Nagaland Governor La Ganesan laid to rest with full state honours

State delegation led by CM, Dy CMs pays last respect in Chennai

DIMAPUR/KOHIMA, AUGUST 16 (MExN): The mortal remains of Nagaland Governor La. Ganesan, who passed away on Independence Day, were cremated in Chennai on Saturday with full state honours. He was 80.

Ganesan died at 6.23 pm on Friday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Chennai. His body was kept at Kannadasan Grounds, T. Nagar for the public to pay homage before the cremation where the Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio paid a floral tribute on behalf of the Government of Nagaland.

The state funeral and cremation was held with full State honours at Besant Nagar Electric Crematorium, Chennai at 5:00 PM which was also attended by the Chief Minister, Dr Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Ministers, Y. Patton and T R Zeliang, Chief Secretary, Sentiyanger Imchen IAS, Commissioner & Secretary to the Governor, Thavaseelan IAS, Former Commissioner & Secretary to the Governor, Rajesh Soundararajan IAS and DG Nagaland Rupin Sharma IPS among others, a DIPR report stated. 

In Kohima, a memorial service was held at Raj Bhavan to honour the late Governor’s life and service. Nagaland Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer said the gathering was a fellowship in remembrance of the departed leader, noting that his passing has left a huge vacuum. He said the Chief Minister, his deputies and the Chief Secretary were in Chennai for the funeral, while legislators and others in Kohima gathered to express solidarity.

Longkumer also referred to the Naga custom that the home of the departed is never left empty, saying the fellowship at Raj Bhavan was in keeping with that tradition. Members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly paid floral tributes at the solemn service chaired by State Chaplain Rev Izieteilung Tering.

Condolences poured in from across the political spectrum. Leaders and people alike remembered him as a bridge-builder, scholar and statesman whose contributions would endure.