Biography of Tanik Kopak

Tanik Kopak was born and grew-up in Komsing Kumku, East Siang , Arunachal Pradesh in 1962. His father Tapang Kopak was an orthodox Donyi-Polo greatly influenced of Hindus cultures and religion. The 1962 'Indo Chinese War' had the negative impact on ecomic, public health, civil supplies and daily needs especially Tanik's family in particular. Later he met an accident caused him paralysed the then he became Christian ever since.

1. Family Background:
Tarak beget Tanseng (who was said to be resided in Riew), Tanseng begat Tamut, Tamut begat Tasi, Tasi begat Taki, Taki begat Takak, Takak begat Tapang and Tapang begat Tanik Kopak.

Tanik got married Oting Kopak and has four daughters Yanga, Yatok, Yakiam, Bonne and two sons Kalom and Gandhi. Tapang Kopak recieved a copy of free huge Holy Bible while at Shillong between 1971-72 that he and his families used to often read. Tanik quoted as saying ," I was believing and trust Christian even before I was willingly became a Christian".

2. Early education and Memorable Days:
Tanik was attending Komsing L.P School later upgraded Middle School where P.K Roy Kormokar Dibrugarh served as Headmaster and Mr. K. Tambi Darai Tamil Nadu served as Teacher respectively. He helped his teachers and stayed with them there he learned " Communicative English" practically with them. I was surprised when I first met him and he was communicating with me in English such an elder man literally unbelievable. He caught 200 fiercy animals which endangers for human being. He is also one of the person who constructed famous Komsing Hanging bridge over Siang River which was washed away by man made Chinese flood around 2000 A.D.

3. Hinduism and Christianism in context with Arunachal Pradesh.
Hindus religious and cultures had been greatly influenced across the state and thousands of Hindus Missionary and mission came to exist there then.After Arunachal Pradesg became the 24th state of the Union of India on February 20, 1987, The Hindus Mission [ Arunachal Vikas Parishad, R.K Missions, V.K.V and several hindu's mission] accelerated inorder to attract and win people of Arunachal Pradesh for Hinduism. Mother Teressa, a Calcutta based Roman catholic nun was forcefully restricted to entry Arunachal Pradesh at Banderwa gate by a group of protesters influenced by Hindus Religious leaders. Inorder to prevent christianity in Arunachal Pradesh, the Hindus influenced and pass FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS BILL in 1987, the then christians were humiliated, torch, persecuted, burnt downed their churches and homes and even jailed by the authorities. Untill the establishment of DONYI-POLO YELAM KEBANG by Golgi Bote Talom Rukbom on the 31st December in 1986, no ganging of Donyi-Polo established even they consider as their ancestral religion. The Adi Baptist Church in Komsing which was said to established in 1978 or before faced lot of trial and hardship. Initially, the ministers of God who visited Baptist Church in Komsing were torched by the mob and the local church members hid them in the forest in fear of life. Amazingly, the spirit of God is moving in this village and now almost 50% becomes Christian.

4. An accident made him become Christian.
It was December 23, 2008 14:30pm which changed Tani's life once for all. He and his friend Tapang Panor went to the forest in search of cane for repairing house. According to him, he was carrying ten roll of cane (6-8 pieces per roll) with an estimated 50/60 kilograms and met an accident in the slope and wet forest. He slipped his left leg in the narrow road and rolled with a cane like a wheel of chair finally landed in the bed of huge wood. He could neither moved nor utter a single word to shout for help. His friend was not aware of his friend accident which he later found him in the spot where he landed. " He found me after I had attemp to shout thirty times", Tanik added. Tapang could carry upto near Komsing Karo Village where Tanik's father-in-law is residing. With the helped of Karo's residents, he could managed to reach his inlaw's home. Tanik says ," If Tapang Panor had not carried me on that day, Komsing Forest would have been my burial place".

After he was given first aid treatment, he was sent to consult doctor at Pangin. He was refered to Pasighat and they refered again to Dibrugarh for further treatment. After all test and formalities done, he was admitted in ICU and requested to do operation in Guwahati. He was sent back to Pasighat as his families couldnot afford for his operation. On November 04, 2014 while he was interacted with me he lamented ," If I could have sufficient money and did the operation in time, I may have been a normal man as you".

5.Ritual Sacrifice.
Tanik was in Pasighat for a while in hope that traditional ritual sacrifice could heal him. Tapang Kopak arranged a Donyi- Polo priest and performed ritual sacrifices twice for him; that too ineffective. The local priest surrendered him.

6. A layman Prayers.
Tanik life has been risk and his father couldnot see his son still no movements even after basic medication. Tapang Kopak approached a layman hail from Riew Village who is now inhabited in Pasighat. A layman of God Mr. Tagir Tapak prayed to God and did massage for him a week long. After a weekend, he requested him to walk-out and do exercise as he could. May be due to Tagir's massage, he could move slowly and take food himself. He was yet again sent back to his current hometown Pangin to spent for the rest of his life.

One fine day while basking sun, he met a missionary Mr. Lalmalsawma and his wifd Puii and invited to pray for him there he had narrated ins and outs of his woe. The missionaries continually and periodically prayed and massage in his residence. He felt better and comfort through their cordial and concern. They invited him to attend church whearas he refused saying ," I could neither move nor walk". They promised , "God will carry you" come to church tomorrow. Early in the next morning, the couple came to him with the help of a stick, he attended nearby church. The congregation prayed for him and welcome amazingly hope after hope for him. Later he took baptized and becomes christian he and his families till today. " If there is no christian who cares for me even today, I might not live anymore", he lamented.

An independent articles writer Mr. Albert Sektak constributed this article. He can be reach at http://khuppaite.blogspot.com