By Imna Longchar
Dimapur (Nagaland), Sep 15: Senior ministers of the state and village council members bade adieu to the outgoing Governor of Nagaland, R.N Ravi on Wednesday at Dimapur Airport.
On arrival at Dimapur Airport, a colourful and befitting ceremonial guard of honour was accorded to Ravi .
Ravi before his departure shared that a little over two years of intimate association with the people of Nagaland as the Governor has left him humbled and deeply touched.
He said that the inherent strength of their character, innate simplicity, abilities to be patient with truth, howsoever inconvenient and unbounded love and affection for a friend has few parallels in the world and thanked the people of Nagaland for not letting him feel, even for a moment, as not one of them.
He later extended his gratitude for the opportunity to be associated with the people who strive for peace and added that he is confident that the people of Nagaland would continue to stand for peace and prosperity.
Ravi also urged the youth to embrace truth and peace as against deceit and violence by further adding that the future of the State was in their hands and to build the Nagaland of their dreams.
The outgoing governor during his state farewell programme on September 14 at the State Banquet Hall, CM’s Residential Complex, Kohima, while addressing the gathering, said he was immensely benefited by the inherent love and affection of the people of Nagaland.
He said Nagaland is not less civilized than Tamil Nadu, the state where he is shifted, may be in terms of industrial development, the state is behind, but not in terms of human civilization and values and added that as a Governor, adviser and well-wisher, he tried and acted where he thought he should act with the intention of bringing some good to the people of Nagaland.
As an interlocutor, R.N 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, he said Gandhiji advised them to choose the path of non-violence like him if they want to pursue their desire, and Nagas were united till the Naga National Movement remained non-violent.
He further added that violence has only divided the Nagas and brought much more miseries.
Later, the Governor said he and his family would always remain grateful to the people of Nagaland for their love and affection.
Speaking in the same programme, Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio had termed Ravi as a genuine and a down to earth person, who worked without any pretensions in discharging his duties, a sincere and hardworking professional who does what he think is right without any fear.
He thanked the Governor 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 that the Governor’s tenure in the State has its fair share of challenges, of which a lot still needs to be achieved.
Rio also reminded that Governor Ravi did his best during his time as an Interlocutor – the Landmark Framework Agreement with the NSCN (IM) signed on August 3, 2015, followed by the signing of the Agreed Position with the NNPGs on November 17, 2017, which bears ample testimony to the hard work and the negotiating skills of the Governor.
He further said that as a Governor, R.N. Ravi had 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 implementation of infrastructural and welfare projects in the State.
Rio also mentioned that Governor Ravi helped immensely in the management of the COVID-19 crisis in the State.
The Chief Minister later said that down the memory lane of the State which is yet to be written, the people of Nagaland would remember that Governor Ravi tried his best, both as a Governor and as an Interlocutor, for the Naga Political issue.
