I always think if Ukhrul becomes Nagalim, how will it look on my Passport? Anyway, God will decide and in His Gracious time we will see.
In a Youth Church setting, I asked a group of young adults, “Where do you wish you were born”. Some said Australia, some good old America, others “Oh, yeah! Korea”. When it came to me I said, Ukhrul.
My name is Anup Ghildiyal, born in Somsai, Ukhrul, passed out of Savio School, lives in New Delhi/Thailand, married to an Ao Girl from Dimapur, and a blessed servant of Lord, Jesus Christ.
It was in the year 1998 (class IX), we started having bible study in our school and each day, every verse spoken by Father Joseph turned out to be a seed God had sowed in my heart. Now, it’s been more than 17 years, God has been proclaiming his Name through my Life. His Faithfulness and Loving kindness never ceases.
IWUI story is very simple and also is God’s love for each one reading this today.
Also read: Other Iwui Story
Today, when I think about Ukhrul and my childhood days and I tell my friends about how and from where I grew up; no one understands. For me, Ukhrul was Wino Bazaar, Tangkhul songs playing in that old clean gallery, movies of Rambo, and Van Damme playing in video, typical hotel serving samosa & sabjee, eating my favorite pan with burned coconut, that bakery to die for, football matches, people calling me names and getting bullied many a times.
Hardest part of growing up in Ukhrul and spending my childhood in a place totally disconnected with mainland India or the world is when you go out of the region; no one understands you. Your language is different, food habit is beyond normal, clothing is beyond regular attire. When I came to Delhi from Ukhrul, it took me 4 good years to understand the psychology of the neighborhood.
Bottom line is growing up in Ukhrul was super fun but growing out of Ukhrul was super tough .
If God can pick a mayang, plain looking guy born in a Brahmin family from mainland India, of pantheistic beliefs, and give him a turn around; What will God do for all who put his WILL above all.
Special thing about Ukhrul, apart from giving me life physically (as I was born there) it gave me another life (born again) in Jesus. For me, Ukhrul is downtown in Hometown, where I did mostly everything the first time. God Bless Ukhrul and God bless the Future of Ukhrul, in Jesus Name.
PS: If you don’t eat pork there is restriction in heaven