Veteran Naga peacebuilder and reconciliation advocate Niketu Iralu died in New Delhi on August 18 following a cardiac arrest, bringing to an end more than six decades of work dedicated to peace, dialogue and reconciliation in Nagaland and the wider Northeast.Iralu, who was in his late 80s, had been unwell and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the national capital. According to family sources, he suffered a cardiac arrest and died while receiving treatment. His mortal remains are expected to be brought back to Nagaland.Widely known as “Uncle Niketu”, Iralu was regarded as an influential voice for peace and reconciliation. For more than six decades, he worked to build trust among communities and bridge political, social and ethnic differences through dialogue and mutual understanding.
Iralu was associated with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) and served as chair of the Naga Reconciliation Commission. Through these roles, he was involved in efforts to encourage dialogue among different Naga political and social groups and promote greater understanding among people divided by longstanding differences.His journey 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.One of the places closely associated with Iralu’s peacebuilding work was his home, ‘Kerunyu Ki’, meaning ‘House of Listening’, at Sechu Zubza in Kohima district. The house became a meeting place for people from different backgrounds who sought dialogue, advice and reconciliation. Over the years, Iralu’s work in peacebuilding and social harmony received several recognitions. He was honoured with the Nagaland State Award for Distinguished Senior Citizens in 2019 and received the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Integration Award in 2023. In 2025, he was conferred the Initiatives of Change International Lifetime Achiever Award for his decades-long contribution to peacebuilding and reconciliation.
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) expressed grief over his death and remembered Iralu as a respected peace activist, visionary and steadfast leader who dedicated his life to peace, justice, reconciliation and the dignity of the Naga people.The federation said his contribution extended beyond his public roles and left an enduring example for younger generations. It described his life as one marked by service, integrity, compassion and a sense of responsibility towards society.The NSF also said Iralu’s life demonstrated that leadership was not defined by position or power, but by the willingness to serve, make sacrifices and work for the greater good. His death has been widely seen as the loss of a prominent figure who spent decades encouraging dialogue and reconciliation at a time when Nagaland and the Northeast faced complex political and social divisions. His legacy is expected to continue through the institutions, relationships and peacebuilding efforts that he helped nurture over the years.
