“I have longed to read the Bible. Not just hear the Bible being read to me. I have been praying hard for a long time. I am happy that the Khasi Braille Bible is being released. Now I can read the Bible for myself”, said Sister Bertha G. Dkhar to the packed audience at the Dinam Hall, Shillong. It was indeed a joyous occasion for us and many like her, as the first Khasi Braille Bible (Psalms and the Gospel of Matthew) was released on 5th April 2018 at an event hosted by the BSI Shillong Auxiliary at the Dinam Hall, Shillong.
The request for the Khasi Braille Bible came to the Bible Society of India from the Khasi Jaintia (KJP) Presbyterian Synod. We are thankful to Rev. Phidolis Dkhar, Secretary, BSI Shillong Auxiliary, and the staff of BSI Shillong Auxiliary for taking up this project and completing it within a very short period. It was truly yet another opportunity for the Bible Society of India to serve the Church and be a servant in God’s Mission.
The release function was attended by many church leaders, Branch leaders and supporters of the BSI. The guests of honour who graced the occasion were Rev. H.L Marsing (Moderator of Ri Bhoi Presbyterian Synod), Rev. Imiong (Executive Secretary Church of God,Meghalaya&Assam), Most Rev D Jala, Arch Bishop of Shillong Diocese(Roman Catholic), Ms Bertha G Dkhar, Sr Coordinator (MDUE), Rev. S.S. Majaw (Moderator of KJP Assembly), Most Rev. Dr. Purely Lyngdoh (Former Moderator of the Church of North India), Rev. Dr. S.D Kharmawpllang ( President, BSI Shillong Auxiliary), Elder.K. Lyngkhoi (Vice-President, BSI Shillong Auxiliary) and Rev.Z.M.Sawkmie (Translations Advisor, Translations Centre, Shillong).
The first copies of the Khasi Braille Bible (Psalms and Mathew’s Gospel) were released by Mr. Samuel Thambusamy, Director for Media & Special Audience, Bible Society of India. The new Khasi Bible will help PVD’s to access the Bible. Besides, it will also help them to actively participate in Church services and thereby genuinely be ‘included’ in worship. We are particularly thankful to the Bethany Society, Sister Bertha G. Dkhar and Compass Braille International for their work and ardent support in completing the book of Psalms and Matthew’s Gospel in Braille.
Mr. Samuel Thambusamy reiterated BSI’s commitment to serve special audiences and promised that the other books of the Bible will be made available in Khasi very soon. Sister Bertha thanked the BSI for releasing the Khasi Braille Bible as it will reach to the many who are waiting to read God’s Word. Sister Bertha’s love for the Bible and the passion to make the Church an inclusive community left a deep impression among the participants. Music and Songs rendered by Ms. Lodina Rani & and the other visually challenged students from the Bethany Society warmed everyone’s heart.
Many PVDs are poor and have very little access to God’s Word. As BSI, we are very happy to be of service to the faithful who are in need of Braille Bibles. One full Braille Bible is made up of at least 40 large books and is very expensive. The Bible Society of India through the Special Audience department reaches out to PVDs by providing them Braille Bibles for free, thus making the Bible available and accessible to them
For further details about Braille Bible please mail to: bsimedia@biblesociety.in
