REV. DR. DAVID VAN BIK
The late Rev. Dr. David Van Bik was born on July 28, 1926 at Tlangpi village, Chin State, Myanmar (Burma). His father was Pu Chawn Tur, a village evangelist and his mother was Pi Renh Tial. He went to primary school at Farrawn village, and middle school at Falam town, Chin State. During World War II, he worked for Allied Services at a storage depot in Bungkhua and Thangzang villages. In 1946 he began to attend a Bible college at Cherrapoonji, Assam State, India. He graduated from there in 1946 with a Diploma in Theology.
He returned to Hakha, Chin State, the same year, and began teaching at Chin Hill Bible School in May, 1949. Evidently, 1949 was the year of the Golden Jubilee on Chin Christianity. After teaching there for two years, he continued his theological education for four years at Baptist Divinity School in Insein, Rangoon. In 1955, he was awarded a B.Th degree by Central Baptist Seminary in Kansas, to which Burma Baptist Divinity School was affiliated. On April 23, 1956 he was married to Mabel Zo Kai. He returned again to Hakha, Chin State to teach at the same Bible school.
In June 1957, he was ordained to the Christian ministry by the Zomi Baptist Convention at its triennial meetings in Bualkhua village, which was the golden jubilee year of the first converts in that area.
In order to prepare him for becoming the principal of the Zomi Theological School (now Zomi Theological College) he was given a scholarship for two years at the Berkeley Baptist Divinity School (now American Baptist Seminary of the West-ABSW) in California. He earned his M.A Degree from BBDS in 1959. Soon after his return, he became the principal of Zomi Theological School in Falam, Chin State. In 1963, he left Falam to be a full-time Bible translator for Lai(Chin). He completed translating the entire Bible in 1978.
In 1985, he was given Alumnus of the Year Award by ABSW, Berkeley, CA. In 1990, Myanmar Institute of Theology and Myanmar Baptist Convention named him Fellow of Distinguished Christian Service. In 1994, the ABSW in Berkeley, CA conferred him on an Honorary Doctorate Degree (D.D). In August 1999, he was appointed as a visiting scholar at University of California at Berkeley, CA. for the project of Lai (Chin) - English Dictionary under the sponsorship of Prof. James A. Matisoff, and with the help of Open Society Institute and Endangered Language Fund of Yale University. He managed to finish a draft-entry of the entire dictionary. He wrote more than 30 religious books in Lai language.
A cancer tumor in his nostril was detected in December, 1999. A chemotherapy and radiation treatment was begun in February, 2000. Despite the apparent early success of the treatment, his body could not stand the chemotherapy. Rev. Dr. David Van Bik went to his Heavenly Home at 9:05 a.m on Saturday, August 19, 2000. He is survived by his beloved Mabel and their children: Steven, Eric, Rollin, Kenneth and Alice Tial Hlei Par and eleven grandchildren.
REV. DR. DAVID VAN BIK (LAIHOLH)
Rev. Dr. David Van Bik cu kum 1926 July tha 28 ah Thantlang peng Tlangpi khua ah a rak chuak. Phungchitu Saya Chawn Tur le Pi Renh Tial i an fale pali lakah upa bik a si. Saya Chawn Tur a thih hnu ah Pi Renh Tial cu va dang a ngei i fanu fapa panga an hin hna i, David Van Bik cu unau pariat a ngei.
David Van Bik cu Tlangpi siangniamruun ah 1936 in a kai i 1939 ah Saya Kaw Kaw kuttang ah taangli a ang. Kum 1942 ah Falam khua Anglo-Vernacular High School ah taang-ruk a awng.
Vawlei cung ralpi II ruangah sianginn vialte an rak khar dih i, David Van Bik cu 1943-44 chung cozah cazi rian Thangzang le Bungkhua ah a rak tuan.
1945 kum ah India ram Cherrapunji Theological College ah a lut i Dip. Th. degree a hmu. Cu Theological College thiam thiam cun Serampore taanghra camipuai a awng.
