Biography of Tama Gao

Biography of Mr. Tama Gao

By - Liankhankhup Sektak

Tama Gao is one of the oldest christian within Pangin area, and distinguished person as far as christianity concern in this area. I first met him at Aalo Taxi stand on rainy day when he was returning from Yingkiong as ministry. He was looking like 85 years above and I did helped him and accompany till his own home since then we become friend. I could started his partial biography coverage after two years of burden and January 25, 2015 thus it came into reality while verbal conversation with him.

His father Tamar Gao and mother Yape Gao (Paron) left in this world early but he was following his grandpa Mr. Taling Gao's ancestral religion untill 1980s. He was also a sincere devotee of Donyi-Poloism. He had two brothers Viz. Tasik Gao ( died while young) and Tapiang Gao (died after grown-up), none of them produced any offspring.

He is literate without attending school. He is a man of courage, dedicate and a man of self learning. My mother Mrs. Nemneihching Sektak also like him can read and write without attending School. A handful of persons achieved such goal.

Wild yam was the main source of food as people were unaware of Jhum cultivation. A woman name Jiksak reportedly died of hunger while in search of wild yam in the forest. Child marriage or child engagement was one of the common practiced. Many controversial cases arose when the girls refuse to get marry whom the parent engaged after they grown-up. Some British officers who witnessed Child marriage advice parents to wait till their children attain suitable years and leave an option to choose their life partner. It so happen today, Tama is witnessing the new generation get marry with their self determination.

Tama had married to Yadeng Tali and Yayang Tali who produced five boys Viz. Tagiram, Tasen, Tasam, Tagum, Tajing and Yakum, Yalek, Yari, Yapak, Yani. God blessed him like a tree planted on the riverside with many fruits. Unfortunately, Yadeng suffered sudden attack of paralysed in the wee hours of morning and died after two years. After many years, Yayang also reportedly died in the bossom of other without adding more.

Tama Gao is an inhabitant of Koreng Village, who also pioneer Christianity Baptist to Presbyterian . "He successfully persuaded the Koreng Christian to unite in one denomination now Presbyterian", Tangir Tamut added. Tama recall those non Christian life as son and daughter of Setan. He had made sacrificed in fear of Setanic powers untill all his livestocks, ornaments and his possession in ritual sacrifices as per the priest demand. He was also heard that no Christian priest demand neither livestocks nor penny in lieu of sacrifices to God.

The miracle of healing that happened to Pangin Resident Mr. Tapiam Darang closely associated with how Tama become a christian. According to Tangir Tamut, Tapiam was severely sick many months in 1980s and nobody expected him to recover from his sickness. His family did intermittently ritual sacrifices, it had no sign of improvement. His families give-up hope and he himself lost a faith to recover again from the trauma.

One fine day while he was sleeping, like a vision he heard a voice saying, " If you want to recover from your sickness, check your box something in it", that awoke him-up. He found no one in his home when he woke-up and spotted " The Way of Life" , a christian tract; given by his friend Mr. Takek Jamoh. Someone presented that tract to Takek forwarded to Tapiam, hidden in a box due to ongoing Persecution of Christian in Arunachal Pradesh. Tapiam believed and had a deep faith in Christian God that if any Christian pray for his sickness; he would recover from his sickness. He sent an invitation to handful of Christian in Komsing whearas they responded him to abstain prior permission from Bango authorities. Tapiam request was turn-down several time by the Bango authorities and at last granted by Tasap Tali, the then Bango Secretary. It was saying that he would be please to see a deadly sickman could spent normal life through prayers.

After abstain green light from Bango, the Christian brethren from Komsing came and continuously prayed and massage for him one after week. Thus, his faith in God led him to complete recovery. He began to attend church at Komsing from Pangin by leaving advance on Saturday, After hearing the miracle healing story of Tapiam, he accompanied his friend to Komsing for church and later he was claimed as Christian.

All those healing took place in 1980s and Tama Gao was also deadly sick in his village. He came to know that Adi Baptist Evangelist Mr. Ejong Tayeng had been station at Komsing for healing ministry. His family members consent him to go and get heal but not to become christian. He got complete healing and voluntarily take an oath before god and decided that he is Christian now and follow Christianity. His families and villagers call local Panchayat meeting against his new belief and persuaded him to loyal in his former religion. He had decided to follow Christian, therefore; he was isolated in the society.

It was a turning point god's plan in sickness that happened to Yameng Gao, hailed from Koreng Village. The villagers knew very well her that even the christian prayed for her, she would not recover again from her paralysed and promised to him that the entire non-christian villagers would become christian as well. God answered the sincere prayers of brethren viz. Tapiam Darang, Takek Jamoh and Tama Gao for Yameng Gao and she was fully recovered from her sickness. The spirit of the Lord is slowly moving to this village and as of writing this story, halves of the entire villagers turned into Christianity.

The writer can be reach at http://twitter.com/khuppaite or @khuppaite