Veteran public relations professional and noted peace advocate LR Sailo has been awarded the Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award 2025 for his outstanding contribution to strengthening social harmony and connecting Mizoram and the Northeast with the rest of the country. The honour, instituted by Pune-based organisation Sarhad, celebrates individuals who advance Dr Hazarika’s ideals of unity and peace through culture and communication. Sailo, widely respected as a “Messenger of Peace,” played a crucial role during Mizoram’s years of unrest, using communication as a bridge between the public and authorities.
His work helped shape constructive dialogue, reduce mistrust and foster understanding at a critical time in the state’s history. His contributions have since been recognised as an important chapter in Mizoram’s journey towards reconciliation and progress. The award was presented in Guwahati on November 3 as part of Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s birth centenary celebrations. Union Minister for Development of the North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, handed over the honours to this year’s recipients, who also included Laishram Mema Devi, Yeshe Dorje Thongchi, Prof David R Syiemlieh, Dr Surjya Kanta Hazarika and filmmaker Rajni Basumatary.
Sarhad, established in 1987, works to promote peace and integration in India’s border regions. By recognising Sailo’s lifelong dedication to public communication and social cohesion, the organisation highlighted the enduring power of dialogue in bringing communities together — a legacy that echoes the timeless message of Dr Bhupen Hazarika.
