When he came to Mizoram as a missionary, Dr. Peter Fraser (Daktawr Sap) bought with him a small hand press. He was an extremely skilled doctor who gave medicines to his patients and on the bottle of these medicines, he would give instruction on how and when to eat them and he would also put printed Bible verses on these bottles as well. Books with few pages would also be printed using the hand press. In 1911, a newspaper called “Kristian Tlangau” would be published every month and the name of the press was called “Lushai Christian Press’ and it was considered to be the foundation of the Presbyterian Communication Department.
The Department under Welsh Mission
Due to differences in ideology regarding slavery, Daktawr Sap had to leave Mizoram and in 1912 he left Mizoram along with his hand press. In 1914, Rev. D.E. Jones received 100 pounds from the Welsh Mission in order to buy a Foot Teadle Machine and it was ordered to never leave Aizawl ever again. The printing press was called “Loch Printing Press” by the Welsh Mission after the name of the man who donated it. For a long time, the press was under the care of the missionaries and the senior missionaries rather than the Welsh Mission or the Mizoram Church. Because of this, it was considered to be the property of the missionaries and books concerning religious teaching, education, and anything concerning the church was printed in the press along with important documents for the Mizoram Government. A store for the printed books would also be set up by Zosaphluia at the Bangla but due to termite problems it would be relocated to another building which was the foundation of the Bookroom we see today.
It was handed over to the Mizoram Presbyterian Church
Since the Press and the Bookroom are of great importance to Mizoram, the Church decided to improve its functions even more. The Church request the use of the the press to the missionaries in 1948 and in the the process new order came from Wales to form a Trust between the Mission and the Assembly and also to form a Trust Committee between the two. As the result of the Committee in October 17 1955, the Welsh Mission agreed to had over the Loch Printing Press to the Mizoram Presbyterian Church and in 1956 Synod finally accept and received the press. The press was taken care of according to the Charter provided by the Welsh regarding the policies, managements, commercial use, hiring employment and so on. After it was handed over to Synod, there were some complications regarding the name of the press like – Loch Press & Welsh Mission Bookroom or Synod Press &Bookroom and finally in may 1968, it was named Synod Press &Bookroom.
Changes in the Functions of the Department
After function according to the instructions in the Charter for 12 years, changes were necessary and in 1969 Synod wanted to change these instructions so it could be more adaptable for other departments as well. Revisions were made to improve the department regarding the payment, employment and management like that of the other departments. Regarding financial matters, the press is expected to rely solely on its own. The 1983 Synod Conference drew the “Synod Hmachhawp” which plans for development and progress in the future and according to the conference, rules similar to the first charter was to be followed regarding the press. Aside from the Press and the Bookroom, Synod Publication Board and Electronic Communication are to be named under Synod Communications Board according to the Synod 1987 meeting.
After 10 years of following the instructions, Synod ordered that the Charter is to be followed again without any change in 1993 and for the name itself, it was called Presbyterian Communication Board or PRESCOM. At the end of the new instructions, it was thus written, “the administration under the system of the Carter will be revised after five years and if Synod finds any thing that needs to be changed, it will do so.” (1993 Synod: Gen.45, App.9). Synod reviewed the matter after five years in 1999 and gave the following order – “The Charter department should be under the supervision of Synod and SEC is to form a new administrative system which will be implemented as soon as possible.” (SEC 174:35 App. 2; SEC 182:18 of 8.11.2001). In 2022, Synod Conference ordered the revision of PRESCOM and ordered SEC to follow up with the matter.
Formation of the Board Members and the state of the workers
The Synod Moderator will held the position of the Board Chairman and for the General Manager of PRESCOM the Board Secretary is appointed. Direct members include – Synod Secretary, Executive Secretary i/c PRESCOM, Synod Press and Synod Bookroom Managers, Editors and SL& PB. The Board Members include – Selected representative of one person from each church, five appointed representatives by Synod and one representative worker form the Board itself. The Board Executive Committee is formed in order to receive important matters before Synod held another meeting or Conference and there are ten members in the Executive Committee. In the PRESCOM office, there is 1 General Manager, 2 managers, 1 Assistant Managers, 1 Accountant, 2 supervisors, 1 PRESCOM Assistant I, 17 P/A II, 45 P/A III and other 80 (regular and contract) workers in 2023.
