Gangte: Translating the Bible for Tribal Peoples

Gangte is a small tribal language spoken by 16,500 speakers spread over thirty-seven villages in Manipur, India. Although it is an indigenous language with relatively few speakers, it is considered stable and is thought to be used as the first language of most Gangte tribe members.

Last year the General Committee gave their approval for the Gangte Bible project to run as a pilot project, starting with the Gospel according to John. The work is a new translation from the Authorised (King James) Version with reference to the underlying Hebrew and Greek. Sadly, the lead translator was hindered in commencing this work by a serious accident affecting one of his sons, who remains to this day in a coma, though looked after at home which entails long hours of arduous care. Consequently, our translator has only got as far as John 10—please prayerfully remember him and his family in this sad situation.

‘As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him’ (Psalm 18.30).