Chang Naga Bible launched

BANGALORE, India — The Chang people have become one of the few ethnic groups in the state of Nagaland, northeast India, to see the entire Bible published in their own language. There was much rejoicing at the launch ceremony in Tuensang in January 2002, which was attended by many people who had travelled great distances to purchase copies of the new Bible and to participate in dancing, singing and playing music.

Nagaland’s around one million inhabitants are nearly all Christian, the result of a revival between 1976 and 1978, and the Bible Society of India (BSI) has a strong presence there through its Dimapur Auxiliary, which moved into a new Bible House in April 2001 (see World Report 362/6). The 30,000 speakers of Chang have been able to read the New Testament in their own language since 1982, but translation work on the Old Testament did not begin until 1987, with the draft text being handed over to the Rev S. Takam for checking and revision in 1997.

The great attachment to the Word of God among the Chang people was reflected in the fact that 3,000 copies of the Chang Naga Bible were sold on the day of its launch and that those attending the ceremony contributed more than Rs23,000 (US$483) for Bible work. Demand for the new Bible exceeded supply, prompting the BSI to make provision to print a further 2,000 copies.