Sângthankima (born 18 October 1960) is a
humanitarian
Humanitarianism is an active belief in the value of human life, whereby humans practice benevolent treatment and provide assistance to other humans to reduce suffering and improve the conditions of humanity for moral, altruistic, and emotional ...
and
social worker
Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social work ...
in
Mizoram
Mizoram () is a state in Northeast India, with Aizawl as its seat of government and capital city. The name of the state is derived from "Mizo people, Mizo", the endonym, self-described name of the native inhabitants, and "Ram", which in the Mizo ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
.
He is the founder of Thutak Nunpuitu Team (TNT), a voluntary organisation, which runs the largest
charitable institution
A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good).
The legal definition of a cha ...
(by the same name) in Mizoram. His institution, a registered society since 1991 under the Firms and Societies in India, started as a
rehabilitation
Rehabilitation or Rehab may refer to:
Health
* Rehabilitation (neuropsychology), therapy to regain or improve neurocognitive function that has been lost or diminished
* Rehabilitation (wildlife), treatment of injured wildlife so they can be retur ...
society for
alcoholics
Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Predomina ...
in
Champhai
Champhai (Pron:/tʃamˈpʰaɪ/) is a border town in Mizoram States and territories of India, state, in far eastern India. It is the headquarters of Champhai district, one of the eleven districts in the state. It is located on the Indo-Myanmar b ...
town. With donation of a plot of land in
Aizawl
Aizawl (; Mizo: ) is the capital of the state of Mizoram in India. Aizawl was officially established on 25 February 1890. With a population of 293,416, it is the largest city in the state. It is also the centre of administration containing all ...
city, it expanded into an
orphanage
An orphanage is a Residential education, residential institution, total institution or group home, devoted to the Childcare, care of orphans and children who, for various reasons, cannot be cared for by their biological families. The parent ...
with formal school, health centre, and
sanatorium
A sanatorium (from Latin '' sānāre'' 'to heal, make healthy'), also sanitarium or sanitorium, are antiquated names for specialised hospitals, for the treatment of specific diseases, related ailments and convalescence. Sanatoriums are often ...
.
In addition to more than a dozen of awards for his social service, Sangthankima has received an honorary doctorate (
D.H.L.
The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (; DHumLitt; DHL; or LHD) is an honorary degree awarded to those who have distinguished themselves through humanitarian and philanthropic contributions to society.
The criteria for awarding the degree differ ...
) from
Rangoon
Yangon ( my, ရန်ကုန်; ; ), formerly spelled as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar (also known as Burma). Yangon served as the capital of Myanmar until 2006, when the military government ...
's Methodist Bible College in 2008,
Achievers Award 2013 For NGO,
Mother Teresa Awards The Mother Teresa Awards, officially called the Mother Teresa Memorial Awards for Social Justice, are international and national awards presented annually to honour individuals and organizations that promote peace, equality and social justice, and a ...
for Social Justice in 2014, and the
Mizo Award
''Vanglaini'' is a daily newspaper in Mizoram, northeast India, published in the Mizo language. It is registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India (no. RNI 34227/79. : MZR/67/2012-2014). It is owned, edited, and published by K. Sapdan ...
of 2014.
Biography
Sângthankima was born in Tlangsam village, near Champhai, in eastern Mizoram. He is the third eldest of nine children, two sisters and seven brothers. His father Lalruma Sailo (1933-2012) was a Church Elder in Champhai.
He is named after his grandfather Lalsanga, Chief of
North Khawbung. He completed primary school, but dropped out at entry of middle school at class five. He was into hard life in his youth, but became a
born-again Christian
Born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelicalism, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is distinctly and sepa ...
in 1980, at age 20. He soon dedicated his evangelism for alcoholics. On 14 November 1988 he established a voluntary gospel organisation called Thutak Nunpuitu Team ("Practical Exemplar of Truth") at Champhai. The mission also took up social works such as caring for the disabled and orphans.
