KOHIMA, AUG 18:
Veteran Naga peacebuilder and reconciliation advocate Niketu Iralu died in New Delhi on Tuesday, bringing to a close more than six decades of dedicated work for peace, reconciliation and trust-building in Nagaland and the North East region.
Family sources said that Iralu, who was in his late 80s, had been unwell and was admitted to a private hospital in the national capital, where he died following a cardiac arrest.
His mortal remains are expected to be brought back to Nagaland.
Affectionately known to many as “Uncle Niketu,” Iralu was a widely respected and much-loved voice for peace, reconciliation and trust-building in Nagaland and the Northeast.
For more than six decades, he dedicated himself to bridging political, social and ethnic divides and bringing people together through dialogue and understanding.
Iralu was associated with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), an organisation working towards reconciliation of the Naga groups, and served as chair of the Naga Reconciliation Commission.
He played a significant role in efforts to foster dialogue and reconciliation among different Naga political and social groups.
His association with Initiatives of Change (IofC) began in 1955 while he was a university student at Madras Christian College. He later served as Director of Asia Plateau, the IofC conference and training centre at Panchgani, Maharashtra.
His home, ‘Kerunyu Ki’ (House of Listening), at Sechu Zubza town in Kohima district, became a gathering place for people from diverse backgrounds seeking dialogue, counsel and reconciliation.
Iralu’s contribution to peacebuilding and social harmony earned him several honours, including the Nagaland State Award for Distinguished Senior Citizens in 2019 and the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Integration Award in 2023.
Among his final recognitions was the Initiatives of Change (IofC) International Lifetime Achiever Award 2025, conferred in recognition of his decades-long contribution to peacebuilding and reconciliation.
Meanwhile, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has mourned Iralu’s passing, describing him as a respected peace activist, visionary and steadfast leader of the Naga people.
In a condolence statement, the NSF said Iralu had dedicated his life to the pursuit of peace, justice, reconciliation and the dignity of the Naga people.
For younger Nagas, the federation said Iralu leaves behind a legacy of service, integrity, compassion and responsibility, adding that his life demonstrated that true leadership is measured not by position or power, but by the willingness to serve, sacrifice and work for the greater good. (Source: PTI)
