He calls himself a ‘traveller’, whose
one goal in life remains living it to the fullest. Temjen Pongen has
certainly found freedom after years
of being blinded by addiction and enduring its brutality for almost a decade.
Being the only son in the family did not change the fact that his tender years are smeared by realities of drug and alcohol addiction. As he traverses back to this bitter journey, he recalls being introduced to RP Pill when he was in class V.
“I was part of the school football team, and because this drug induces stamina, I fell for it,” Temjen confesses.
Following this instance, he became a regular drug user and an alcohol addict, literally without hope of recovery. By the time, he reached standard VII, he gave up school and studies altogether. But deep within, he professes, that he had always wanted to change even as he says that he always knew that he was the one who had the power to turn his life around.
He has struggled through so many years as an addict, and has sometimes landed up in camps, rehabilitation centres, and even been behind bars.
“I overdosed in 2000,” he states matter-of-factly, but one can see the greatest relief that comes from his life-changing experience that would later go on to make him a blessing.
It was probably a certain alcoholic camp he attended with 39 others that decided his fate for him, for he also confesses that he really wanted to do something good in life. His sweetest prayer, as he remembers is truly asking God, “If you are really God, save me”. Indeed, prayers made in faith never go in vain.
He attended Bible School in Calcutta for a 4-month course but through it all, he says, “I never imagined that I would be preaching someday, but it is the perfect plan of God.”
Looking barely the 31 years that he is, ever since he gave up drugs and alcohol, Temjen has been instrumental in the lives of many youths and has over the years been invited as a Resource Person for 40-50 camps in a year in several parts of the state, the country and beyond borders.
When asked how he managed to give up addiction, he simply says, “It was me who decided and my future is bright.”
As for the countless instances of addiction in the State, his solution seems to lie in giving them a chance to make mistakes and learning. And talking from personal experience and recalling the troubled times, he says, “There were numerous worries; I had a tough time meeting people because I always thought they were judging me...”
Towards this end, he goes on to say that youths under bondage of various addictions need love. He adds: ‘Church is for the sinners but we make it appear as though it is for the righteous.’
“I used to run away if I see a Pastor or a Deacon during my days of addiction,’ he ruefully states, while emphasising that they (churches) should truly walk with troubled youth rather than focussing only on Sunday preaching.
As a living testimony of change from Drug & Alcohol addiction to a fruitful life, it is Temjen’s desire to see our people judging less and giving a chance for addicts to express themselves and come to a point of realisation.
“Give them love and an opportunity to express themselves, and know their roots...everybody has a future, only we are not finding one,” he expresses, even as he insists that addicts are often with a good heart but the problem lies with society's inability to accept them. ‘If you are into drugs, you are the worst in the society’, is a message we tend to portray, he says.
On family, he observes that many parents feel, “My child has to change his/her company.” However, he sought to point out that it is not necessarily the friends but their child who is also at fault.
He strongly feels that parents, whom we see as God providing us good homes and education, should also be good counsellors and spend quality time with their children. He laments the fact that many bad habits start from home where parents gamble in front of their children, making them run such errands as buying paan/tobacco or liquor, or some, who do not seem to mind fighting in front of their children...
“It is very sad that having good family time, sharing and praying together are disappearing. Parents need to change themselves first before teaching their children to change,” he asserts.
Temjen also feels that youth today ‘are dying because they are giving their talents to the Church but not their lives to God’.
As to why he thinks alcohol abuse is such a problem in the State, he simply points out that we generally teach that ‘it is a sin to drink’. For that matter, even tea can be an addiction, he reasons.
The realistic and effervescent young man further holds ‘boring preaching’ as one of the reasons why today’s youth discard church services while insisting on bringing life to church by changing ideas and tuning them to relevant times while, of course, feeding them with the right messages.
As for him, it has not been easy but he has learned to choose the finer things in life. He also says that it amazes him that he manages to survive in the capital town without a regular pay. “The most magical part is that God provides,” he expresses with a thankful heart.
“I have my ups and downs, and sometimes I may not even have a single paisa, but I am free now, living life in its fullness,” is what he has to say.
Interestingly, this young man whose formal education stopped at class VII never went to college, speaks better English than many graduates or0postgraduates, and it amazes him that he has had the opportunity to visit all the colleges in Nagaland most times as a Resource Person besides been invited to Bhutan, Nepal, Darjeeling, Kalingpong, and many other states in India to speak.
“God really answers our prayers...”
“There were times when I used to run away when people ask me ‘what’s your name?’ but I’ve learnt not to care what people think of me...I make mistakes, but fine, I will learn from it,” he says. This is exactly the kind of attitude he proclaims will change addicts in the State.
