THE FORGOTEN GOLD REV. TAJIR TAMUT

 

THE FORGOTEN GOLD REV. TAJIR TAMUT

                 (Biographical sketch)

By Author – Mr. Albert Liankhankhup Sektak (B.Th, B.A)

Rev. tajir tamut , one of the oldest Christian in Upper & Siang district was born on October 10, 1942 at  Lilleng Village, under the newly created Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.God blessed Tajir with four sons VIZ. Ojing,Thomas ,Abraham, Nalang and six daughters VIZ. Atop, Onyok, Olip, Yamem, Aroti and Yanyot(germany). His parent Takut and Yamang(Mize) alongwith all his family members were orthodox Donyi-Polo who believes and sacrificed to ghost periodically whenever misfortune or sickness happened in their family.

1. Generation: Mr. Tayang Tamut, the forefather’s of Rev. Tajir Tamut begot tapiom, Tapiom begot Tahan, Tahan begot Talut,Talut begot Rev.Tajir Tamut, who is the fther of Ojing and grandfather of Kento.He was a good farmer and cultivator and no water field was concentrated on those days.

2. Childhood Memoirs: I have written anumbers of biographies of different people with different background till today,many of them had forgotten their childhood days  and events to extract in theirbiographies. Most of the Tribals’ forefathers were great hunter and Tajir too hunted hundreads of fiercy animals that endanger wildlife and the people. His childhood friend Mr.Tangar Mibang and Late. Mr. tabuk Mibang loved himand assisted him when they were in this world.He was an eye witness of the Second War War ,Indian independence and 1950 devastating earthquake that claimed nearly a thousand lives across Indo-Tibetan border.The British political incharge of domsticaffairs  Mr. Jemhap used to visit Lileng, Tuting and Geling periodically. Arunachal is astate where all clans and family share their portion of land and pss-it-on generation togeneration.

3. Early Education:Though the 1950 census ofIndia indicated Arunchal Pradsh Literacy rate 0.00%  , but  he completed his standard one in Assamese at Lileng chool on 1957. He uused to attend schoolwith traditional knife and coat (Gallup). He is a man of self learning  beside Assamese  and now could read and write in English and Adi coded formed by early Christian Missionaries.

4. Embracing Christianity.The persecution of Christians and anti-christian movement in Arunachal Pradesh intensify in 1970s effected the minority across the state.Tajir also one of such leader’s who took to tortured Christian in Boleng area. God call him through his daughters and wife fade that led him become Christian. Traditional animal sacrifices were performe inorder to free them from their sickness, he lost two of his daughters and wife alongwith all his cattle. God sent Mr. Tapun Ering(Teacher) while he was mourning and he presented a tract and said ;” NO JONH KE ANAM KITAP PORILA KANAMME DUK DEM NO MIPANG YEKUMAPE” that may be translated “ If you read the book of Jonh, you’ll no more remember your sicknesses.” He took the book and read in the core of his heart again and again,thus; God spoke and comforted his uncomfort heart and peace of mind. He accept Jesus as hispersonal savior and gotbaptized and became apart of God’s family.

5. Church planting and persecution:In August 31. 1975 , he met some Christian who were in Govt.Employee and had fellowship with Teachers and Government employee at Boleng.

The movement of the Christian was spread in and out of Boleng that led the employees summoned by their officer incharge and leaders. He asked him ,” Are you Christian”?.Tajir firmedly replied that he was Christian and he warned him not to carry-out any Christian activities in Boleng area except in his home village.The Government servants were also warned termination in wake of anti-christian campain if they dare christianism. As a soldierof the cross, he and hiswife fearlessly carried out preaching the word of God and five notable persons were converted into christianityVIZ. Mr.Taso Tamut, Mr. Tator Ketan, Mr. Takeng Tamut, Mr. Tanga Sitang and Mrs .Yayem Sitang in the year 1976 at Dosing and Lileng Village. The Villagers supported by Bango leaders or inter-village chief warned them direconsequences if they fail to give-up Christianity within specific period. The leaders feared that by embracing Christianity, their age-old practices and traditional identity would be threatened.

In the year 1976-77, all the chiefs of Magong,Dogong, and Sirit Bango came to Lilleng Village with a great conspiracy in an aim towiped-out the presence of Christianity in Lileng  and its surrounding. Viz.

