On His 25th Death Anniversary
On October 1, 2000, the theological world of Northeast India and Southeast Asia lost one of its brightest lights - Prof. Renthy Keitzar. This year marks the 25th anniversary of his passing, and as one of his students, I find myself reflecting not only on his scholarship but also on the profound personal influence he left on those of us privileged to sit under his teaching.
That day remains etched in my memory for more than one reason. October 1, 2000, was a Sunday when NASA released mosaic Hubble Space Telescope images of the active galaxy Centaurus A, and the moon was in its Waxing Crescent phase. Each night, the illuminated sliver of the moon grew, rising slightly later than the sun. Among our people, there was a sense that something significant was about to happen. Yet nothing could have prepared me for the news that my teacher, mentor, and guide had left this world. His death left a void not only in the halls of Eastern Theological College (ETC), Jorhat, Assam, but also in the hearts of countless students, colleagues, and churches who had been shaped by his life and teaching.
The grief at ETC was palpable. Students whispered in hushed tones; some wept openly, others sat in stunned silence. Professors, though dignified, carried heavy faces. The chapel bell tolled, and the sound seemed to linger longer than usual in the cool October air. The church circles across Nagaland and Northeast India echoed with the shock of loss. In theological institutions, congregations, and among ordinary believers, the question was the same: What now, without his voice to guide us?
My First Meeting with Him
I had heard of him since childhood. His name was familiar in church and theological circles, spoken with respect and admiration. Yet I had never met him until 1998.
That year, I accompanied my close friend Allen Mark Longkumer, his brother Lanu, and their mother to Jorhat Airport to see off Allen’s father, who was traveling to the United States. On the way back, we stopped at Rajabari, where I met some seniors from ETC. Curious about the admission process, I asked for guidance, and they encouraged me to meet the Principal directly.
My friend’s mother, who knew the Principal as a family friend, graciously offered to introduce me. Her husband had also served as Principal of Clark Theological College, Aolijen (Nagaland), so there was a natural connection. We walked into the Principal’s residence at ETC, and there he was - Prof. Renthy Keitzar, the man I had heard of since childhood.
I still remember the moment vividly. He welcomed us with quiet warmth, neither aloof nor intimidating. His tall figure, calm voice, and attentive eyes carried both dignity and approachability. He asked me questions - not in a hurry, but with genuine interest. He listened carefully as I shared about my interest in theological studies. That unexpected meeting marked the beginning of a relationship that profoundly shaped my journey in faith, theology, and ministry. Looking back, I see God’s providence in arranging that encounter.
A Glimpse into His Life
Prof. Keitzar belonged to the proud heritage of the Naga people, from Mokokchung village - one of the strongholds of Christian mission in Nagaland, called the Antioch Mission. The village had embraced the Gospel through the sacrifices of early evangelists and pastors, yet it also wrestled with questions of identity, relevance, and cultural loss. It was within this tension that his theological vocation was born.
His academic journey took him far. After early education in Nagaland, he pursued theological studies at Eastern Theological College and later in institutions abroad, where he was exposed to global theological currents. Yet, unlike many who remained caught up in Western categories, he returned determined to interpret the Gospel through Naga eyes. This balance - learning from the world while rooting theology in local soil - became the hallmark of his life.
He pursued theology with passion, becoming one of the leading theological voices in Northeast India and Southeast Asia, especially in what came to be known as Tribal Theology. His commitment was not only academic but also pastoral - he sought to bridge the gap between the Gospel and the lived realities of tribal Christians.
He authored In Search of a Relevant Gospel Message: Introducing a Contextual Christian Theology for North East India(1995), a book that has inspired a generation of theological students. He also edited Good News for North East India: A Theological Reader, a compilation of essays that brought together diverse voices on contextualization. Through these works, he positioned himself as a pioneer, ensuring that theological reflection in Northeast India would no longer remain a borrowed Western exercise but an authentic dialogue between Christ and culture.
As Principal of ETC, he was not only an administrator but a visionary leader. Under his guidance, ETC became a place where young minds were challenged to think deeply, to question honestly, and to live faithfully. Students remember how he would walk slowly across the campus lawns, always ready to pause and talk. Staff recall how he held firm standards yet treated them with fairness. Parents of students admired his ability to combine authority with humility.
