P Talitemjen Ao.
Morung Express News
Kohima | July 28
Former Chief Secretary of Nagaland and the State’s first Chief Information Commissioner, P Talitemjen Ao, IAS (Retd) passed away on Thursday morning at Oking Hospital, Kohima. He was 78 and is survived by his wife, Moala Panger, two sons and one daughter.
He was described as an “honest, committed, hardworking, God fearing, conscientious, upright and a devout Christian.”
In his passing, Senior Journalist, Oken Jeet Sandham, who knew him quite well, recalled their ‘last meeting’ at his private residence, years after his retirement. On May 1, 2017, the journalist had handed over a copy of his newly released book ‘Modi Walking on Elusive Naga Peace’ fulfilling the request of Late Talitemjen Ao.
“He was a clean officer, simple, very honest, straightforward, God fearing and a man of integrity,” Sandham said. “He led such a simple life. When I visited him, he was constructing his private residence and there was not a gate even. I was surprised because I thought he would be living in a palatial home,” he went on to say.
Nagaland Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi described him as “an honest, committed and hardworking officer.” “His passing away is an irreparable loss to the people of the State and the relentless and selfless services towards the people of Nagaland during his career will be remembered for many years to come,” the Governor stated.
Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio eulogized him as a “God fearing, conscientious, upright and dedicated officer, who left his imprint of hard work, honesty and integrity in all his assignments and postings.” The Chief Minister said “he was a true gentleman, who was always calm and collected even in the most difficult of situations, and was a role model to many within and outside the government.”
An IAS cadre from Nagaland, Talitemjen Ao joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1973 and went on to serve in various capacities including Home Commissioner & Commissioner, Nagaland. He served as the Chief Secretary of Nagaland from July 2004 till his retirement in February 2006 and was later appointed as the first Chief Information Commissioner, where he served from March 2006 to February 2011.
He was born on February 26, 1944 at Akhoya village in Mokokchung district and graduated from St. Edmund's College, Shillong. In 1964, he also served as Editor for the vernacular newspaper ‘Ao Milen’ from Shillong and subsequently pursued MA in English from Gauhati University.
Having cleared NPSC civil service examination in 1972, he served as Extra Assistant Commissioner, Mokokchung from 1972-1973 after which, he cleared the prestigious UPSC examination and got into the Indian Administrative Service.
