Nagaland accorded a farewell to the outgoing Governor and Naga peace talks interlocutor RN Ravi.
Before leaving for Tamil Nadu to assume his new gubernatorial charge on Wednesday, outgoing Nagaland Governor Ravi urged the youths of the state to embrace truth and peace against deceit and violence.
“The future of this state is in your hands. Please build the Nagaland of your dreams,” Ravi appealed to the youths.
He expressed profound gratitude to the people of the state for the opportunity to be associated with those who strive for peace.
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Ravi exuded confidence that confident the people of Nagaland will continue to stand for peace and prosperity.
“A little over two years of intimate association with you as the Governor, Nagaland has left me humbled and deeply touched.
“Inherent strength of your character, innate simplicity, ability to be patient with truth, howsoever inconvenient and unbounded love and affection for a friend has few parallels in the world. Thank you for not letting me feel, even for a moment, as not one of you,” Ravi said in an emotional message.
Also, saying that the Covid19 is still around, he appealed to the people of the state to take good care of themselves.
“You are always in my prayers. May the loving grace of God be ever with you,” Ravi added.
Nagaland Ministers Pangyu Phom and Tongpang Ozukum, advisers Zhaleo Rio and Tovihoto Ayemi, MLAs Dr Chotisu Sazo and Azheto Zhimomi and high officials of the state bade adieu to the outgoing Governor at Dimapur Airport.
On arrival at the Dimapur Airport, a colourful and befitting ceremonial Guard of Honour was accorded to him by the 9 Nagaland Armed Police IT Battalion, Saijung.
Ravi was accorded a state farewell at the state banquet hall at CM’s residential complex in Kohima last night.
Addressing the gathering, Ravi said he was immensely benefited by the inherent love and affection of the people of Nagaland.
He said Nagaland is not less civilised than Tamil Nadu.
May be in terms of industrial development the state is behind but not in terms of human civilisation and values, he said.
Ravi said as a Governor, adviser and well-wisher, he tried and acted where he thought he should act with the intent to bring some good to the people of Nagaland.
As an interlocutor, Ravi stated that he tried to bring the talk from abroad to the land and its people where it belongs.
Narrating the story when some Naga leaders met Mahatma Gandhi in July 1947, Ravi said Gandhiji advised them to choose the path of non-violence like him if they want to pursue their desire.
He noted that the Nagas were united till the Naga national movement remained non-violent. He added that violence has only divided the Nagas and brought much more miseries.
Ravi said he and his family will always remain grateful to the people of Nagaland for their love and affection.
In his address, Ngaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio described Ravi as a genuine and a down to earth person, who worked without any pretensions in discharging his duties.
He is a sincere and hardworking professional who does what he think is right without any fear, Rio said.
Rio thanked Ravi for the many things he achieved in a difficult situation.
As a person well acquainted with the Nagas and their long history of struggle and aspiration, Rio said Ravi’s tenure in the state has its fair share of challenges, of which a lot still needs to be achieved.
Rio said Ravi did his best during his time as the interlocutor of the Naga talks with the signing of the landmark Framework Agreement with the NSCN (IM) on August 3, 2015, followed by the signing of the Agreed Position with the Naga national political groups on November 17, 2017.
This bears ample testimony to the hard work and the negotiating skills of the Governor, he added.
Rio further said as a Governor, Ravi had a genuine concern for the development and welfare of the State and carried out whatever was possible within the constraints of the state’s resources to expedite and improve the implementation of infrastructural and welfare projects in the state.
Rio also mentioned that Ravi helped immensely in the management of the Covid-19 crisis in the State.
”Down the memory lane of the State which is yet to be written, the people of Nagaland will remember that Governor Ravi tried his best, both as a Governor and as an interlocutor, for the Naga political issue,” Rio stated.