Photo Courtesy: nenow
Kohima: Niketu Iralu died in New Delhi on August 18 after suffering a cardiac arrest. The prominent Naga peace activist had been battling illness and was undergoing treatment at BLK Hospital. He leaves behind his wife, Christine, and a long legacy of community work.
Iralu pushed for reconciliation for more than six decades. He chaired the Naga Reconciliation Commission and acted as a guiding force for the Forum for Naga Reconciliation. He was born in Khonoma and started his work with Initiatives of Change in 1955 while studying at Madras Christian College. He eventually directed the group's training center in Panchgani, Maharashtra. He returned home to focus on non-violent conflict resolution and moral leadership.
The state recognized his efforts several times. He received the Rotary Peace Award in 2018 and the Nagaland Government's Distinguished Senior Citizens Award in 2019. He earned the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Integration Award in 2023, followed by the Initiatives of Change Lifetime Achiever Award on November 12, 2025.
Iralu lived at his Sechü Zubza home, named Kerunyu Ki, or House of Listening. It served as a hub for leaders seeking dialogue. Vitono Gugu Haralu of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation honored his memory in a public statement. "Today, we have lost an elder, a peacemaker, and a voice of conscience," Haralu said. His family expects to announce funeral details soon.
Updated at 18th August 2026 at 10:00pm
Iralu was in his late 80s when he died. Family sources confirmed that his mortal remains will be transported back to Nagaland.
Beyond his work with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, the Naga Students Federation recognized his influence on younger generations. The group stated that Iralu proved true leadership depends on service, sacrifice, and the commitment to the greater good rather than power or position.
Vitono Gugu Haralu added that Iralu served as a symbol of unity, consistently reminding the people that their internal differences should not outweigh their common belonging.
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