The Tamang people are one of the major ethnic groups of Nepal, with a population of approximately 1.9 million. Most of them live in the central hilly region and Himalayan region of the country. They have a strong oral tradition by which they pass on their customs and identity.
In 1854, a social hierarchy of ethnic groups was codified into Nepalese law; in it, the Tamang were grouped under a category of peoples that could legally be enslaved. They had to fulfill compulsory labor obligations for the government, and failing to fulfill these requirements could result in physical violence as well as confiscation of their land.
While the government legally abolished any caste-based discrimination in 1963, over a hundred years of marginalization and discrimination left a lasting impact. Many Tamang today are illiterate and extremely poor, which limits their access to opportunities for improving their lives. Social ills such as alcoholism are also common.
Today, most Tamang engage in agriculture, growing barley, corn, millet, potatoes and wheat – crops that can withstand the lack of irrigation at the higher altitudes where they live. Many also work as manual laborers to gain additional income.
Shanti* and her husband are native Tamang speakers. One day while listening to the radio, they stumbled upon TWR’s Evangelical program in their language.
“This program said that ‘God loves us, heals us, and redeems us in all situations of our life.’ These teachings are different from our religious beliefs, so we rejected them at the time,” Shanti recounted.
Like most of their fellow Tamang, they placed great trust in the teachings of their lamas, priests who lead the people in religious rituals and ceremonies.
According to Joshua Project, about 82% of Tamang in Nepal follow religious beliefs of Tibetan Buddhism combined with animism and, to a lesser extent, Hinduism. They are considered a minimally reached people group, with only 6.6% Nepali Tamang professing Christianity as their religion.
However, Bibles and other study resources are not easily accessible. Most believers and church leaders are not trained and lack biblical knowledge.
But that was not the end of the story for Shanti and her husband.
“The program would come on twice a week, repeatedly telling us about who God is, our purpose here on this earth, and about creation and eternity.”
Shanti’s husband couldn’t sleep at all with these words resounding in his ear, so the couple eventually decided to go to church to learn more. There, they met a pastor who not only addressed their questions about the program but also helped them understand more about God.
At the time, the programs were broadcast from local FM stations. This allowed God’s Word to be shared with the general Tamang audience within the coverage area. The audio programs not only overcome the literacy barrier but also are delivered in a way familiar to the Tamang because of their oral tradition.
A pastor shared, “I found that there are more listeners tuning in lately. This is because not only are the teachings easy to understand, but the program is also presented in their mother tongue. … People are listening closely to this program, and many nonbelievers have left their alcoholic habits. As a result, some people are even beginning to say good things about Christianity.”
As for Shanti and her husband, they took a little time to decide.
“Five months later we both decided to be Christians and accepted Jesus,” Shanti said. “Today I listen to the program regularly and learn more about God. I have more faith in him.”
Unfortunately, the Tamang language programs are no longer on the airwaves due to lack of funding needed to sustain the broadcasts over FM radio. Still, TWR continues to minister to the Tamang people in person.
TWR partners with various Tamang pastors, providing them with audio players and SD cards preloaded with biblical resources and programs in their mother tongue. The pastors run media home groups – gatherings of neighbors who listen to and conduct Bible study sessions using these resources.
A listener shared, “I have learned by listening to the program that we need to forgive others and receive forgiveness, just as Jesus died and hung on the cross for our sins to cleanse us. This has taught me the importance of practicing forgiveness toward those who have hurt me.”
* Not her real name
