Naga Peace Activist Niketu Iralu Dies at 91

Veteran Naga peacebuilder and reconciliation advocate Niketu Iralu died in New Delhi on Tuesday following a cardiac arrest, family sources said. He was 91.

Iralu had been unwell and was admitted to a private hospital in the national capital, where he died, the sources said. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. His mortal remains are expected to be brought back to Nagaland.

Affectionately known as “Uncle Niketu”, Iralu was a widely respected advocate of peace, reconciliation and trust-building in Nagaland and the Northeast. For more than six decades, he worked to bridge political, social and ethnic divides through dialogue and understanding.

Iralu was associated with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), which works towards reconciliation among Naga groups, and served as chair of the Naga Reconciliation Commission. He played a significant role in efforts to bring different Naga political and social groups together for dialogue and reconciliation.

His association with Initiatives of Change (IofC) began in 1955, when he was a university student at Madras Christian College. He later served as director of Asia Plateau, the IofC conference and training centre in Panchgani, Maharashtra.

His home, Kerunyu Ki (House of Listening), in Sechu Zubza town in Kohima district, became a gathering place for people from different backgrounds seeking dialogue, counsel and reconciliation.

Iralu received several honours for his contribution to peacebuilding and social harmony, including the Nagaland State Award for Distinguished Senior Citizens in 2019 and the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Integration Award in 2023.

He was also conferred the Initiatives of Change International Lifetime Achiever Award 2025 for his decades-long contribution to peacebuilding and reconciliation.

The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) mourned Iralu’s death, 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 peace, justice, reconciliation and the dignity of the Naga people. The federation said his legacy for younger Nagas included service, integrity, compassion and responsibility, adding that his life demonstrated that leadership was measured not by position or power but by a willingness to serve, sacrifice and work for the greater good.