1. Mr Tasing Tatin (President Riga)

2. Mr. tamak Taduk (Asai Sitang Village)

3. Mr. Tasap Tamut (Yekshi Chief)

4. Mr. Tatong Tapak (Deku Chief)

5. Mr. Tamon Tali (Youth leader Deku)

6. Mr. TaporTatak (Youth leader Rumgong)

7. Mr. Tanyeni Komut (Rumgong chief)

8. Mr. Tasik Mize (Jomlo Chief)

9. Mr. Taruk Taggu (Pareng chief)

10.         Mr. Tamer Tali (Supsing chief)

11.         Mr. Takom Pabo (Yibuk Chief)

12.         Mr. Tamon Ering (Riew Chief)

13.         Mr. Tapang Taki (P1 Grade-1 Aalo Town)

14.         Mr.Tagong Tatak (P1 Jema-Rumgong)

The cited chiefs ured thenewly converted Christian to give-up their faith but they have decided to follow Jesustill the end of their life. The Kebang passed verbal resolution that all the Christian to left their villages leaving behind all their possessions. The leaders sold  Rice Mill to Mr. Tannat Tamut in throw way price of Rs. 2000, water field to Mr. Taso Gao in Rs. 2000, and 35 pieces of wood(Tokta) that was kept in water field and also 5 pieces of cooking pots. They pioneer ministry and showed an example by leaving behind all their belongings because of Jesus and settled in Ngorang Village in the year 1977-78 and reached bach their village in 1979.

There are some believers from Lileng, Boleng and Dosing whose properties were sold off being Christian.VIZ,

1. Mr Taso Tamut (Waterfield – Rs. 1000)

2. Mr. Tator Ketan (Simang water field – Rs.1000)

3. Mr. Takeng Tamut (Water field –Rs. 1000)

4. Mr. Tanga Sitang (Simang water field-Rs. 1000)

5. Mrs. Yayem Sitang (One cow- Rs. 1000)

Many people misunderstood that by restriction, persecution and conspiracy would compel the Christian to give-up their faith ,instead it mould better and strengthen their faith that multiplied into thousand folds. Christianity was suppress and struggle for her existence in the beginning. Today, there are ten persons who strongly opposed Christianity during Tajir’s ministry were mostly converted into Christianity.

1. Mr. Tapon Jamoh( Chief)

2. Mr.Tarung Mibang( Chief)

3. Mr. Tapam Sitang (Chief)

4. Mr. Tatak Mize (Chief)

5. Mr. Takar Mize(Chief)

6. Mr. Tapum Mize

7. Mr. Tasang Mize

8. Mr. Tanni Tamut

9. Mr. Tapum Tabi

10.    Mr. Talom tamut

Rev. Tajir Tamut Ministry.

        Many people who knows Tajir may wonder me why I put Reverend  before his name. It is not wonder, “ A person who forsake all his belonging and hometown for the sake of Jesus is worth honor than than persons who has degree and have mouth”. Reverend is an honour to him by me on this day February 16, 2016 and as of now he shall be known as REV. TAJIR TAMUT as a sign of respect

to the first native Christian , who converted and bring many peoples in the feet of Christ even till today He was pioneer in spreadingthe gospel to Komsing, Jorsing, Pangi, Sissen, katlek, Koreng, Lokpeng, Tarak, Riew, Beging, Geku, Sumsing, Sibum and Komkar though the local churches might developed their own version of story.Tajir carrid-out his ministry of God voluntarily without receiving a single penny from any Christian nor organization till today. The old gold and pioneer Christian has been forgotten 37 years since 1979 from the formation of ABCA. I do hope the church would recognized his ministry and deed and honor him by awarding Lifetime achievement with fulltime Pastor as he can. “ The more we think for ourselves, the more we destroy ourselves. The more we think for others, our blessings grow”.  

He went to many villageson foot and preached the word of God and distributed tracts of Gospel of Jonh. He said,” Ami dungko notti lo leyongbito dem amie lala poridoope”. He prayed to god for them if God can one day turn them into his light. He couldnot spare time to work for his own field and family and prayed to god that not to let him died in hungry while he does his ministry. Though he did not have things to eat, god answer his prayer and anumbers of people embraced Christianity from the villages he did ministry. Though he was hurtemotionally and physically, he did not lost hisfaith towards Jesus instead he did ministry happily and wish everyone come into thelight of God. I first met with him on February 13,2016 during the 38^th ABCA Annual General Conference and  the next day there he presented me his autograph on VALENTINE DAY.  I consider it was my first Valentine Day Gift and the greatest gift which I’ve ever received in my life that we all could realize the forgotten gold.