Ino Ninghor Raikham, Kilonser from Teinem village under Wung Tangkhul Region, GPRN passed away on October 30, 2024 in Guwahati after an illness, according to the news reports.
When I first got to know him, Oja Ninghor was in the Ministry of Environment, government of India. His office located at Don Bosco Square, opposite St. Mary’s college, Shillong. Maybe, I went to get attestation for my documents or I went to get assistance related to a college student’s admission, I couldn’t recall. It has been about three decades now.
He must have completed Master in Commerce (M.Com) about 40 years back. He was Advisor to the Tangkhul Katamnao Long Shillong (students union) for some years.
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A soft spoken gentleman and a man of few words, he was more of a thinker.
I remember Oja Ninghor. Students used to gather at his residence at Laitumkhrah to play chess. In winter, some students used to visit his place in the evenings to sit at the fireplace burning charcoal, having red tea and kwai.
When Achon (sister) Christy, wife of Ninghor Raikham was running a hostel at (Awo Sangmahing) Khamrang Cottage, I remember Amei (brother) Wungreishim who told me how they were served herbs like ngayung-na (houttuyina cordata), much to the delight of the students. And there was regular supply of meat by Ramlung of Phalee and others.
When Naga national workers were arrested, Oja Hor, as we used to address Late Ninghor, and others volunteered to assist to bail them out. A government employee was required to stand as a surety. This was before the Ceasefire declared in the Parliament in 1997. I heard he himself gave up his Central government job and joined the Naga national service.
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Once I read in the news media that Oja Hor, along with others including the Naga civil society leaders made a trip to Bougainville to study autonomy and self-rule under Papua New Guinea. Nagas need to learn more and be aware how small nations and special administrative regions like American Samoa, Guam, New Caledonia, Puerto Rico, Hongkong function independently under federal structures having separate identity, passport, flag, constitution, participation in the Olympics, international trade and others. These territories, like the Naga homeland were occupied during the colonial period, as mentioned by Indian PM, Narendra Modi during the signing of the Naga Framework Agreement in August, 2015.
I recall Oja Hor shedding tears while speaking at the condolence service of Z.V. Yaopei at Khamrang Cottage many years back. Wiping his tears, he spoke based from the scriptures: “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.” Romans 5:7.
Ino Ninghor Raikham gave his life for the people he loved.
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The author Wungkui Zimik may be reached at zimikwungkui@gmail.com. Views are personal.
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