Baibal sianginn kai aa lim in Rev. Dr. Robert G. Johnson dirhmi Chin Baibal Training School ah1949 June in 1951 tiang a tuan. Hi a tuan lio ah hin Rev. Johnson he Baibal Biakam Hlun leh hram an thok i an leh hmasa bikmi cu Genesis cauk a si. 1951 ah Insein Baptist Divinity (atu Myanmar Institute of Theology) ah a kai than i 1955 kum ah B. Th. dikri a hmu. Cu dih cun Hakha Chin Baibal Training School ahkhan a ttuan tthan.
Saya David Van Bik cu 1956 ah Pi Zo Kai he an i um i fanu fapa panga an ngeih hna. 1957 kum ah America ram Berkeley khua i a ummi Berkeley Baptist Divinity School ah kum hnih a cawng than i M.A. dikri a hmu. 1959 ah Lairam ah a rak tlung i a tlun kum cun Falam "Zomi Theological School" ah Principal a tuan.
1963 ah Hakha ah an chungtekhar in an hun i thial i caantling in Bible ca cu Rev. R. G. Johnson he an let ti. 1966 khan siangbawipa cu Ne Win Cozah thar nih umnak nawl an peek ti lo caah a chungkhar he America ah an kir. Cu hnu cun Baibal leh rian cu Saya Van Bik lawng nih aa hmaithlaak. 1979 ah Lai Baibal Thiang cu a lim i an chuah.
David Van Bik cu 1977 in 1987 tiang Khrihfa ca lei rian tuannak ah luhlinh in a tuan. 1983 kum ah England ram Oxford University ah canamnak lei cawn awkah a kal. 1986 ah English-ChinDictionary a chuah.
Rev. David Van Bik cu 1987 kum March thla in caantling Pathian riantuannak in pensen a la. Caantling rian tuannak in i diin hmanhsehlaw, Rev. David Van Bik cu calei rian ah diin loin a tuan peng i cauk tampi a tial. Cauk 30 a tial. A tialmi cauk lakah cauk pipuam bik hna cu Lai Baibal Thiang, English-Chin Dictionary le, Chin-English Dictionary le, Rev. Robert Johnson tialmi Lairam i Siangbawite Rian tuannak Tuanbia (volume 1&2) a lehmi hna hi an si. Chin-English Dictionary hi amah a thih hnu 2010 ah a chuak.
Rev. David Van Bik cu 1990 in 1996 tiang Chin Christian College (CCC) ah Principal a tuan. Cu hnu cun United Bible Societies le Chin Association for Christian Communication (CACC) hnathlaaknak in Lai Baibal remhohannak (revision) rian cu 1996 kum in a thawk thaan. Hi rian a tuan lio ah ruahlopi in Ralkap Cozah nih an rak tlaih i 1996 July 12 in September 16 tiang Hakha thong ah a tla. Pathian lamhruainak le a hawile danpinak thawngin thonginn ah nili chung lawng a um i leeng umnak nawl an peek caah Baibal remhohan rian cu a hun pehzulh khawh haan.
Rev. Van Bik cu Chin Christian College i rian a tuan lio, 1994 kum ah Laimi Khrihfa ca i a rian tuannak cungah M. A. a rak cawnnak sianginn (America Baptist Seminary of the West) nih upatnak degree Doctor of Divinity (D. D.) an peek. Hi lio ahhin CCC Baibal sianginn caah cauk thongruk renglo a hawile sinin a hmuh. 1996 kum ah amah sian lo buin Principal rian in aa din.
Lai Baibal remh thanmi cu Khrihfa kutah tlamtling tein a phaakter khawh hnu ah Chin-English Dictionary tuah a vun thawk than. Hi dictionary hi tha deuh le tlamtling deuh in chuah khawh a duh caah America ah a kal i a thiammi sinin bawmhchannak hal duh le a fale tlawn duh pahah1999 July tha ah a nupi he University of California, Berkeley ah visiting scholar in America ah an kal.
Rev. Dr. David Van Bik cu Laimi caah diin thiam loin rian a tuan cuahmah lio ah hnar khenser nih a phaak caah siizung a phan. Siibawite nih an thiam dih umnak in an thlop i a hun dam deuhin Chin-English Dictionary cu a vun pehzulh thaan i a lim ta manh. Khual zong a tlawng ta i phung zong a chim, tipil zong a pe rih. Laitlang lei tun ding a si cang caah US 1 Lai Khrihfa tete a tlawng ta hna. Laitlaang ah HBA nih Jubilee tuahpiak an timh caah a tun lai hi an i hngahhlang tuk cio. Sihmanhsehlaw, Dr. Van Bik cu khenser sii an ronh thanmi kha a pum thisa nih a tuar khawh lo caah, 2000 August 19 zanlei suimilam 9:05 ah a dawtmi Lairam kir manh ti loin a rianhmi Pathian sinah aa diin.
