Guwahati, Dec. 24: Apart from a home that is hundreds of years old, Jesus Christ has a name amid the mountains and rivers of the Northeast. He’s Isua in Mizo, Yisui in Ao, Jesun in Thadou, Isu in Hmar, Poupa Jesu in Paite, Isuan in Ranglong, Jisunii in Maram and Pakai Jesu in Kuki.
The Bible has been translated into 57 languages in the region and the figure is expected to touch 100 by Christmas next year.
Dr Zaihmingthanga, associate director (translation) of Bible Society of India, Shillong Translation Centre, told The Telegraph that the Bible has been translated so far into Adi, Anal Naga (Pakan), Angami Naga, Ao Naga, Assamese, Bengali, Biate, Boro, Bru, Chang Naga, Dimasa, Gangte, Garo, Hmar, Galo, Hrangkhol, Hmar, Karbi, Khasi, Khiamnuingan Naga, Komrem, Konyak Naga, Kuki and Kyong Naga (Lotha), Liangmai Naga, Lamkang Naga, Lai, Manipuri (Meitei), Mara (Lakher), Maring Naga, Maram Naga, Mao Naga, Mizo (Lushai), Moyon Naga, Monsang Naga, Nokte Naga, Paite, Phom Naga, Poumai Naga, Rabha, Ranglong, Rengma Naga, Rengma (North) Naga, Rongmei Naga, Sumi Naga, Sangtam Naga, Sema Naga, Tangkhul Naga, Tangsa Naga, Thadou Kuki, Thangal Naga, Thangkhal, Tiddim Chin, Vaiphei, Yimchungru Naga, Zeme Naga and Zou (Zomi).
Thanga said while the Bible was first translated into Assamese in 1820 that the latest translation was in Nokte, a language spoken by an indigenous group in Arunachal Pradesh.
“The Northeast has diverse languages and we are working on the translation projects for those who are in need of the Bible. We are doing the translation for the benefit of the Christian people for whom the Bible is the basic foundation of their faith. It will be made available to those who aspire to read it. Even though the project is not aimed at popularising Christianity, the demand for translation of the Bible is increasing every day. The holy book is selling hugely among Mizos after it was translated in their language,” he said.
Thanga said the new principle of translation aims at transferring the content into local idioms and expressions. The idea is to reach out to all sections, the young and the old, the learned and the barely literate and the womenfolk.
According to Thanga, the translation is done meticulously to ensure that the text of the Bible is not diluted.
He said each indigenous community nominates a linguistic scholar to translate the Bible into its language.
Thanga also added that the Bible Society of India has a team of experts that compares the translated version of the Bible with the Old Testament in Hebrew and New Testament in Greek.
The translation is approved only after the content matches the original text.
Source: The Telegraph, Kolkata, India, Dec.25,2010
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