The person behind the enlightenment of the Thadou tribe in the field of the education and religion is Pu Ngulhao Thomsong. He was born in 1891 at Henima (Huatening) village, Kumma, Naga hills. His parents passed away when he was a mere 7 (seven) years old boy. In the year 1900, he went to Kohima Mission School to continue his studies. As an undergraduate student, he was still a non-Christian. However, when he went to Jorhat for higher studies, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and was baptized on the 20th January, 1908. He became the first Christian among the Thadou Kuki in Manipur and Nagaland. He then started preaching the Gospel in and around Manipur and Nagaland. He founded the first Church at Sirhima village, Nagaland.
In 1915, he betrothed the daughter of Sirhima Chief Miss Chinkhokim in Holy Matrimonial. They had three daughters and three sons. Pu Ngulhao Thomsong volunteered himself for the “Labour Corps” in France during the First World War. He had the chance to meet the British King, King George-VI. The King George-VI gave him a blanket with the colour of a lion strips embedded on it. In 1919, he came back to India and worked as a Head Clerk under the British Government. He left his job after working 1 (one) year and started preaching the Gospel in the hill districts of Manipur, Ukhrul, Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong and some parts of Burma. On the 2nd June, 1921, he started working as a school teacher at Kangpokpi Mission School.
Pu Ngulhao Thomsong was a good and quick learner. He also had the gift and ability of learning and writing other languages easily. The languages he spoke and understood during his lifetime were: English, Hindi, Bangali, Nepali, Assamese, Angami, Rongmei, Meitei and Anal apart from his own mother tongue, Thadou. Pu Ngulhao Thomsong also knew how to read and write the above languages as good as his own mother tongue. He mastered and knew more languages than his senior when he was in high school. When he was in standard 8 (eight) he spoke better English and other languages than students who had a Bachalor of Art. In the year 1922, he started writing and publishing a book in Thadou, The book he published was used as the text book of every junior high school in thadou medium. He published Lekhabul, Only Gospel, Lungphatvet, Thu Kidong le Kidonbut and Rome Mite Henga Paul Lekha Thot in 1925, 1927, 1930, 1932 and 1933 respectively. With the help of Pu Seikholet Singson, Pu Longkhobel Kilong, Pu Helkhup Chongloi, Pu Pakho Sitlhou and Pu Teba Kilong, they published a hymnal book in Thadou. It is known as “Pathen La”. ‘Pathen’ means ‘God’ and ‘La’ means ‘song’. In 1924, he published the book “Question and Answer in Thadou dialect”. All the books he published were the first books written in Thadou-Kuki language. In the year 1925, he started translating the Gospel John in Thadou. Later he translated New Testament in Thadou-Kuki with the help of Dr. G G Crozier which was published in 1942. Pu Ngulhao left the unaccomplished translation of the Old Testament in Thadou-Kuki.
Pu Ngulhao Thomsong’s books helped our forefathers know how to read and write. They came to learn about the Gospel and started reading the Holy Bible. They also started teaching others how to read and write and thereby, education spread to all the inhabited areas of the Thadou speaking people. The impact was so great that many came to accept Jesus Christ and became Christians. His works and his sacrifices for the betterment of his people and spreading education to every nook and corner of Manipur, Nagaland, Assam and Burma was prominent. It is due to his hard work and dedication towards his faith in God, the Gospel is preached and the good news spread amongst the community as a whole. He was awarded the title THE FATHER OF THADOU-KUKI LITERATURE.
Dr. Fredrick Downs in his book Mighty Works of God writes, “Mr. Ngulhao is one of the successful early missionaries who show the living Word of God to the mass”. During his mission he converted a good number of his relatives, 334 persons from Anal community and more from other communities into Christianity. After serving for the extension of God’s Kingdom for 36 years, Pu Ngulhao left for his heavenly abode on 20th June, 1945 at Songpijang, Haflong in Assam, India.