Rev. Dr. David Van Bik ruak cu America i a ummi Laimi hna nih US dollar thong hleinga dih in Laitlaang ah an tlunter i a thih ni in ni hleiriatnak September 3 ah Hakha a phaan i dawtu Khrihfabu tampi nih mitthli he a ruak an don, an humh i an thlah.
Rev. David Van Bik cu Laimi nih 'Kan Pa' tiah kan auhmi a si. Phungchimthiam, ca tialthiam, Baibal lei thiamsaang, kan Laiholh kilhkamhtu, thanchotertu, mino tampi Mirang holh thiamnak thlaici a tuhtu kan pa a si.
Rev Dr. David Van Bik nih a ttialmi cauk hna (Books written by Rev. Dr. Van Bik)
1) Lai Baibal Thiang (Holy Bible Chin-Hakha)
First Edition hi kum 1979 (Bu 10,000) ah B.S.I. in a print saka. Nikum 2023 thleng khan Vawi 30 chuang print tawh a ni. Bible Society of India in a print hnem
ber a ni. Revised Edition hi amah Rev. Dr. Van Bik tho kha ti tura ruat a nia, Chin Gospel
Centenary neih kum 1999 ah Indonesian Bible Society in Bu 10,000 a print sak a ni. United Bible Society hnua lehlin a nia, Myanmar ah Bible print phal a nih loh avangin India, Indonesia leh South Korea ah te print tir a ni. Kohhran mipui ten an hlut hle. Kum 45 chhungin bu 1,79,000 chuang print a ni tawh. Khawvel hmun hrang hranga Chin(Lai) tawng hmang mek ten an la hman ber a ni.
2) English - Chin (Hakha) Dictionary
First edition : Kum 1987 Reprint 1996, 2002 etc
3) Chin (Hakha) - English Dictionary
First edition : Kum 2010 - Bu 2,000
4) Baibal Tuanbia (The Child Stories Bible by Catherine F. Vos): Baibal Thawnthu lehlin a ni. First edition : Kum 1956 - Bu 1,000 Reprint 2004 - Bu 2,000, Reprint 2023 - Bu 1,000 : Total : Bu 4,000
5) American Baptist Mission Nih Lairam ah Rian An Tuannak Kong (History of the American Baptist Chin Mission) Volume - I & II (Translation) ABM ina Chin Hill a an
Hnathawh lehlin a ni.
6) Bawi Jesuh Lamkaltu Hna Kong (The Master’s Men by William Barclay) Lehlin a ni: First edition : Kum 1979: Bu 2,000, Reprint 2004 - Bu 1,000, Reprint 2011 - Bu 5,000 Total : Bu 8,000
7) Hnangamnak Fianrial (Peace Corner)(Booklet) First edition : Kum 1999, Reprint 2011 - Bu 5,000
8) Baibal Kong (Bible Chanchin) (Booklet) First edition : Kum 1992, Reprint 2011 - Bu 5,000
9) Bingbir Par: Bawi Jesuh Tlang Cung Cawnpiaknak(The Sermon on the Mount) (Booklet) First edition :Kum1980 - Bu 1,000, Reprint 2012 - Bu 10,000: Total Bu 11,000
10) Luka Thawngtha Fianternak (Luke Commentary) First edition :Kum 1984
11) Hebru Hrilhfiah (Hebrews Commentary)
12) Rom Cakuat Fianternak (Romans Commentary)
13) Lamkaltu Riantuannak Fianternak (Acts Commentary) First edition : Kum 1992
14) Efesa Cakuat Hrilhfiah (Ephesians Commentary) First edition : Kum 1979
15) Hlimnak Hruainak: (Hlimna Hruaina) First edition : Kum 1954
