Senkatoshi
The people were barbaric; there were no good means of communication; and the place too was far away, but they carried on their ‘mission’ regardless.
They were the American Baptist Missionaries who entered into the raw Naga areas for the dissemination of ‘gospels’; they succeeded it through thick and thin.
It was Rev. S.W. Whiting who did the first uphill task. On this day i.e., September 7, 1851, a man from Merangkong Village (Mokokchung district) named Longjanglepzük was Baptised in Sibsagar by Rev. S.W Whiting. He met Longjanglepzük while wondering at a place called Nariza in Assam who was later impressed and converted to Christianity.
The American Baptist Missionaries regarded it as an opportune time to spread the truth of ‘gospel message’ across. They kept their faith on Longjanglepzük, and with much enthusiasm the missionaries gave a new name called “Langsang Francis Wayland”.
But worse to come for the American Missionaries when Longjanglepzük was killed in a hostile attack by a combined force of nine neighbouring villages; it has to be noted that there was a raging practice of ‘head hunting’ during that time. Unfortunately the ugly incident occurred while he was on a visit to his native village.
As told by an elderly person sometime in the past, Longjanglepzük used to live in Assam since his childhood and that he did not know neither of the blood-feud nor the head hunting practices. When his native village came under attack he came out of his home to witness the event which he had never seen before. As a result he became vulnerable and fell prey to the foes.
Since then, for about 15 years till Dr. Clark came into contact with the Ao Naga tribe, the missionaries could not find any outlet to carry the ‘message’ through.
Though the first ever Missionary’s plan ended in its embryo, undoubtedly it laid the foundation of the missionary’s activities in Naga Hills.
I was told by a friend of mine that in memory of Late Longjanglepzük, every year on 7th September, special programmes like singing competition, poem recitation, dramas etc., are being held at his native village. I have had a chance to read a poem in which a local poet offers eulogy to Late Longjanglepzük in these words :
1851 was a golden year,
Longjanglepzük stood first in this ‘dark world’
Selected the shinning one among the spectra.
Owing to his premature death in 1853, Longjanglepzük could not contribute much to the progress of gospels, but he was perhaps the first Naga man who committed to serve His yoke.
The writer is in the Deptt. Of Mass Com. & Journalism, Nagaland University