Work of the Department and the Board
The main objectives of the Presbyterian Communication Board/Department is to spread the Gospel through publication and printing words and it is responsible for the publication of any works required by Synod and all the departments under it. It also provides cheaper and accessible books for the masses as well. Synod and its departments are to publish their books and any other publication under Synod Press. (SEC 233:39). Similarly, all the departments are to buy their stationary needs from the Synod Bookroom as well. {Synod Sum VawnDân Bung 10:10 (1)}.
Synod Press can also make publications for individual churches and even for private and governmental works as well. The feedbacks regarding the quality of the Press is always positive and even when there is limited time, it never delays because of the effective and efficient workers in the press. Synod Bookroom also cells books of different genre from individual writers as well after carefully checking the content and online shopping system is also introduced by the Synod Bookroom.
Besides the many things that the Presbyterian Communications did for the church, one of its priority focus on the preservation and promotion of the Mizo language. Books are sent throughout the Mizos living outside Mizoram thus promoting the language. Synod Press &Bookroom is also accessible for all individuals and Christian denominations,and it is one of the most important communications between the general mass and Synod itself. Besides the main centre of the Bookroom, there are 15 Store (Branch) and it is amongst one of the biggest book shop in India.
Workers (as on 20.1.2023) : 80
Daily workers : 35
Contact –
Presbyterian Communication (PRESCOM)
Mission Compound, Mission Veng, Aizawl – 796001
Mizoram, India
Telephone
EPABX : 91 0389 2317134 / 2317139/2325030
Fax : . 91 0389 2316533
Main Office 91 0389 2316533
Manager, Press 91 0389 2314844
Manager, Bookroom 91 0389 2327931
Upa H. Ronghaka
General Manager
Telephone –
91 0389 2322672 (Office)
91 0389 2314845 / 2318046 (Residence)
Mizorama missionary hna thawk tûra England atanga kum 1908-a lo chhuak, Dr. Peter Fraser-a (Dâktawr Sâp tih mai thin) chuan khâwl chhutna (hand press) lian vak lo hi a rawn chhuahpui a. Amah hi dâktawr thiam tak a ni a, a damlo ente ei tûr damdawi a chawhin an damdawi bûr pâwnah damdawi ei dân tûr thu ziak leh Pathian thu châng tawi tê tê, khâwl chhutnaa an chhut chu a beltîr zêl thîn a. Hêng bâkah hian lehkhabu thehlêp deuh pawh chhut thîn a ni bawk. Kum 1911 Khuangchawi thla atangin thla kip chhuak chanchinbu, ‘Krista Tlângau’ tih chu mi thahnemngai inhlâwm khâwmin an chhuah a, a chhutna khâwl hmingah chuan ‘Lushai Christian Press’ tih a ni a. Hei hi Presbyterian Communications Department din tannaah pawm a ni.
Welsh Mission hnuaia awm lai
Dâktawr Sâp chu bâwih chhuah chungchâng avângin Mizorama a awm zui a remchâng ta lo va, kum 1912-ah Mizoram a chhuahsan a, a khâwl chhutna pawh chu ama ta a nih avângin a chhuahpui ta a. A chhuah atanga kum hnih hnu, 1914-ah chutih laia Mizorama Manding Sâp, Lt. Col. G.H. Loch-a chuan Welsh Mission-in printing press an mamawhzia a hriatin Rev. D.E. Jones-a hnênah rahbûk khâwl (Foot Treadle Machine) leina tûr pound 100 a pe a. Aizâwl atanga lâk sawn tawh hauh loh tûra tih a ni nghe nghe. Welsh Mission hotute chuan chu printing press chu a petu hming chawiin ‘Loch Printing Press’ an ti a. Welsh Mission emaw, Mizoram Kohhran emaw pawh inrawlh lovin hun eng emaw chhûng chu Missionary-ten enkawlin, senior missionary chu a enkawlnaa mawhphurtu an ni zêl thîn. Chuvângin Mission ta anga ngaih a ni a, sakhaw lam lehkhabu te, sikul zirlaibu te, kohhran mamawh chi hrang hrang te leh sawrkâr thil pawimawhte an chhu thîn. Chûng an thil chhut zînga hralh tûr chi chu Zosâphluia in (bangla) kil khatah dahin chuta tang chuan an hralh chhuak mai thîn a; mahse, tlumpiin a ei chhiat thin avângin kum 1926-ah Zosâphluia bangla hrûlah Bookroom pualin in, pindan pathum awm, sak a ni a, hei hi Bookroom bul intanna a ni.