16) Bawi Kri ah Mithar: (Lal Kristaa Mi Thar) First edition : Kum 1961
17) Zan Cakuat Pakhatnak Fianternak (1 John Commentary) First edition : Kum 1969
18) Pathian Chawkengtu Kan Si: (Pathian Sum Enkawltu Kan Ni) First edition : Kum1970 19) Thiang Thlarau Riantuannak: (Thlarau Thianghlim Hnathawh) First edition : Kum 1976
20) Daniel Cawk Fianternak: (Daniel Commentary) First edition : Kum 1987
21) Krifa Phung Karhnak Tuanbia (Kohhran Punna Thawnthu)
Lai Baibal Thiang (Lai Holy Bible) Print Zat-Details
(1979 to September, 2024)
- A hmasa ber ( A vawi khatna) - BSI ina a print @ 1979 -Bu 10,000
- BSI ina kum 1999 thleng vawi (3) a print @5000 -Bu 15,000
- IBS ina Centenary Edition (Revised) - @1999 -Bu 10,000
- BSI ina a print @ 2006 -Bu 5,000
- BSI ina a print @ 2009 -Bu 3,000
- BSI ina a print @ 2010 - Malaysia awm te tan -Bu 2,100
- KBS ina a print@ 2013 (Zipper 1,000 & Ordinary 5,000) -Bu 6,000
- KBS ina a print @ 2015 (Zipper 4,000 & Ordinary 3,000) -Bu 7,000
- KBS ina a print @ 2019 (Zipper 15,000 & Ordinary 5,000) -Bu 20,000
- BSI ina a print @ Jan, 2002 - Ordinary @ Rs 80 -Bu 3,000
- BSI ina a print @ Dec, 2002 - Ordinary @ Rs 80 -Bu 4,000
- BSI ina a print @ May, 2003 - Zipper @ Rs 280 -Bu 1,000
- BSI ina a print @ July, 2004 - Ordinary @ Rs 100 -Bu 3,000 New Testament with Psalm @ Rs 27 -Bu 2,000
- BSI ina a print @ March, 2006 - Ordinary @ Rs 100 -Bu 4,000 Zipper @ Rs 200 -Bu 1,000
- BSI ina a print @ Nov, 2007 - Ordinary @ Rs 100 -Bu 2,000
- BSI ina a print @ Dec, 2007 - Zipper @ Rs 200 -Bu 2,000
- BSI ina a print @ Jan, 2009 - Ordinary @ Rs 100 -Bu 3,000
- BSI ina a print @ March, 2009 - Zipper @ Rs 280 -Bu 2,000
- BSI ina a print @ June, 2010 - Zipper @ Rs 250 -Bu 2,500
- BSI nih Sept, 2010 - Ordinary @ Rs 120 -Bu 3,000
- BSI ina a print @ Jan, 2011 - Zipper @ Rs 250 -Bu 2,000
- BSI ina a print @ Nov, 2011 - Ordinary @ Rs 120 -Bu 4,000
- BSI ina a print @ March, 2012 - Zipper @ Rs 400 -Bu 3,000
- BSI ina a print @ Jan, 2013 - Ordinary @ Rs 150 -Bu 1,000
- BSI ina a print @ May, 2015 - Ordinary @ Rs 200 -Bu 4,000
- BSI ina a print @ July, 2015 - Zipper @ Rs 380 -Bu 6,000
- BSI ina a print @ Feb, 2016 - Ordinary @ Rs 200 -Bu 4,500 Zipper @ Rs 380 -Bu 2,700
- BSI ina a print @ Dec, 2017 - Zipper @ Rs 380 -Bu 2,000
- BSI ina KBS a print tir @ 2018
- Thumb Index Compact @ Rs 800 -Bu 2,000
- Thumb Index Zipper @ Rs 995 -Bu 2,000
- Thumb Index Yapp @ Rs 980 -Bu 1,000
- KBS ina a print @ May, 2023 : Red-letter Edition (Zipper Big 6,000 Small 8,000 & Ordinary 6,000 Pulpit 150) -Bu 20,150
- BSI ina a print @ June 2023 (Zipper 2,506 @ Rs 475 & Ordy 2,522 @ Rs 300) -Bu 5,028
- BSI ina a print @ August 2023 (Zipper 9,888 @ Rs 550) -Bu 9,888
Grand Total -Bu 1,79,866
