Christine Iralu, wife of Niketu Iralu pays tribute to her husband at the funeral service held on August 20. (Morung Photo)
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Morung Express News
Kohima | August 20
The life and legacy of Niketu Iralu were remembered with gratitude at his funeral service at Sechü-Zubza on Thursday, with family members, friends and community leaders describing him as a man whose life was shaped by faith, compassion, reconciliation and a deep commitment to humanity.
The tributes and eulogies reflected a common thread that Niketu was not remembered simply for what he achieved, but for the people he touched and the values he lived by.
His wife, Christine Iralu, spoke of a man whose love for people, humour and compassion had shaped her own life. She expressed special gratitude to the people of Sechü, recalling how they stood by the family through the final journey of her husband.
Christine remembered Niketu as a man who believed that a home should belong to everyone. Referring to their home, she said they often joked that they were not its owners but merely its custodians.
For Christine, Niketu’s life was guided by a simple philosophy that is to seek nothing for himself but what was right and best for others, and to become an instrument in God’s hands.
“I learnt the meaning of compassion from him. He was my role model. Anything I am is because of him,” she said.
Fondly recalling the differences between them, Christine described herself as a city girl born in Bombay into an Anglo-Indian family, while Niketu found joy in the forests and could spend hours walking and observing nature. Yet, despite their differences, she said, they shared a commitment to making the world a better place.
Among the qualities she cherished most were his extraordinary sense of humour and his genuine love for people. “He truly loved people,” she said, recalling how he reached out to almost everyone he met.
Christine also recalled words Niketu spoke during his final illness in Delhi. Among them was his belief that ‘people must learn to love and forgive one another, because forgiveness opens the way to new possibilities.’ She ended her tribute by recalling the hymn “O Jesus, I Have Promised,” saying its words reflected the faith and companionship that had remained central to their lives.
‘He was a father to many’
His son, Kevipulie Iralu, said it was difficult to adequately capture the life of his father, particularly because Niketu had been a father and grandfather figure to so many beyond his immediate family.
Speaking as his son rather than as one among the many people who paid tribute to him, Kevipulie recalled his childhood in Panchgani, Maharashtra, where the family lived and worked with the Initiatives of Change organisation.
He remembered the simple moments shared with his father biking, fishing and conversations as some of the most precious memories of his childhood.
He also recalled his father’s love for nature and an unfulfilled wish to walk from the Naga Hills into Myanmar with him and his childhood friend, Debu Gandhi.
For Kevipulie, the wish reflected his father’s enduring interest in connecting with Nagas across the border. Reflecting on his father’s final days in Delhi, Kevipulie said he told Niketu that he had left behind a lasting legacy and that he was proud to call him his father.
He also remembered the Bible passage Isaiah 55 that had remained particularly meaningful to his father throughout his life.
Kevipulie said several influences had shaped his father, his faith in Jesus and truth, his experience with Moral Re-Armament and Initiatives of Change, and above all, his love for his family and the Naga people.
He recalled that Niketu had studied English literature at Madras Christian College, but eventually felt a deep sense of responsibility towards his people after learning that many of his friends were dying in the jungles of Nagaland.
That realisation, Kevipulie said, marked the beginning of his father’s journey towards restitution, forgiveness and a deeper search for the meaning of God in his life.
“He lived to 91. We thank God for his life,” Kevipulie said, adding that while saying goodbye remained painful, the knowledge of the impact his father had made and the love he had received offered some comfort.
The funeral service was held at Spicer Hall, Shalom Bible Seminary, Sechü Zubza where several organisations and individuals paid heartfelt tributes to late Niketu Iralu.
