Lhichinyi Khalo is over 100 and still pro-actively contributing to the community.
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 4
Lhichinyi Khalo dedicated his life to the passion and love for teaching, and is perhaps one of the oldest surviving pensioners in Nagaland.
“Strive to abide in the Lord and salvation will belong to you. Regret not about the past but rejoice in the love of God that will grant you courage to sail through the present and future,” he explains and hang-up his calls with a prayer.
Lhichinyi Khalo, by virtue of being a father to 7 children, grandfather to 21, and a great grandfather to 7, always tries to keep in touch with his kin over the phone. Having survived over a century, his stories and conversations are always colourful like the child's notebook.
From conflicting episodes during the war times, horrifying escapades to near death experiences, robust adventures and tragic mishaps, building a career in teaching and education, his encounter with Christ, his love for family and his ministry, and most of all, his voyage to Jerusalem, are his favourite memories that he fondly recalls with delight.
He hails from Kami village of Phek district and still resides in his humble home that he built himself, and continues to serve as an educator and an evangelist in Kami and the neighbouring villages. He is the youngest son among the 3 children born to Lt Mechutshü Khalo, in 1919, and had the privilege to be educated. He joined the noble profession of teaching in 1940 as a Lower Primary School teacher.
His dire guest to join higher education made him join Grade 2 Board Exams under Nagaland Board of School Education, for which he would wake up at 4:00 am to walk down for 11-12 hours from Kami village to Kohima and write exams, in which he successfully passed.
He then went on to pursue Grade 6 board exams in 1949 and got appointed as a Primary School Teacher, and taught students from Lekromi and Kami village.
In 1950, he joined the government service as a Sectional Assistant in Public Works Department, Government of Nagaland. Seeing his able capabilities, the government offered him an opportunity to pursue a diploma course in Mechanical Engineering in Kohima.
He joined the diploma course for a few months but left due to lack of interest returned home to continue his love for teaching. Lhichinyi continued teaching at Middle English School, Kikruma from 1955-1956. His life was called to serve a greater purpose for God’s mission; he was then inducted as the Pastor of Kami Baptist Church from 1957-58. After this period, he continued serving as teacher in Government Middle School, Chizami from 1958-1959, and Pholami village from 1956-1962 and was transferred back to Kami village in 1962 where he continued serving till he retired from Government service on 1st August, 1984 as Head teacher of the school.
After his retirement, he enrolled himself in the Paramedical Training Institute, Kohima in 1979 and attained a Diploma. He bagged Best Service Award during the Indian Census (1962), Phek District Teacher’s Award (1984).
He continued to serve in the Lord’s Ministry as a home evangelist, under Kami Baptist Church and served in various capacities as head deacon, executive member of the KABCC, Peace Committee Convenor, Mission Chairman, and today, serves as Advisor of Kami Baptist Church and Convenor of Kuzhathede Area Baptist Church Retired-Pastors’ Fellowship.
Lhichinyi toured in countries like Jordan, Palestine, Egypt and Israel in 2017 to witness the Holy Land, and pray with their people and for our people, and to experience the sights mentioned in the Bible which he had read over 40 times.
He credits his achievements to the Nagaland government for support, and his longevity and prosperity to God's unfailing love.
Today, he is over a 100 years of age and is still pro-actively contributing to the community. He loves the outdoors and is an ardent fan of Naga wrestling tournaments which he attends without fail. Lhichinyi's allegiance to God has made him love his people and serve them with dedication, hard-work and passion that made every breath of his life worth living.
