Former Mizoram Assembly Speaker and renowned church leader Upa Rokamlova passed away in a hospital in Aizawl on Wednesday night due to prolonged kidney disorder. He was 79.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
Family sources said that the leader was admitted to Ebenezer Medical Centre in Aizawl on May 12 as his condition deteriorated due to prolonged kidney disorder, which he had complained about since 2015.
He left for his heavenly abode around 7:42 pm on Wednesday, the sources said.
His funeral was held at his residence in Aizawl’s Dawrpui locality on Thursday.
Known for his academic distinction and spiritual leadership, Romkalova had worked as a lecturer in Synod College in Shillong after he completed his Master degree in 1965.
He joined Pachhunga Memorial Government College (Now Pachhunga University College) in 1968 and became the vice-principal of the reputed college in 1973.
He was the principal of Aizawl college during 1978-1981.
He made his entry into politics in the early 1980s after he left the teaching profession and was instrumental to the signing of the historic Mizo peace accord between the Centre and the erstwhile underground Mizo National Front (MNF) in June 1986.
He was elected to the state assembly in 1984, 1987 and 1989 and became rural development and transport minister in Lal Thanhawla’s cabinet.
In 1990, he was made the state assembly speaker. He left politics in 1994.
Also known as a “revivalist,” Upa Rokamlova had been actively involved in church ministry.
He was ordained as church elder of Dawrpui church in 1970 and had held various posts under Mizoram Synod.