Hi, I’m Anungla Longchari. Physically disabled since birth, but of sound mind and spirit. Being born different meant I couldn’t walk or move on my own. My bones were weak, prone to fractures and dislocations. Fearing the worst, my parents kept me safe at home. I never received formal education. By the time a medical certificate was needed, doctors diagnosed me with “Dwarfism and deformed limbs.” Every part of my body had endured broken bones.
My parents said I started singing at 9 months, singing words clearly. I never attended school, but I learned to read and write by watching my siblings study. Every academic year, I’d finish their textbooks before they were halfway through. I especially liked English; it had stories. And stories meant I could imagine a world outside our four walls. I’m forever grateful to my older sister who brought me books from her school library. Before long, I became a voracious reader—reading all day and late into the night.
My foray into media began when stories of the “miracle child” spread (that story we’ll save for another day, haha). A local daily, Nagaland Page, came for an interview. Soon after, they offered me a job. I started as a news desk
assistant, then became a DTP operator, typing, proofreading, setting pages, and occasionally writing and editing content.
I’m deeply grateful to Ma’am Monalisa Changkija, editor of Nagaland Page, for believing in me from the start, for her guidance and encouragement. From her and the Page family, I learned so much about journalism, creative writing, and editing, skills that now help me in my current role as Media Director of The Lighthouse Church and Sinai Ministry.
I worked at Nagaland Page for over a decade. I left during what would have been my 12th year, to fully commit to ministry and church work. By then, Sinai Ministry, started by my brother Wabang in 2006, was growing across multiple mission fields. What began as helping with media and correspondence quickly became a full-time role. Today, I work full-time at Sinai Ministry and The Lighthouse Church, with the help of 16 amazing volunteers in the media department.
Was the journey smooth? No. Life happened. I faced loss, heartbreak, disillusionments, and silent battles. But I’m blessed with a family who accepted and celebrated me as I am. And, a church community that embraces all kinds of people, not focusing on disabilities or inabilities, but calling out our abilities. Their love and support played a huge role in bringing me this far.
Sometimes I wonder, if my parents had the courage to send me to school, would my world be broader? Would I have achieved more academically or socially? But, I believe every person’s life is predestined by God. And then, I believe there’s so much more for me still.
Last year, the full-time staff toured all northeastern states of India under the banner of the “Go Revival Movement”. That tour opened a new world for me. To ease travel, my family invested in a battery-powered wheelchair.
It gave me independence—to move around freely, on my own. It was truly liberating and boosted my confidence.
But travel had setbacks. I’d read and heard about people fighting for disability rights, not just education or employment, but barrier-free access to buildings, public places, and transport. This time, those issues became personal.
We travelled by air, train, and road. I can’t speak for all infrastructure, but here are my experiences. I loved that it was my first time flying and taking trains, visiting new places, and being on a mission for God with people I love. But train travel was frustrating due to a lack of barrier-free access. Getting on and off was rushed; my companions had to lift me—sometimes in my wheelchair, because there were no ramps or staff to assist. The train toilets weren’t even accessible for one person, let alone a wheelchair.
Air travel was more pleasant. Airport staff assisted well, and some flights adjusted seats upon seeing my condition. Most planes had ramps, which eased my mind. However, not all airports had accessible toilets or washrooms.
Thinking through all these big and small things that can break a disabled person’s spirit, just from not having access to what’s “normal” for others, but life-changing for us. What a world it would be if everything was barrier free? So much potential, so many opportunities!
In one State, after a revival meeting, a few women came to greet me. One lady said she was blessed and encouraged that I came despite my condition, then added,”You know, we keep people like you at home, away from socialising…”. I think she meant the stigma some societies place on disabled people, thinking it wiser to hide them away.
That comment saddened me. If “people like us” were given more opportunities and freedom and made to feel accepted, encouraged, and motivated, what a world of difference it would make! Just imagine the greatness a differently abled person might carry, yet never unfold because of lack of access and opportunity.
In many advanced countries, disabled people live independent lives because of support and services. I dream of such a day here in Nagaland and India, where “people like us” too can have freedom, independence, and access.
A Message from the DREAM Nagaland Team
Dear Anungla,
You are our hero. Your story fills us with hope, reminding us you were meant to shine. Despite the system’s failures, your courage fuels our mission for change. We stand with you, and thank your family, church, and community for honouring your worth. You said,”There’s so much more for me still.”. We believe that too, with all our hearts.
With love,
The DREAM Nagaland Team
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