Theological Contributions
Prof. Keitzar’s theology was marked by depth, courage, and a relentless search for relevance.
Contextualization and “Naganization.” He emphasized that the Gospel must be rooted in the soil of Naga life. “Naganization” was not about compromising faith but about allowing Christ to be expressed in the idioms, songs, and traditions of the people. He often used examples from folk songs and oral traditions to show how the message of Christ could echo through familiar melodies. A Gospel disconnected from culture, he warned, would remain superficial - but a Gospel that entered culture could transform it from within.
Hermeneutics from a Tribal Perspective. He encouraged us to read the Holy Bible with tribal eyes. For example, tribal cultures often see the rooster as a sacrificial symbol, carrying away sickness or evil. Prof. Keitzar suggested that such cultural symbols could illuminate Christian truths in fresh ways. He pointed out that biblical writers themselves used the cultural language of their time - shepherds, vineyards, fishermen - to convey eternal truths. Why should Nagas not do the same with their heritage of land, community, and nature?
Addressing Identity and Alienation. He was deeply aware of the crises faced by tribal societies: loss of identity, alienation in modern life, corruption in public life, and ecological destruction. He reminded us that theology must not stay in the ivory tower but step into the streets, fields, and forests. For him, Christ was not only Savior of souls but also Lord of cultures and societies.
Indigenization vs. Contextualization. While some theologians spoke of indigenization, Prof. Keitzar insisted on contextualization.
Indigenization risked uncritically adopting cultural forms, but contextualization meant both affirming culture and reshaping it in the light of the Gospel. This careful balance defined his approach and remains relevant today, especially as younger generations seek authenticity without losing their faith.
The Church and the World. He believed that the church in Northeast India had a prophetic role - to stand for justice, truth, and integrity amid political and social challenges. He was not afraid to name corruption, call for peace, and urge reconciliation among divided communities. His conviction was that the church must be deeply rooted in Christ and deeply engaged with the world.
His writings were profound, but perhaps his greatest impact was in the classroom and in the lives of his students.
Influence as a Teacher
For us, his students, Prof. Keitzar’s influence was personal, practical, and enduring.
Intellectual Integrity. One of his most repeated lessons was on academic honesty. He urged us to write our own thoughts and, if borrowing the thoughts of others, to always acknowledge them. “If you write the thoughts of others without acknowledgement,” he said, “it is plagiarism. It is intellectual theft.” Those words instilled in us not only respect for academic integrity but also reverence for truth itself.
The Green Gypsy. ETC had one of the first Maruti Gypsys in Northeast India - a green one. More than a vehicle, it became a symbol of trust.
To my joy, I was among the few students allowed to drive it. Often, instead of calling his official driver, Prof. Keitzar would call me to take him to familiar places in town, whether to Doss & Co. or Barkataki Press. Those drives were more than rides; they were moving seminars.
In the quiet hum of the engine, he would share reflections, answer questions, and mentor me in ways the classroom never could. His humor often surfaced on those drives; he would joke about the way students hurried to class at the last minute, or he would chuckle at the ironies of church politics - always with grace, never with malice.
ETC Sunday, 1999. In 1999, I often sang with my friends Terrence Wanshong, Aheto Sumi, and Moody Lyngkhoi. When ETC Sunday was observed in CBCNEI churches, Prof. Keitzar took the four of us along to Sumi Baptist Church in Kohima, where he was scheduled to deliver the Word of God. We sang, participated, and represented the college. For me, it was an immense honour. Though he was a towering figure, he chose to involve us, to encourage us, and to show that young voices mattered in the service of God.
Passing the Torch. A few weeks before his death, he called me to his office. He handed me some of his old book collections, among them a Holy Bible whose maps bore the copyright of 1904 by A. J. Holman & Co., Philadelphia. That moment was symbolic: he was entrusting me with more than books - he was passing on a legacy of faith and scholarship. That Bible remains one of my most precious possessions, a reminder of his confidence in me and his hope for the future.