“Honestly speaking, giving up drugs and alcohol is easier than changing my character...I am still struggling and learning everyday,” he acknowledges, although by any standard, Temjen is an achiever.
Being the only son in the family did not change the fact that his tender years are smeared by realities of drug and alcohol addiction. As he traverses back to this bitter journey, he recalls being introduced to RP Pill when he was in class V.
“I was part of the school football team, and because this drug induces stamina, I fell for it,” Temjen confesses.
Following this instance, he became a regular drug user and an alcohol addict, literally without hope of recovery. By the time, he reached standard VII, he gave up school and studies altogether. But deep within, he professes, that he had always wanted to change even as he says that he always knew that he was the one who had the power to turn his life around.
He has struggled through so many years as an addict, and has sometimes landed up in camps, rehabilitation centres, and even been behind bars.
“I overdosed in 2000,” he states matter-of-factly, but one can see the greatest relief that comes from his life-changing experience that would later go on to make him a blessing.
It was probably a certain alcoholic camp he attended with 39 others that decided his fate for him, for he also confesses that he really wanted to do something good in life. His sweetest prayer, as he remembers is truly asking God, “If you are really God, save me”. Indeed, prayers made in faith never go in vain.
He attended Bible School in Calcutta for a 4-month course but through it all, he says, “I never imagined that I would be preaching someday, but it is the perfect plan of God.”
Looking barely the 31 years that he is, ever since he gave up drugs and alcohol, Temjen has been instrumental in the lives of many youths and has over the years been invited as a Resource Person for 40-50 camps in a year in several parts of the state, the country and beyond borders.
When asked how he managed to give up addiction, he simply says, “It was me who decided and my future is bright.”
As for the countless instances of addiction in the State, his solution seems to lie in giving them a chance to make mistakes and learning. And talking from personal experience and recalling the troubled times, he says, “There were numerous worries; I had a tough time meeting people because I always thought they were judging me...”
Towards this end, he goes on to say that youths under bondage of various addictions need love. He adds: ‘Church is for the sinners but we make it appear as though it is for the righteous.’
“I used to run away if I see a Pastor or a Deacon during my days of addiction,’ he ruefully states, while emphasising that they (churches) should truly walk with troubled youth rather than focussing only on Sunday preaching.
As a living testimony of change from Drug & Alcohol addiction to a fruitful life, it is Temjen’s desire to see our people judging less and giving a chance for addicts to express themselves and come to a point of realisation.
“Give them love and an opportunity to express themselves, and know their roots...everybody has a future, only we are not finding one,” he expresses, even as he insists that addicts are often with a good heart but the problem lies with society's inability to accept them. ‘If you are into drugs, you are the worst in the society’, is a message we tend to portray, he says.
On family, he observes that many parents feel, “My child has to change his/her company.” However, he sought to point out that it is not necessarily the friends but their child who is also at fault.
He strongly feels that parents, whom we see as God providing us good homes and education, should also be good counsellors and spend quality time with their children. He laments the fact that many bad habits start from home where parents gamble in front of their children, making them run such errands as buying paan/tobacco or liquor, or some, who do not seem to mind fighting in front of their children...
“It is very sad that having good family time, sharing and praying together are disappearing. Parents need to change themselves first before teaching their children to change,” he asserts.
Temjen also feels that youth today ‘are dying because they are giving their talents to the Church but not their lives to God’.
As to why he thinks alcohol abuse is such a problem in the State, he simply points out that we generally teach that ‘it is a sin to drink’. For that matter, even tea can be an addiction, he reasons.
The realistic and effervescent young man further holds ‘boring preaching’ as one of the reasons why today’s youth discard church services while insisting on bringing life to church by changing ideas and tuning them to relevant times while, of course, feeding them with the right messages.
As for him, it has not been easy but he has learned to choose the finer things in life. He also says that it amazes him that he manages to survive in the capital town without a regular pay. “The most magical part is that God provides,” he expresses with a thankful heart.
“I have my ups and downs, and sometimes I may not even have a single paisa, but I am free now, living life in its fullness,” is what he has to say.
Interestingly, this young man whose formal education stopped at class VII never went to college, speaks better English than many graduates or0postgraduates, and it amazes him that he has had the opportunity to visit all the colleges in Nagaland most times as a Resource Person besides been invited to Bhutan, Nepal, Darjeeling, Kalingpong, and many other states in India to speak.
“God really answers our prayers...”
“There were times when I used to run away when people ask me ‘what’s your name?’ but I’ve learnt not to care what people think of me...I make mistakes, but fine, I will learn from it,” he says. This is exactly the kind of attitude he proclaims will change addicts in the State.
“Honestly speaking, giving up drugs and alcohol is easier than changing my character...I am still struggling and learning everyday,” he acknowledges, although by any standard, Temjen is an achiever.
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