Seen here in a file photo is Naga Hoho President Horangse Sangtam who passed away at Bangkok, February 6.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 7
NAGA HOHO President Horangse Sangtam passed away on February 6 at 10.15 p.m. (Thai Standard Time) at Vejthani Hospital, Bangkok after participating in the Indo-Naga peace talks held on January 28-31, 2006 resulting in the extension of cease-fire for another 6 months w.e.f. 1st February 2006.
In a statement issued from Bangkok, the Naga Hoho stated that Horangse was determined that the fate of the Nagas should be settled once and for all. “He braved all odds posed by health conditions and against entreaties for rest from friends and family”, the Naga Hoho stated in its press communiqué.
According to the statement, Horangse had maintained that work was more important now for the Nagas and unfazed, he undertook the arduous journey to Bangkok, sat through the entire peace talks at Bangkok which resulted in clinching another six months of cease-fire for both India and the Nagas. “He did his job and rested”.
“Work (Naga political journey) is more important than anything else; we must complete it at any cost,” Horangse Sangtam said before he started his last journey to Bangkok, according to the Naga Hoho officials who had accompanied the President.
“In the demise of Horangse Sangtam, the Nagas have lost a noble leader whose loss will never be substituted again. The legacy of sincerity, concern and determined leadership he left behind will always inspire the Nagas and all who have met and come across this great soul”, it was stated.
Born on 14th August 1945 at Mangkati village, Tuensang District, Nagaland, Horangse was the son of late Ngaromong Sangtam, Head GB of Mangkati village and reputed as the wealthiest man of his time in the region.
He graduated from St. Edmund’s College, Shillong(Meghalaya). He joined politics in the year 1974 and contested on NNO ticket but lost. He contested again in the year 1982 at 62 A/C (Lungkhimchari constituency) and won the election and became the Deputy Speaker of the Nagaland State Legislative Assemby. In 1987, he contested again but lost. Since then, he continued to serve the Naga public as a dedicated social worker and was involved in all major social organizations.
Horangse was the President of Naga Council, Dimapur from the period 2000—2004 after which he took over as President of Naga Hoho from May 2005 till his sudden demise on February 6, 2006 when he breathed his last in Bangkok.
He was also President of the Dimapur Sangtam Union for over 10 years and led the Western Sangtam Union as President since 2005 till his demise.
Despite having suffered stomach cancer and having gone through a major operation in March 2004, he recovered and remained actively concerned for the welfare of the Naga people. He took over the helms of the Naga Hoho when the Indo-Naga peace talks were entering into a crucial stage.