Mizoram Presbyterian Kohhran kutah hlan a ni
Press leh Bookroom chu Mizoram tâna a dinhmun a pawimawh êm avângin Kohhran chuan tangkai zâwka hman dân a ngaihtuah a. Kum 1948-ah Mission khâwl chhutnate a tûl anga tanpuia, tâwm ve dân kawng zawn chu Mission hnênah a dîl a, indâwrna kal zêlah kum 1950-ah Sâp ramin Trust din tûr leh Mission leh Assembly (Synod)-in Trust Committeee ruat tûrin an ti a. Committee ruat a nih hnuah kum 1955 October ni 17-ah inhlanna thu ziak fel tak nên Welsh Mission chuan Loch Printing Press chu Mizoram Presbyterian Kohhran kutah a hlân a, kum 1956 Synod-in inhlanna thu leh a kalhmang tûr ruahmanna chu a pawm a ni. Inhlanna Thuthlung (Charter) angin Board chuan a enkawl a, policy thu te, a sumdâwnna lam te, thawktu lâk leh bân te, chawlhtîr rih te, hlawh bi siam leh hamthatna dang pêk te Board kutah a awm vek a. Synod hnuaia a awm hnu hian Loch Press & Welsh Mission Bookroom tih leh Synod Press & Bookroom tih hman pawlh nawk nawk a ni a, May 1968 atang chuan Synod Press & Bookroom tia thlâk fel a ni.
Department kalphung tihdanglam a nih thin dân
Inhlanna Thuthlung (Charter) anga kum 12 enkawl a nih hnuah kum 1969 atang chuan Synod department dang nêna khai rual duhna a lo awm a. Hlawh thuah te, thawktu lâk leh enkawl thuah te department dang nên inang tlânga kalpui a ni ta a. Sum thuah erawh chuan Synod sum ring lovin mahnia intodelh tûra tih a ni zêl thung. Kum 14 lai chutianga a kal hnu chuan kum 1983 Synod Inkhâwmpuiin ‘Synod Hmachhawp’ a siam angin, Charter Thuthlung zûl zui deuh si, ni pumhlûm chiah si lovin kalpui a ni leh a. Press leh Bookroom bâkah Synod Publication Board leh Electronic Communication Unit-te pawh he rawngbâwlna hnuaiah hian dahin kum 1987 Synod chuan Synod Communications Board tiin a hming vuah thar a ni.
Kum 10 chhûng chutianga kalpui a nih hnuah kum 1993 Synod-in Charter Thuthlung zui pumhlûma kal tûrin a ti a, a hmingah pawh Presbyterian Communications Board vuah thar a ni a, a lam tawiin Prescom tia sawi thin a ni. Kaihhruaina siam thar tâwpah chuan, “Charter dân anga an awm chungchâng thu hi kum nga hnuah Synod-in a en nawn leh ang a, tûl a tih angin a tidanglam thei ang,” tih a ni (1993 Synod: Gen.45, App.9). Kum nga a lo ral chuan 1999 Synod chuan a en nawn leh a, “Charter Department-te hi Synod enkawlna hnuaiah awm leh sela, a bîka enkawl dân tûr pawh SEC-in hman nghâl tûrin lo siam rawh se,” tiin a rêl a. Synod enkawlna hnuaia an awm dân tûr chu SEC chuan a siam leh ta a ni (SEC 174:35 App. 2; SEC 182:18 of 8.11.2001). Kum 2022 Synod Inkhâwmpui chuan PRESCOM Department en that tha a ti a, SEC bawh zui tûra tih a ni leh mêk.
