Shillong, Aug 18: The United Christian Forum of North East India (UCFNEI) expressed sorrow at the passing of Niketu Iralu, the Naga peace builder, thinker, and lifelong advocate of reconciliation.
He passed away on Tuesday ( Aug 18) evening at BLK Hospital in Delhi following a cardiac arrest. He was 89.
Fondly known across generations as “Uncle Niketu,” he dedicated more than six decades of his life to the quiet yet transformative work of trust-building, dialogue, and moral leadership. Rooted in his deep Christian faith and shaped by his early encounter with the principles of Initiatives of Change (formerly Moral Re-Armament), he consistently called people to personal honesty, forgiveness, and the hard path of reconciliation. His service extended across continents, yet his heart remained firmly with the people of Nagaland and the wider North East, where he laboured tirelessly for peace among communities and for healing of long-standing wounds.
As a key figure in the Forum for Naga Reconciliation and through countless private conversations in the “House of Listening” he shared with his wife Christine, Niketu Iralu embodied the Gospel values of peacemaking, humility, and steadfast hope. His life stood as a living witness that lasting change begins within the human heart and finds expression in patient listening and courageous truth-telling.
The United Christian Forum of North East India thanked God for the gift of his life and for the seeds of peace he sowed so faithfully.
“We extend our deepest condolences to his beloved wife, Mrs Christine Iralu, to the entire family, and to all who grieve this irreplaceable loss. May the God of all comfort draw near to them in this time of sorrow, and may the memory of Uncle Niketu’s gentle strength and pinkavering commitment to reconciliation continue to inspire the churches and peoples of North East India”, said Allen Brooks, Spokesperson
United Christian Forum of North East India
The Forum urged all believers, church leaders, and people of goodwill across the region to honour his legacy by renewing commitment to dialogue, justice, and the pursuit of genuine peace.
