By Imna Longchar
Dimapur (Nagaland), Oct 16: A seasoned politician in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, who had been active in the state’s political scenario since he contested for the first time in the Nagaland general election in 1977, and serving for seven terms, Kihoto Hollohon (91), passed away on Friday morning .
According to a family source, late Kihoto Hololon, was admitted to a private hospital in Dimapur for the last few days due to aged ailments till he breath his last on Friday after a “mild stroke”.
The funeral service was held this morning at his residence, Grace Home, Darogapather Village, Dimapur, which was chaired by Senior Pastor, Dimapur Sumi Akukuhou, Vitoshe Swu, and was ministered by Senior Pastor, Thilixu Village Baptist Akukuhou (TVBA), Rev. Dr. Hevukhu Achumi.
Speeches were also offered by different organizations, unions, family members and including churches.
Kihoto Hollohon, born on April 15, 1930, to Late Kiyezhe Yepthomi and Late Vikheli Yepthomi, of Khukishe Village, Aghunato, Zunheboto, was married to Late Vitoli Zhimomi, daughter of Late Hezukhu Zhimomi, of Sheyipu Village, in 1963 but she pre-deceased him in 1996 .
Late Hollohon is survived by three daughters, a son, three sons-in-law, two daughters in-law, twenty grandchildren, two great-grandsons and his parents and wife, Hozheli Zhimomi.
He did his early schooling at Sukhalu Government School as there was no school at his native village, Khukishe, at that time he also studied in Tokiye Middle English School, and Satakha Government High School.
While studying in Class VIII in Shillong, Meghalaya, Hollohon enrolled himself as a co-member of the “Naga National Council (Naga Movement)” sometime in the year 1948 after coming in contact with some NNC members in Shillong, Meghalaya, thereby becoming a staunch worker for the “Naga Freedom Movement” after meeting with Late A.Z Phizo, and subsequently rose to the rank of a “Brigadier”.
On October 20, 1962, Hollohon and his comrades numbering 257 members gave up “arms” and later he was appointed as an inspector in the Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) but later resigned in 1966.
Apart from contesting the general election in 1977, where he was elected to the 4th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) from 34 Aghunato Assembly Constituency, there was no turning back as he went on to be re-elected from the same constituency in 1982 and was later appointed as Minister for Excise and also was attached to the then Chief of Nagaland.
After re-electing from the same constituency in 1987 in the general Nagaland assembly elections, he later shifted from his previous constituency and contested from 3 Dimapur-III A/C in the 1989 general elections wherein he was elected for another term at the 7th Nagaland Legislative Assembly after which, he was appointed as a cabinet minister for food and civil supplies and later on also went on to win the 8th NLA 1993 general elections, thereby serving also as a cabinet minister for Industries and Commerce.
Heeding towards the call for “Solution not Election” in the year 1998 and not deciding to contest the general elections the same year, Hollohon, later on contested the 2003 general assembly elections from his previous constituency thus electing him to the 10th NLA and appointing him as cabinet minister for Social Security and Welfare, Nagaland.
Post-downsizing of ministries in 2004, he was retained as “parliamentary secretary”, Social Security and Welfare and in 2008 NLA general elections, he changed his constituency and contested from 5 Ghaspani-II A/C, leading him to be in the 11th NLA.
He successfully contested and was elected to the NLA for a record seven times since 2008 to 2013,and then retired “honourably” from active politics.
Apart from having the opportunity to build and help many churches, prayer houses and sponsoring numerous missionaries, irrespective of tribe and State, Hollohon, also served as the Head GB of his ancestral village (Khukishe Village) till 2019 and was also the Head GB of “Daniel Village” till his last breath.
It may be mentioned that late Kihoto Hollohon was also the president of NNO Party, Zunheboto Sadar, in 1967, UDF party (then UFN) Nagaland, and a representative from Satoi-Tokiye Area for Regional Counci Member (RCM).