Board member siam dân leh thawktu dinhmun
Board Chairman chu Synod Moderator tang lai zêl an ni a, General Manager, Prescom chu Board Secretary a ni. Synod Secretary te, Executive Secretary i/c Prescom te, Synod Press leh Synod Bookroom-a Manager te, Editor, SL&PB te chu member ni sa an ni. Board member-ah hian Presbytery tin atangin mi pakhat, Synod ruat mi panga bâkah thawktu aiawh pakhat an awm. Board thut inkâra thil tûl leh pawimawh rêl tûr Board Executive Committee siam a ni a, chutah chuan member 10 an awm thung. Prescom Office-ah hian General Manager 1, Manager 2, Assistant Manager 1, Accountant 1, Supervisor 2 leh Prescom Assistant I - 4, P/A II - 17, P/A III - 45 leh thawktu dangte nên, kum 2023-ah thawktu (regular leh contract) 80 an awm.
Board leh Department hnate
Presbyterian Communications Board/Department hna pui ber chu thu ziak rawngbâwlnain hma a sâwn zêl theih nân, Synod leh a hnuaia pêng hrang hrangten thil chhut tûr an neih apiang fel taka chhut te, chûng zînga zawrh chi chu mipuiin an lei theih tûra a tlâwm thei anga zawrh a ni. Synod hnuaia Department hrang hrangten lehkhabu leh thil dang chhut ngai an neihte chu Synod Press-a chhut zêl tûra tih a ni a (SEC 233:39). Chutiang bawkin Synod Office leh a hnuaia Department hrang hrangten office mamawh (stationeries) an neihte chu a theih hrâm chuan Synod Bookroom-a mi lei tûra tih a ni a, Synod Bookroom-in an pêk theih loh thu an ziak thilte chauh hmun danga lei tûra tih a ni {Synod Sum Vawn Dân Bung 10:10 (1)}.
Hêng bâkah hian Synod Press chuan tualchhûng kohhran thil te, Bial Minute Bu leh thil dangte, Presbytery Minute Bu leh thil dangte an chhu thîn. Mi mal leh sawrkâr department-te pawhin thil pawimawh chhut tûr an neih chu an chhutsak thei. “Synod Press kuthnu chu a mâm deuh nge nge,” tih a ni thîn a, hna hmanhmawh khawih thuah pawh thawktu an thathnem avângin an zo thuai thei zêl. Synod Bookroom pawhin mi mal lehkhabu chhuah, zawrh âwm chite chu an zawrhsak thîn. Online-a duh zawng chah theih turin Synod Bookroom hian ruahmanna an siam bawk.
Presbyterian Communications rawngbâwlna hian kohhran mamawhte a phuhrûk bâkah Mizo tawng hmanga hnam tihpumkhatna kawngah kori a tu hle a, Mizoram pâwna Zo hnahthlâkten an tangkaipuizia an hrilfâk a ni. Synod Press leh Bookroom-te hi kohhran tin leh mi chi tinrêng dâwr theih ni a, mipui leh Synod inzâr zawmna pawimawh tak a ni bawk. Synod Bookroom hnuaiah hian a hmunpui bera dâwr bâkah khaw lian deuhvah dâwr (Branch) 15 a awm mêk a, India rama lehkhabu zuartu lian zîngah a tel pha hial a ni.
Thawktu zât (Contract chin, ni 20.1.2023-ah) : 80
Daily worker kumtluana thawk chawh rual : 35
Contact –
Presbyterian Communication (PRESCOM)
Mission Compound, Mission Veng, Aizawl – 796001
Mizoram, India
Telephone
EPABX : 91 0389 2317134 / 2317139/2325030
Fax : . 91 0389 2316533
Main Office 91 0389 2316533
Manager, Press 91 0389 2314844
Manager, Bookroom 91 0389 2327931
Upa H. Ronghaka
General Manager
Telephone –
91 0389 2322672 (Office)
91 0389 2314845 / 2318046 (Residence)