Rev. Dr. I Ben Wati no more

Internationally well known Church leader from Nagaland, Rev. Dr. I. Ben Wati passed way Thursday in Dimapur at around 9.30 am.

He was 91 and leaves behind  two daughters and two grand children. Late Dr Ben Wati’s wife, Nirmala Mahanty to whom he married in 1950  passed away just two weeks back. Late Dr. Ben Wati was the eldest  son out of twelve children of late Imchaba and Kariben from Changki village.

The other brothers of late Ben Wati include I. Imkong MLA, Er. Lanu Toy (retired chief engineer), Col (retd) Maken. Late Ben Wati died in his younger brother Col (retd) Maken’s residence at Lengrijan. 

According to late Ben Wati’s nephew Temjen Toy (IAS) commissioner and secretary, works and housing, PWD, his uncle had settled down in Oxford, London six years ago along with his family.

Late Ben Wati’s health went down especially after his wife’s death on May 28,this year. Late Ben Wati’s wish was to return home before he died and arrived Dimapur on June 3. 

The body of late Ben Wati will be taken to his birth place at Impur Friday morning and as per his wish, would be buried there. At Impur the funeral service would be held at 11 a.m. Friday.

At the funeral services in Lingrijan Thursday, I. Imkong MLA, described his late brother as a visionary and committed servant of God who faithfully served the people wherever he went.

He said though his was always overseas in service of God, at heart he remained a Naga and oversaw Naga associations abroad 

Imkong also said as desired by his late brother, traditional Ao shawl worn by menfolk would be wrapped around his body and the other red shawl worn by Gaonburas would be wrapped around his coffin.

The funeral service at Dimapur which was led by Rev. Maong Lemtur, pastor, DABA, also saw various unions and individuals paying homage to the departed soul including chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, whose condolence message was also read out.

Many bureaucrats, churches, leaders and others including Kaisa Rio, wife of Neiphiu Rio attended the funeral service.

Born on December 18, 1920, at Impur to Late Imchaba and Late Kariben, Late Rev. Dr. I Ben Wati passed his matriculation (1st division) from GHS Shillong in 1940, passed IA (Inter Arts-1st division) from Cotton College, Guwahati, in 1942, passed BA from St. Paul’s College, Kolkata, in 1944, BD (1st BD among Baptist in NEI) from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Chicago, USA, in 1948, MA (1st Naga MA) from Wheaton College, USA, in 1949, DD (1st from NEI) conferred by Wheaton College in 1970, co-founder of Eastern Theological College, 1949-1953 with Rev. Dr. J.W Cook, ordained as Baptist Minister in 1973 at Impur by Ao Baptist Church Association (ABAM) and president of World Evangelical Fellowship (Now World Evangelical Alliance) 1969-1974, retired but continued ministry in counselling, Bible teaching and writing. Late I. Ben Wati was also a member and founder of various institutions during his life time.

CM, HM condole
Asserting he was deeply pained to hear the demise of Rev. Dr. I. Ben Wati, who passed away June 14 at Dimapur, state chief minister Neiphiu Rio said Dr. Ben’s life illustrated how from humble beginnings and hailing from a remote corner of the world, he had gone to become a leader of international stature in the global arena.

Rio in a condolence message said his life gave all Nagas a sense of pride and it was an inspiration for the younger generations. “Despite carrying out most of his ministries overseas, he returned home to his native state as his final resting place,” Rio said.

Stating he was fortunate and blessed to have met and interacted with Rev. Ben during his final journey to Nagaland in New Delhi June 2 last, Rio said during their interactions he shared with Rev. Ben that his return to Nagaland was like bringing back all the blessings of his decades of service and sacrifice to Nagas.

“He told me that he has been praying for the Naga people particularly the Naga leaders so that peace and tranquillity prevails in our land,” Rio said.

In his demise, Rio said the state, Northeastern region and the country as a whole has lost a son, who has been a path breaker adding, it was indeed a great loss to all and the vacuum created would be difficult to fill for a long time to come.

Rio conveyed deepest condolences to the members of the bereaved family and prayed Almighty God to give solace to them in their hour of loss and also to let the departed soul rest in peace.

HM condoles: State home minister Imkong L. Imchen sent condolence message to the bereaved family members of late Rev. Ben Wati who died in Dimapur Thursday. In his condolence message, Imchen said the death of Dr Ben Wati engulfed the state and its people with grief.

Imchen said in late Ben Wati’s death, people of Nagaland in general and Aos in particular have lost a great soul and the vacuum created would be difficult to fill.

He described late Ben Wati as a highly educated personality, who served God with faithfulness for 92 long years all over India and abroad.

He also mentioned that late Ben Wati’s  gospel songs which used to be heard in every nook and corner of Ao villages in the early 60s not only linger on but continue to inspire people  even till today. 

He described late Ben Wati as a true intellectual and servant of God who amply demonstrated his vast understanding of the bible by translating it into Ao language. 

Imchen said he and his wife expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed that late Ben Wati’s soul rest in eternal peace.