The man who gave away pens: Remembering Rev Dr SI Lawphniaw

Meyu ChangkiriWhat if, after a lifetime of service, the thing people remember most about you is not what you achieved, what you owned, or the position you held - but something as ordinary as a pen?Rev Dr SI Lawphniaw may never have imagined that his simple habit of giving away pens would become part of his legacy. Wherever he went, he gave pens to the people he met. His son, also a pastor, recalled that on some occasions his father would distribute as many as forty or fifty pens in a single day. When his youngest daughter once asked him why he did it, his answer was disarmingly simple: it was his hobby.Perhaps it was just a hobby to him. But the stories people share about it reveal something deeper about the man he was.I never had the privilege of meeting Rev Dr Lawphniaw personally. Yet, this morning, we travelled for about three hours to Mawranglang village in the South West Khasi Hills of Meghalaya to pay our respects to him and his family on behalf of the North East India Christian Council (NEICC), where he had served as Treasurer long before I joined the Council.During our visit, we shared with the family the stories we had heard about his habit of giving away pens. They added a detail that made the story even more poignant: on the day he travelled to Shillong for his final meeting, he had gone to the market to buy pens to distribute to others. Even on that final journey, he was thinking of giving.The family graciously gave our team a number of pens in memory of their late father. I took one for each of my colleagues. Holding those pens, I felt that we were receiving more than a memento; we were being given a tangible reminder of his generosity. Though I had never met him, his family's stories brought me closer to understanding the person behind the name.Born in 1943, Rev Dr Lawphniaw devoted more than fifty years to pastoral ministry. He served the Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Church, went on to serve as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of India (PCI), and contributed to the wider Christian community as Treasurer of NEICC. His years of ministry and leadership deserve our gratitude. Yet, among the memories shared during our visit, it was his pens that captured my attention.His life also reflects the bonds of Christian fellowship that unite churches and communities across Northeast India. Through his service to the Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian Church of India, and NEICC, he contributed to a shared Christian witness that transcends denominational boundaries.We often measure a person's legacy by achievements, positions held, or institutions built. Yet, as Rev Dr Lawphniaw's story reminds us, people may remember us just as deeply for the simple kindnesses we practise consistently. He did not need a special occasion or a grand reason to give; he simply enjoyed sharing something with others. A pen may be inexpensive, but the thought behind it can be priceless. We may never know how many people received one from him, but the fact that his habit is still remembered speaks for itself.His passing was poignant. Even in his later years, he remained committed to the life of the Church. He attended a meeting of the Presbyterian Church of India in Shillong, and while returning home to his village, his earthly journey came to an end.Rev Dr SI Lawphniaw, aged 83, passed away on 23 October 2026. His life of service will be remembered with gratitude, while his story of giving pens offers a lesson that reaches beyond the Church and speaks to us all.As Christian leaders, we devote ourselves to meetings, programmes, decisions, and responsibilities. These are necessary, but ministry is also expressed in the ordinary ways we treat people. Not every act of kindness needs a platform, and not every gift needs recognition. Sometimes, a simple gesture is enough to make someone feel remembered.I never knew Rev Dr Lawphniaw personally, but through the memories shared by those who did, and the pens his family gave us, I have learned a lesson I will carry with me: we do not need to do extraordinary things to make a difference. We need only to be faithful in the small opportunities to give, serve, and care for others.My thoughts and prayers are with his family, the Church, and all who mourn his passing. May his life inspire us to serve faithfully and give generously, never underestimating the value of the little things we do for others.Rest in peace, Rev Dr SI Lawphniaw.