Renowned Naga peace activist, social worker, and moral leader Niketu Iralu passed away on Tuesday at BLK Hospital, Delhi. He was 91. He leaves behind his wife and a son.
Iralu had reportedly been unwell for some time and was undergoing treatment at the hospital. His death marks the passing of one of the most respected voices for peace and reconciliation in Naga society, a man whose public life was defined less by position than by his quiet commitment to truth, non-violence, dialogue and personal transformation. According to family sources, his body will arrive at Dimapur Airport on August 19 at 3:30 p.m., followed by a public send-off organised by Khonoma Rüffüno, Nagaland.
A funeral send-off was also held at the Nagaland State Guest House, RK Puram, New Delhi, on August 18 at 9:30 p.m. The funeral service will be held at 12 noon on August 20 at Shalom Bible Seminary, Sechu (Zubza), family sources said. Born on July 12, 1935, to Dr. Sevilie Iralu, the third Naga to become a doctor, and Vituno Iralu, elder sister of Naga national leader A.Z.
Phizo, Niketu was the third of 13 children. After completing his Pre-University education in Shillong, Iralu studied at Madras Christian College, where he came into contact with the Moral Re-Armament movement, now known as Initiatives of Change (IofC). That encounter shaped the direction of his life.
He remained associated with the organisation for about 65 years, working in India and internationally in the areas of peace-building, reconciliation, trust-building and personal transformation. Iralu served as director of Asia Plateau, the Initiatives of Change India centre at Panchgani, Maharashtra, and later worked with the organisation at the international level. His decades of engagement with people across communities and countries strengthened his conviction that lasting peace could not be built only through political agreements.
It had to begin with changes within individuals and communities. He became an important figure in the Naga reconciliation process. In 2004, he was appointed chairman of the seven-member Naga National Reconciliation Commission by the Naga Hoho and Nagaland Christian Forum, representing different Christian denominations.
The commission was established to advance reconciliation among the various Naga political groups. He later emerged as one of the leading voices in the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, encouraging dialogue, forgiveness and the rebuilding of trust among divided Naga political groups. At a time when differences often appeared impossible to bridge, Iralu continued to insist that reconciliation was not weakness but the foundation for a more peaceful future.
His approach to peace was deeply personal. He spoke of non-violence, truth-telling, integrity and self-examination, repeatedly reminding Naga society that political and social healing must begin with individuals willing to look honestly at themselves. His contribution earned several recognitions, including the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Award for National Integration in 2005, the UN Brahma Foundation’s Soldier of Humanity Award in 2011, the Rotary Peace Award from the Rotary Club of Kohima in 2018, the Bhupen Hazarika Integration Award for 2023, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Initiatives of Change International in 2025 for his dedication to trust-building in Northeast India.
Beyond public life, Iralu and his wife, Christine Iralu, opened their home, Kerünyü Ki, meaning House of Listening, at Sechü-Zubza. It became a quiet place of reflection, dialogue and fellowship where many people found encouragement, purpose and meaning. Iralu leaves behind more than a record of public service.
He leaves a message that peace begins with the individual, that reconciliation requires courage and that even in times of deep division, listening and truth can open a path towards healing. His life was a quiet but powerful witness to the belief that a servant of peace does not seek to dominate others, but helps people rediscover their common humanity. In that sense, his work will continue to speak long after his voice has fallen silent.
