Remembering Niketu Iralu, bridge between Nagas and India. We work with people professionally all our lives, but it is a few who really touch us in a meaningful way. Niketu Iralu from Nagaland, who died at 91, was such a figure, writes Neerja Chowdhury.
His father Sevilie Iralu was among Naga elders who met Mahatma Gandhi. His maternal uncle Angami Zapu Phizo led Naga National Council which declared Nagaland's independence on August 14, 1947. He chose another path — and came to be known as a peace activist who worked through non-violence, dialogue and reconciliation.
For over six decades, from late-1950s, Iralu belonged to a prominent Naga family but worked for peace. He met Nehru in Delhi, with Cheda, a Naga student at Kalpana Sharma, both as aspiring journalists then, to Chedecha perched on a hilltop above a cemetery, not far from Kohima. Peace camp had been set up after ceasefire in 1964 between rebel Naga Federal Government and GoI, first after years of insurgency by those demanding a sovereign Naga state.
"I first got a glimpse into his history and aspirations of Naga people, their angst facing Indian government" — a conflict which has not yet been resolved, when many had sought wisdom and healing touch from him.
Neerja says, "I met Niketu Iralu in Delhi when Dimapur airport was flooded with glowing tributes. Hundreds gathered at Dimapur airport to pay last respects as his body arrived on way to his home, Kenuozie K of Chakhesang tribe in Sechu Zubza in Kohima district, where many had sought wisdom. In his journey, he found a story though a new ministerial panel was formed by Centre last week to take forward stalled talks. Our work with Northeast, our tapestry of colourful tapestry of tribes and communities that make up Northeast region which was also, until recently, in a way, a gateway to Southeast Asia connected to rest of India by narrow 'chicken's neck'".
He told of incredible hospitality and saw amazing community spirit and selfless neighbours who adored Niketu. Many said he was a man from Bangalore to Delhi hospital during his last days, with many neighbours who adored him, taking care of him round the clock, along with his son Kevipuo.
Niketu's long journey: Life of Niketu ran parallel to saga of modern Nagaland. Japanese Army invaded Nagaland in 1944 during Second World War, Khonoma was run over by invaders, forcing them to escape to forest. One day, Niketu and his brother were fishing in a stream when suddenly found Japanese soldiers staring straight into their eyes and ran in opposite direction, through thorny bushes. He and his teenaged sister went back to their home in Khonoma to pick some provisions. They found a body of Nagas shawl. Incensed, his sister slapped the soldier. Recalling incident years later, "What my sister would do. But he just bowed slightly, and left." In many ways, Niketu came to be a bridge between Nagas and rest of India.
Japanese retreated after Battle of Kohima. Had they not been halted, they might have reached Brahmaputra valley and then on to mainland India.Later, Niketu would write very differently: The words at Kohima War Cemetery, which Niketu took us to long time ago, "When you go home, tell them of us and say, for their tomorrow, we gave our today."
In many ways, Niketu came to be a bridge. When Phizo died in April 1990 in London, Niketu was asked by Niketu's family to help them get his body back to India, and Phizo had been in exile since 1960 when he left for UK to mobilise world opinion for Naga cause.The VP Singh government was then at helm in Delhi. Niketu Gandhian, and in his 60s, Janata Dal Rajya Sabha MP, and Rajasthani Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, was a Janata Dal Rajya Sabha MP, and there were decades back as they had worked together in organisation, Initiatives of Change, talking about social transformation through "personal change".The Janata Dal-led government: The Janata Dal-led government wanted Niketu's body might lead to violence in Nagaland. Rajmohan Gandhi and Niketu told him he did not need money, he needed permission to bring body — but only foreign exchange clearance. Rajmohan received permission. Finally, they agreed. Niketu at Palam airport's technical area. The casket was immediately shifted to a Home Ministry vehicle and a small group to Kohima where funeral was held.
One enduring images was of Niketu, sitting outside a Maharashtrian state transport bus in which our group had been stranded, washing a washroom at a village stop — cleaning it with water and bare hands, for all of us to use. The gesture reflected his care and respect for other people.
Humour and music were integral to him and old alike. He used to describe his first encounter with mainland India and Christianity in 1950s for studies, "When I reached Kolkata... the number of people who were trying to board train made me say to myself we have no chance to survive in this ... people's nation! Even on his hospital bed a day before he passed away, he joked about bald head.
While grieving friends who rushed from Pune to see him, and then changing his hand. While deeply committed to his people, he had befriended many across India.
A Naga elder associated with Naga peace negotiations in Northeast, who was recipient of several prestigious awards including the Bhupen Hazarika Integration Award, Niketu's work, deep forests and dense towns and hills.
In Ukhrul Times by a young writer Markson V Luikham, who never met him but was in touch with him on the phone: "He was a deeply human man who spent decades asking Nagas to... confront their failures and their Christianity to find the courage to listen." Niketu did not see reconciliation as weakness, he wrote, adding involved "telling one's own side what it does not want to hear", singing away, a Parsi friend of Niketu, sitting far away in London, decided to honour his memory by singing to himself the song he loved: "Kohima, all your stars that shine above, deep in our hearts, though far away and few, we vow to keep your name ... for all our love." as he wanted to, in the garden of his house in Sechu Zubza.