April 28, 2013, Kohima
Vote of Thanks by Niketu Iralu on behalf of the family.
Death is the strongest proof of life. Death is not a full stop, it is only a comma.
Our attempt to understand life and death makes it clear that life is the greater, more important part of our Creator’s plan for us human beings His creatures because it is when we are alive that He walks and talks with us to change, heal and guide us for His purposes on earth. Death is not suggested to be unimportant. But when our life ends in death, God takes over completely. Jesus clarified this point about life and death when He said on the cross “It is finished. Oh Lord, into your hands I commend my spirit” – His last words. He takes care of our spirit for us after we die. In a time like this, we look back at life. Despite differences in life, one fact respected by all about Kevilevor, is that he accepted fully the responsibility his life and our history entrusted to him. He lived and toiled to fulfill it, doing nothing else for himself.
We his loved ones and those close to him are deeply moved and humbled by the outpouring of understanding, solidarity and compassion all of you gathered here from near and far have shown to welcome our much-loved family member back to his home and the people he loved with all his heart, but could not return to during his lifetime. The same generosity of spirit was equally evident in the public welcome given at the Dimapur Airport yesterday. As we bid a warm, generous farewell to Kevilevor here today, I recall with solemn gratitude and affection all the other Nagas, leaders and very ordinary citizens across the Naga homeland who have sacrificed so much for the aspirations of our people.
I have been given the privilege to give the vote of thanks. It is a difficult and humbling task because when so much has been done and given so generously, selflessly and lovingly by so many, how can one say anything to match the giving? Time will not permit me to cite all I should thank. I shall however mention the people of Kohima Village who, as usual, on such occasions, have carried and done so much, the different Naga Tribal Hohos here and in Dimapur who rallied together to help and the different churches of all denominations of Kohima who provided vigil here right through the night. For the rest, you will understand if I single out the Convenor of the Funeral Committee, Mr. Sovenyi Nyekha and the Members of the Committee to express heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all they did themselves. They also enlisted countless others to make this farewell to Kevilevor such an inclusive and encouraging event. I believe it has done more than we understand right now.
I believe the spirit of God generating goodwill and trust has been at work in all who have made this public occasion possible, here among our leaders and others in Nagaland, in New Delhi and in London.
In closing, I feel I must mention the heavy downpour of rain that fell on Kohima, just as the long convoy of mourners-on-wheels bringing Kevilevor, approached his home city. The deluge that had seemed menacing amazingly stopped and the sun reappeared on a washed and refreshed Kohima and garlanded her with a rainbow that will not be soon forgotten. Was this extraordinarily beautiful gift of the rainbow just a display of nature? Or is it a promise of hope for the future at this time when we are overwhelmed by our difficulties that we all aware of? I ask this in all humility. Could it be that the god of history of which ours is a small part, is in His own way speaking to us that a moment has come when we must with complete openness reach out to one another for His wisdom to guide us and take us forward.
He has done his part to open human hearts. If we will do our part by inspiring one another to acknowledge that we have all made mistakes in our attempt to do the most difficult thing in life – to forge and build our people into a nation. Almighty God will do what we cannot do and take us forward. Nothing is beyond Him. God grant that we do not fail to understand what He is trying to communicate to us.
Please accept our deepest thanks for all you have done today.
