Namthak Rogong, the first son of Namder Rogong who was born in Antu Fikal in East Ilam district of Nepal in the year 1851 (day and month unknown). Among the generation, he was the first born in Christ at the age of 25 in 1876. He was baptized by the local Priest Mcfarlane of Darjeeling's McFarlane church, and then he was appointed as the elder of the Mangawa busty church and preceded to God's work. After that, on 21 January 1900, he was ordained as a pastor in the same church. And he became a means for the Rogong family to believe in Christ.
It is said that Namthak Rogong left his family during the time of his father, Namder Rogong and settled for some time in Sitong Basti in Darjeeling district of India. After that, he permanently bought land in Mangwa Basti of Takdah and moved with his whole family and started earning his livelihood there as a farmer. After a period of time, he managed to bring his father Namder Rogong with him. Later, from Mangwa, he went to Darjeeling where he desired to receive further education and Bible training by the grace of God, in Nirmal-school which was started by Rev McFarlane. He started his educational journey at Nirmal-School and Teacher training. After completing his education, he started teaching at Nirmal-School.
After serving as pastor in Mangwa for 9 years, Namthak Rogong was transferred to the Kalimpong congregation in 1909, where he earnestly promoted the work of God with great zeal, and here he advanced the church. He initiated many changes for the future, among which a resolution was passed on 5th March 1910 proposing a Cork Session, which has been established and operated since 1910 under the chairmanship of Namthak Rogong, which is still running successfully.
Namthak Rogong was a servant of God with great devotion who preached about the Lord Jesus with great personalities to Pastor Dayongsi Lepcha and Pastor Ganga Prasad Pradhan and made a great contribution by promoting them in the field of service. Namthak Rogong served God with his whole body, mind and soul for 45 years without complaint and finally, in 1923, at the age of 72, he left for his heavenly abode. For me, his devotion to God has become a truly important life witness.
Today, I have tried to share some glimpses of our very beautiful village, Chota Mangwa Basti, located in Takdah Darjeeling, West Bengal, India and there inside its hidden historical Mangwa Church, which may slowly disappear from our own history, if its core values are never understood and discovered again.
While turning some pages in the history, I felt glad to know that my own ancestors were involved in the creation of this history. Perhaps some of the stories in it, have already come to light and some are still hidden. I believe that my small effort definitely may help to witness the hidden historical truth to some extent.
According to my collected information, in 1870 AD, foreign Christian missionaries arrived in different places of our Darjeeling District (Centenary Ceremony - Elder C.T. Namchu) and a few years after their arrival, in 1873 AD, the work of God also started in this Mangwa Busty and many people believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. However, no one knew where the weekly services were held during this period? (There is no information about it in anyone's house or any building). By this time, it can be assumed that Late Namthak Rongong himself and his whole family had become resident of Mangwa busty. Between 1873 and 1876, Late Namthak Rongong himself believed in the Jesus Christ and personally accepted the Jesus as his savior, and in 1876 he was baptized by the local Padri (Pastor) Macfarlane at the Mcfarlane church in Darjeeling and attended the Normal-School and Guru Training school started by Padri Mcfarlane. He received his education and teacher training in the school and started working as a teacher in the same school for the few years.
After a gap of few years, Late Namthak Rongong was appointed to the Eldership of the church. After the time of appointment, he returned to his own place, Chota Mangwa Basti, and became a leader in the work of the church. On 21st January 1900, Late Namthak Rongong was the second from Darjeeling District and the first from Mangwa Church Pardi (Pastor), who was ordained and advanced to pastoral ministry in the local Mangawa church. After serving as pastor at Mangwa Church for about 9 years, he was transferred to Macfarlane Church in Kalimpong in 1909. Taking his entire family with him, he proceeded to Kalimpong where he furthered the work of God with great zeal and sincerity.
If we count the beginning of the ministry of this Mangawa Church from 1873 to the present year, we know that it has been about 151 years. However, the existing church building is only known to us in 1906 through the personal diary of local Duksing Namchu Baje (Baje - grandfather), who laid the foundation stone of Padri Graham's hand and his prayers. If we calculate the construction of this building from 1906 to the present year, it can be estimated that it has been around 118 years. Even now, looking at the working style of this building, it seems that it has been built for only a few years, but it amazes us to hear and see that this building has passed its opening for more than 100 years. We still can feel that more of the history of this church is still hidden.
I, Dr. Evan Rongong, third or last younger son of Suzan Tshering Rongong (Robert Rongong), who was the fifth son of Song Blen Tshering Rongong, who was the third younger son of Adhersing Rongong, who was the third son of Nomder Rongong and younger brother of Namthak Rongong. I am very proud of myself to be a small part of this clan. Late Namthak Rongong departed from here (Mangwa Basti) to Kalimpong, after his second younger brother, Late Abodsing Rongong, also left for Kalimpong, whose descendants can now be found in Dumra Basti and other places in Kalimpong. Also, his younger brother Late Choyo Dorje Rongong also left for Pemling Busty in Kalimpong. But my ancestor, Late Adhersing Rongong, and his children stayed in this Mangwa Busty. Staying here seems to be God's will, because after Namthak Rongong's departure to Kalimpong, we find that Adhersing Rongong has a great role in continuing God's work in this area. Still, from that generation to the present generation, our elders have maintained their sincerity in the work of God, whether in a large place or in a small place, and until the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, I hope our coming generations will pursue in the footsteps to serve our God with great zeal and sincerity like our ancestors, and it should continue to grow in full.