Professor Jagdish Mukhi sworn in as Nagaland Gov

Professor Jagdish Mukhi (right) being sowrn in as the Nagaland Governor on September 17.

Professor Jagdish Mukhi (right) being sowrn in as the Nagaland Governor on September 17.

KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 17 (MExN): Professor Jagdish Mukhi was sworn in as the 20th Governor of Nagaland at Dr Imkongliba Ao Hall, Raj Bhavan Kohima on September 17. Mukhi, who is Governor of Assam assumed his office today in taking additional charge of Nagaland.

Justice S Serto of the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench administered the Oath of Office to the Governor – Designate in the presence of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, NLA Speaker, Ministers, senior officers and other dignitaries.

The newly appointed Governor received the Rashtriya Salute presented by the 10th IR Battalion at the Raj Bhavan courtyard.

In his address to the people of Nagaland, the new Governor said he was honoured and humbled to take over charge of the State and assured that he would remain committed to his constitutional responsibilities. 

“God introduced me to this beautiful land, people, and its vivid culture decades ago and since then my relationship with you has grown ever deeper and is deeply emotional. I am grateful to the people of Nagaland for showering their abundant love and affection and solicit your trust in me. I look upon my present assignment as God’s wish and commandment to serve you to the best of my ability and assure you that I shall strive my utmost for the same,” he stated. 

He said that Nagaland is an “embodiment of the Indian Nation, exhibiting Unity in Diversity, diverse in its ethnicity and unified by the Naga identity.” Mukhi called upon the people to work together in making Nagaland the “cultural hub of India and a dreamt about and sought after tourist destination.”

He observed that the State has “one of the finest young people” who have “excelled wherever and whichever field they have gone into and served.” “My endeavour would be to help create an inclusive ecosystem of optimum opportunities for them, here in Nagaland, so that they also contribute in the transformation of Nagaland,” he added. 

The Governor sought equal partnership of “our mothers and daughters,” while also emphasising on issues such as health, hygiene, education, Sustainable Development Goal indicators, and Climate Change. He expressed hope that an “optimal blending of people-centric technology, public policies, and their implementation” will push the present pace of growth in the State to a “higher plane and help us focus on a higher benchmark.”

While recognising that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges, the Governor stated that with the dedicated health workers and other frontline workers and aware people of Nagaland “we are gradually recovering from this crisis and becoming even stronger.”

He meanwhile stated that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s “vision of an Atmanirbhar and Shashakt Bharat has redefined the welfare policies and schemes and made the schemes reach to the last man in a timely and effective manner.” 

Mukhi further stated that the Naga political issue has “covered a remarkable path of progress under his guidance.” “I am confident that soon we will have a comprehensive and inclusive solution ensuring utmost honour and dignity to the Naga people,” he said. 

He called upon the people of Nagaland, especially the youth, to “arise, awake, and partner in the development of a Nagaland of our dreams, a Nagaland for everyone, a Nagaland that is self assured, exuding greater confidence, assurance, humane leadership and futuristic vision and a Nagaland that will shine as the Eastern Star of the Indian nation.”

Prior to his appointment as the Governor of Assam, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi was the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He earlier held the portfolios of Finance, Planning, Excise & Taxation and Higher Education in the Delhi Government.