[ In 1991, K. Thangzuala, a ]philanthropist
Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...
donated a large plot of land for his organisation at Zuangtui, adjacent to Aizawl, capital city of Mizoram. He and his volunteers moved there and got formal registration as non-profit organisation under the Indian Firms and Societies Act.[
]
Thutak Nunpuitu Team
The organisation became synonymous with the institution, but which they officially called "Calvary Hospital".[ The first official building was inaugurated on 17 June 1994.][ The residence quickly expanded into an ]orphanage
An orphanage is a Residential education, residential institution, total institution or group home, devoted to the Childcare, care of orphans and children who, for various reasons, cannot be cared for by their biological families. The parent ...
in 1995, offering formal education
Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Vari ...
. It subsequently became rehabilitation for drug abusers and alcoholics, health centre for physically and mentally challenged people. Boarders include in addition to Mizo people
The Mizo people ( Mizo: ''Mizo hnam'') are an ethnic group native to the Indian state of Mizoram and neighbouring regions of Northeast India. The term covers several related ethnic groups or clans inside the Mizo group.
All Mizo tribes and cla ...
, Chakma, Reang
Reang
is a Tripuri clan of the Indian state of Mizoram and Tripura. The Reangs can be found all over the Tripura state in India. However, they may also be found in Assam and Mizoram. They speak the Kaubru language which is similar with Kokborok L ...
, Assamese, and Burmese. At one time, Burmese immigrants consisted as many as 70% of the total boarders. Education now covers up to secondary level, and consists of school building, a computer training centre, a tailoring training centre, a candle making industry, a school of music and fine arts, weightlifting academy, and games and sports training centre. Government of Mizoram
The Government of Mizoram also known as the State Government of Mizoram, or locally as State Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Mizoram and its 11 districts. It consists of an executive, led by the Governor of ...
has established a pre-school (anganwadi
An Anganwadi is a type of rural child care centre in India. They were started by the Indian government in 1975 as part of the Integrated Child Development Services program to combat child hunger and malnutrition. ''Anganwadi'' in Hi ...
) centre and health clinic. There are also poultry yard, a dairy farm and piggery. According to record more than 260 mental patients, 850 drug abusers and 1500 alcoholics have recovered.[ As of 2014, there are 424 orphans, 254 mentally challenged and 324 drug addicts and alcoholics, with 68 volunteers.][
The organisation still continues at Champhai with 63 boarders, and in addition, has established rehabilitation centres at ]Lunglei
Lunglei (Pron: /ˈlooŋgˌleɪ/) is a town, situated in the south-central part of Mizoram state, northeastern India. Lunglei, literally meaning 'bridge of rock' got its name from a bridge like rock found in the riverine area around Nghasih - a ...
with 95 boarders, and at Kolasib
Kolasib is a town and headquarters of Kolasib district in Mizoram, India.
Demographics
As of the 2011 Census of India, Kolasib district had a population of 83,955. Males constitute 51.12% of the population and females 48.88%. Kolasib has an a ...
with 40 boarders.[
]
Achievements and recognitions
Sângthankima had no income when he started Thutak Nunpuitu Team or later Calvary Hospital. But he takes pride in that never had once been a skip of meal in his organisation. He receives support and aids from philanthropists and other organisations. In 2008 he became the first honorary doctorate (D.H.L.
The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (; DHumLitt; DHL; or LHD) is an honorary degree awarded to those who have distinguished themselves through humanitarian and philanthropic contributions to society.
The criteria for awarding the degree differ ...
) from Rangoon
Yangon ( my, ရန်ကုန်; ; ), formerly spelled as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar (also known as Burma). Yangon served as the capital of Myanmar until 2006, when the military government ...
's Methodist Bible College.[ He was awarded by Writers' Club, Lunglei (WCL) on 24 July 2014. He received the Mother Teresa Awards for Social Justice from the Harmony Foundation on 9 November 2014. On 29 November 2014, former Chief Minister of Mizoram Brig. T. Sailo presented him the Mizo Award, the most-prized award in Mizoram instituted by '']Vanglaini
''Vanglaini'' is a daily newspaper in Mizoram, northeast India, published in the Mizo language. It is registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India (no. RNI 34227/79. : MZR/67/2012-2014). It is owned, edited, and published by K. Sapdang ...
'' publication.
Personal life
Sângthankima is married to Lalṭhakimi.[ With their four children, they live at Zuangtui.]
References
{{reflist
External links
Website of TNT
1960 births
Social workers from Mizoram
People from Champhai district
Living people
Mizo people