CHURACHANDPUR, October 23: A harbinger of church reformers among the tribal communities and the man behind the spread of the Bible to millions through his “Bible for the world”, Rev Dr Rochung Pudaite’s body was brought home today, to be buried at his ancestral place and home at Sialmat, Churachandpur.
He had also translated the Bible into the Hmar language in the 1950s after his graduation from Allahabad University.
The mortal remains of one of the earliest pioneer of Christianity in Manipur, and it’s spread among the Hmar community in particular, was supposed to reach here days back but due to some issues, his body arrived today only from America where he has been residing after becoming a citizen of the country some decades ago.
It took eight hours for the body to reach Churachandpur from Imphal as many churches, groups and organisation had arranged receptions at several villages along the way.
Dr Rouchung was the son of Rev (L)Chawna Pudaite and (L) Taii from Phualpui Village of Vangai Range.
After his graduation, he studied theology at Wheaton Graduate School, Northern Illinois USA, where he completed his Master’s degree and later did his D. Lit at Ohio’s Malone College.
Starting from 1971, he set up his pet project “Bible for the world” with great zeal and success which was responsible for handing out the Holy Bible to Christian and non-Christians and was lovingly called “God’s tribesmen” after he wrote eight books and was included in the list of “who is who” in USA apart from winning many accolades and at least three awards.
Infact, he was the founder of Evangelical Free Church of India (EFCI) which had grown by leaps and bounds among the Hmar community.
He was also social, religious and educational reformer.
He also set up Sialmat Christian Higher Secondary School, Partnership Mission Society, Trinity Bible College and Sialmat Christian Hospital in Churachandpur district.
The ‘Dr Rouchung Pudaite Funeral Committee’ was set up to organise his last condolence which will culminate in his burial at the Rouchung Bangalow and is expected to be attended people from all communities residing in the district.
The JAC against anti-tribal bills has also relaxed its public curfew until his burial tomorrow in the course of which his mortal remains will be made to be placed on the institution and center set up by the late reverend and Doctor of theology who was in fact a well-known and reverent figure in Churachandpur3 district in particular.
Dr Pudaite, 88, was admitted on October 10, 2015 at the memorial Hospital, Colorado Spring, Calorada, USA where he succumbed and was finally brought home after 13 days from his adopted country via Delhi where he was received by the Hmar Students’ Association, while his body was received at the Imphal Tulihal Airport under the initiative of the HYA GHQ around 9:30 am.