Veteran Naga peacebuilder, thinker and reconciliation advocate Niketu Iralu died in New Delhi on Tuesday at the age of 91 following a cardiac arrest. Iralu had been unwell and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the national capital. His mortal remains are expected to be brought back to Nagaland.
Iralu devoted more than six decades to peacebuilding, reconciliation and trust-building across Nagaland and the Northeast.
Associated with Initiatives of Change, formerly Moral Re-Armament, since 1955, he focused on personal transformation, dialogue, deep listening and healing across political and ethnic divides.
He was closely associated with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation and served as a trustee of the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research. His home at Sechü Zubza, Kohima, was known as a place for dialogue and listening.
Iralu received several honours, including the Upendra Nath Brahma Soldier of Humanity Award in 2011, Bhupen Hazarika Integration Award in 2023 and IofC Lifetime Achiever Award in 2025.
He often emphasised that reconciliation required people to recognise not only how they had been hurt but also where they may have caused hurt.
Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang described Iralu as a “towering figure” who dedicated his life to “building bridges, fostering understanding and guiding us towards peace”, particularly through the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR). Zeliang said Iralu’s wisdom, humility and commitment to reconciliation would remain etched in Nagaland’s history, calling his death “a monumental loss to our people”.
Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton said Iralu’s lifelong work had touched many lives and helped build trust across communities. “Nagaland has lost a respected voice for peace and understanding. His life and service will continue to inspire generations,” Patton said while conveying condolences to Iralu’s family, loved ones and well-wishers.
Rajya Sabha MP S Phangnon Konyak described Iralu as a “tireless advocate of peace, reconciliation and healing”. She recalled his belief in the power of “Listening” and said his passing was a loss to the Naga community and all who valued his wisdom and compassion. She also extended condolences to his wife, Christine Iralu, and the bereaved family.
FNR: The Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), in a condolence message by Wati Aier, remembered Iralu as an unwavering advocate of justice and human rights whose record in peace, reconciliation and healing was “unmatched”.
Aier said Iralu’s life was “offered, poured out in service to the people, to truth, and to the vision of a reconciled community”. He said Iralu’s legacy would endure in Naga history and in the conscience of those seeking peace and healing in divided societies.
NPF: The Naga People’s Front (NPF) said Iralu’s life embodied “compassion, courage, and unwavering commitment to the Naga people,” noting his role as a guiding force in the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR). Through dialogue, forgiveness and trust-building, he became a bridge across divisions, the party said, adding that his death has left a deep void in Naga society.
WCH: The Western Chakhesang Hoho (WCH) described Iralu as a scholar, thinker, writer and social reformer who devoted his life to building bridges and encouraging understanding. His greatest legacy, it said, would remain in the lives he touched and the conversations he inspired on peace, dignity and reconciliation.
NSF: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) said Iralu dedicated decades to peace, justice and the dignity of the Naga people, particularly during periods of division and uncertainty. For younger Nagas, his life offered an example of “service, integrity, compassion and responsibility,” it said.
The NSF added that his contribution to the Naga peace process and his advocacy for dialogue would remain part of the collective history of the people.
YTC: The Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC) described Iralu as a revered statesman and moral voice who dedicated over seven decades to peacebuilding. It highlighted his role in the Forum for Naga Reconciliation and his emphasis on personal transformation and trust.
NEICC: The North East India Christian Council (NEICC) remembered Iralu as a thinker, social scientist and trusted elder whose influence extended across Shillong and Northeast India. It said his legacy of dialogue, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence would continue to inspire generations.