Chin-Ekai — Ekai (Lawktu) Scripture Portions (Myanmar)
Overview
Chin-Ekai is the Gospel of Luke (with audio) in the Ekai (Lawktu) language of Rakhine State, Myanmar, published by Dhamma Mate Swe Association (DMS) (copyright ©2024) and available via YouVersion/Bible.com (ID 4155; abbreviation: CTPV-RV). This is the first scripture in written form for the Ekai community — the language was unwritten until 2020, when a Roman-script orthography was introduced. The Luke translation therefore represents a simultaneous first-literacy and first-scripture project. DMS has produced similar one-book scripture portions in several other minority languages of the Myanmar-Bangladesh border region, including Thet/Chak (CKH). The Ekai are approximately 97% Buddhist, with a small Christian community of 2–5%.
Language and People
Ekai (ISO 639-3: cey; autonym: Lawktu, also spelled Läoktü or Laoktu; people name: Ekai) is a Tibeto-Burman language: Sino-Tibetan → Tibeto-Burman → Kuki-Chin → Cho-Asho branch (Asho Chin subgroup). The Cho-Asho branch includes several closely related Chin varieties (Asho Chin, Sumtu, and others); Ekai shares approximately 76% lexical similarity with Asho Chin but is mutually unintelligible, warranting its separate translation. Ekai has four internal dialects.
The Ekai community inhabits exclusively Ann Township, Kyaukpyu District, Rakhine State (southwestern Myanmar) — specifically villages in the northern part of Ann Township. This places them in a distinct geographic pocket within Rakhine State, separate from the main Chin State highlands.
Estimated speakers: approximately 6,600–6,650 (Ethnologue 2024; Joshua Project).
Cultural Context
Rakhine State is one of Myanmar's most conflict-affected regions, best known internationally for the Rohingya crisis. The Ekai community is distinct from both the Rakhine (Buddhist) majority and the Muslim Rohingya minority — they are a small Buddhist Chin sub-group living in the interior of Rakhine State. The introduction of a written orthography in 2020 and the 2024 scripture publication represent a significant moment for a community with no prior literacy tradition in their own language.
Publishing and Organizations
Published by Dhamma Mate Swe Association (DMS), a Myanmar-based Christian translation ministry active in producing scripture portions for minority languages of Myanmar and Bangladesh. DMS has produced translations in Rohingya, Southern Rakhine, Geko Karen, Khun, and numerous other languages.