His Vision for Publishing
Prof. Keitzar urged pastors, leaders, and students to write with seriousness - not for personal recognition but to build a reservoir of wisdom for those yet unborn. He reminded us that while a newspaper informs for a day and is forgotten, a book can outlive its writer and continue to teach for a century.
This conviction marked his own life. He wrote and published in both English and the Ao Naga dialect, bridging scholarship and community, theology and lived experience. His bilingual contributions reflected his conviction that theology must be both locally rooted and globally conversant.
Rev. Dr. Mar Atsongchanger, one of Prof. Keitzar’s students who later published more than ten books, observed that Prof. Keitzar was deeply convinced that publishing was not optional but essential to theology and ministry. According to Dr. Mar, he often reminded him with words that still echo today:
“Spoken words fade, but the printed words endure.”
These were not just an observation but the guiding conviction of his ministry and scholarship.
Farewell to a Teacher
On the day he passed away, I was personally present at Jorhat Christian Medical Centre. The room carried an atmosphere unlike any other - a quiet, almost sacred stillness, as though time itself had paused. The steady hum of medical instruments, the hushed movements of the doctors and nurses, and the faint smell of antiseptic all faded into the background of a greater reality. Though the medical team did what they could, those of us standing there sensed that heaven was opening its doors to receive one of God’s faithful servants.
Watching my teacher take his final breath was one of the most humbling and heartbreaking experiences of my life. Tears blurred my vision, yet in that very moment a profound peace descended upon us - a peace not of this world. It was as if the Lord Himself bent low and whispered, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master.” That sacred hour impressed upon me a truth that will never fade: theology is not merely about books, doctrines, or ideas, but about living a life faithfully and finishing the race with Christ at the center.
Afterwards, his body was brought to the ETC chapel, where a funeral service was held. Four of us students were asked to sing - a bittersweet privilege. The air was heavy with grief; hymns were sung through tears. We then accompanied the bereaved family to Nagaland, traveling with the coffin.
The following day, a grand funeral service was conducted at Mokokchung Town Baptist Arogo. Once again, the four of us were given the privilege to bid farewell to our beloved Principal. We were Senggrang Panto Marak, Rukuzo Ruho, Temsuyanger Aier, and myself.
Later, we came to be known as The KEYS. Two of us became pastors and two became theological teachers. In that way, his ministry lived on in us - multiplying into churches and classrooms, echoing his vision across the land. Communities that once received him as preacher and teacher later welcomed his students as pastors and leaders. In this way, his voice did not fall silent but continued in echoes through us.
Legacy for Today
Twenty-five years later, the voice of Prof. Renthy Keitzar still calls us to faithfulness. His theology continues to guide the church in Northeast India and beyond.
For students, his teaching remains a beacon of integrity. He impressed upon us that intellectual honesty and personal faithfulness go hand in hand. To study theology was not only to sharpen the mind but also to shape the heart. Many of us who once sat in his classroom now serve as pastors, teachers, and leaders, carrying with us the lessons he instilled.
For the church, his prophetic stance is still timely. He called the church to stand boldly for truth, justice, and integrity in a world where compromise often feels easier. His vision of a contextual Gospel was not about retreating into culture but about engaging it critically, transforming it with the power of Christ.
For society, his work gave us courage to affirm who we are while allowing the Gospel to reshape us. He showed us that we need not abandon our heritage to follow Christ; rather, our heritage can become the very soil where the Gospel takes root and flourishes.
In an age when globalization erodes cultures, when churches are tempted by consumerism, and when faith risks becoming superficial, Prof. Keitzar’s call for a relevant Gospel rings with urgency. His legacy is not a relic of the past but a living challenge for the present and the future.
Conclusion
On this 25th death anniversary, I remember Prof. Renthy Keitzar not only as a theologian but as a mentor and a loving teacher. I remember the green Gypsy rides, the entrusted Holy Bible, the songs we sang on different occasions, and the final farewell at Mokokchung. His theology was a call to relevance, his life a call to faithfulness, and his passion for publishing a call to permanence. May we honour his vision by serving faithfully, thinking deeply, and living truthfully, so that the Gospel he loved remains relevant and transformative for generations to come.
Meyu Changkiri
(A grateful student of Prof. Renthy Keitzar)
