advocated that they belong to Zou tribe. Thangkhal dialect is closely related to Paite, Tedim and Zou dialect.

The Thangkhal fore-fathers set-up their first home at ‘Mulaam’ in the southern part of Churachandpur, the exact year is yet unknown. Mulaam, literally means ‘an eagle casting over its prey’.

HAUPI [Thangkhal Village]. Pic: Johny Thangtawng

Early Church
The first Thangkhal church ‘Thangkhal Christian Association’ was established on April 4, 1981 at M. Tanglian village, about 15 kms away from Lamka town (Churachandpur). Since then the Thangkhal peoples unified in one denomination. M. Tanglian is the new location of Mulam. The initial ‘M’ stands for Mulam.

MEMORIAL STONE: 

Paying homage to Pu THAWNGLUAN 

at his memorial stone in New Lamka 

by the writer on 30th December, 2002. 

 Arrival of the Gospel
Known for their fierce ‘head hunting’, the villages of Thangkhals remained untouched for many decades. These dreaded warriors in Churachandpur hills received the gospel in 1939. A pastor from Evangelical Convention Church (Now EBCC) called ‘Thawngluan’ landed at T. Khazang village on March 7, 1939. This hamlet soon became the epicentre of Christianity in ‘Thangkhal Kual’, the hilly lands occupied by the Thangkhals in Manipur.

Organisations
In Manipur, Thangkhal Peoples’ Organisation and Thangkhal Youth Organisation was formed in 1978. The Zomi Fins (music band) formed in 1985 and Thangkhal Sinlai Pawlpi (students’ union) in 1987.

The Bible

Earlier several attempts failed to obtain the permission of Bible translation. For the first and the foremost in the history of Thangkhals, a New Testament Bible in Thangkhal dialect has been remarkably released by Rev. Dr. Z. K. Rochil, Auxiliary Secretary, Bible Society of India, Dimapur at Churachandpur’s Thangkhal Bible Church in Tuibuang village on July 18. Over 1000 crowd gathered at the historic event.

Rev. Dr. Zaihmingthanga, Assistant Director, BSI, Shillong, who tirelessly paved ways for Bible translation, could not attend the gathering. He send his greetings to the Thangkhals. The Thangkhal Bible Church has expressed their ‘heartfelt thanks’ to him.

On this auspicious day, Dr. Rochil encouraged the gatherings: “I want the Thangkhals should have a complete Holy Bible atleast during my tenure. I am ready to help the Thangkhals as much as I can in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The audience applauded Dr. Rochil’s words.

Speaking to our reporter over telephone from Manipur yesterday, a senior Thangkhal Bible Church leader Rev. Khaikhanthang, said “20,000 Bible has arrived now. One would be priced at Rs. 50. We are overwhelmed by the new Bible. We are very happy so much so that we could not express our happiness. Too see the much-awaited Bible for over many decades, is really amazing.”

“The news of the arrival of Thangkhal Bible touched each and every corner of the Thangkhals in Manipur. People sang jubilantly on this day. Everyone is happy to see the Bible. Even the Sunday collection on the releasing day touched Rs. 3945. This is the largest collection in a single day so far,” he added.

“It’s really great to have Bible in our own dialect. We’ve waited for so long,” says Mr. Kammuanmung, a Ph D student in JNU, New Delhi.

The writer with Pi Thuangkhongai
wife of Pu (L) Thawngluan in Feb 2015.

Behind the successful of this newly released Bible, the worth-mentioning prominent Thangkhals were Shri Ginsuanhau, President, United Zou Organisation, Manipur, for contributing Rs. 50,000; Shri Khamthang, Chief of Zoukhonuam and Shri Thangkhenhang, Chief of S. Zezaw village, for contributing Rs. 5000 each. From faith promised Rs. 10,000 collected and another Rs. 10,000 gathered from various sources. These are the total cost of the released Bible. One New Testament Bible cost Rs. 40 in printing.

Rev. Ginkhankap, B.A., M. Th., began the New Testament translation in May 2006. The same translator is preparing to carry out the next herculean task for another five or six years.

~ Bruce K. Thangkhal
New Delhi: 18-07-2010

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