Hokishe Sema

Kohima, Jan. 31: Hokishe Sema, chairman of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland government, died in a private hospital in Dimapur this morning after a protracted illness. He was 86 and is survived by his wife, four sons and a daughter.

The former governor and three-time chief minister was born on March 6, 1921, at Sutemi in Zunheboto district.

Sema received his early education at Mokokchung Government High School and passed his IA from Serampore College, West Bengal, in 1949. He graduated in Arts from St Anthony’s College in 1956.

A civil servant in the Assam government in the mid-fifties, Sema rose to the status of assistant commissioner in 1958. In the early sixties, he was inducted as a member of the drafting committee of All Tribes Naga People’s Convention which paved the way for the formation of the state of Nagaland.

Since the birth of Nagaland, Sema has become the symbol of Naga destiny within the Indian Constitution.

Sema was elected uncontested in 1964 from Akuluto constituency in Nagaland and served as cabinet minister in the governments headed by Shilu Ao and T.N. Angami.

He was first appointed chief minister of Nagaland in 1969 and completed his term till February 11, 1974. He became chief minister for the second time in 1986 for a brief period and again in 1987 after the sixth Assembly elections.

During his tenure, Sema worked for the establishment of peace in the state and persuaded thousands of insurgents to lay down arms. He was ambushed seven times by Naga rebels because of his anti-secessionist policy and faith in sub-nationalism.

At the national level, Sema was a member of the high-powered panel on minorities, Scheduled Tribes and Schedule Castes. He also attended the UN Assembly in 1972 and 1974 and led a delegation of Indo-Soviet Friendship to Moscow in 1976.

He was appointed governor of Himachal Pradesh in 1983. He resigned from the post in 1986 and got elected to the Rajya Sabha. Later that year, he was elected as chief minister for the second time.

Sema has also authored a book, Emergence of Nagaland, which gives a fascinating account of Naga history with emphasis on socio-economic and political transition in recent years.

A quiet, soft-spoken man, the introspective strain in Sema’s personality found expression in his love for gardening, singing and reading.

He was closely associated with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, but later severed ties with the Congress and joined the BJP.

He was elected from Dimapur-1 constituency in the last elections.

Several political parties, organisations and eminent citizens paid tributes to Sema. The state Congress said Nagaland has lost a great leader who devoted his life for the state and the country.

Congress parliamentary secretary K.V. Pusa conveyed his condolences to Sema’s family on behalf of his party.