‘Nagaland’s Gandhi’ Natwar Thakkar dies at 86
First Published: 8th October, 2018 14:23 IST
Gandhian Natwar Thakkar as he was popularly known by his admirers breathed his last in Guwahati on October 7. He was 86 and a recipient of the Padma Shree award.
Gandhian Natwar Thakkar as he was popularly known by his admirers breathed his last in Guwahati on October 7.
He was 86 and a recipient of the Padma Shree award. The veteran Gandhian is now survived by his Padmashri wife Lentina Ao, also a Gandhian and Padma Shree; two sons and two daughters.
Natwar Thakkar died due to brief illness. Thakkar had fallen ill on September 9 at Chuchuyimlang and was hospitalised in Dimapur. On September 19, he was shifted to Guwahati.
Though he showed signs of improvement initially, his health condition deteriorated on Saturday morning.
Thakkar, who hailed from Maharashtra, came to Nagaland in 1955 at the age of 23. During his arrival Naga insurgency movement was getting strengthened. Upon his arrival, militant groups asked villagers not to give him shelter or food. Over half-a-century later, villagers honoured him with the “Lifetime Service to Naga People” award.
Padma Shree Natwar Thakkar’s work in Nagaland included vocational training for school dropouts and physically handicapped, primary schools in villages, medical centres and libraries.
He helped people earn a livelihood by engaging in apiculture and jaggery-making and by setting up oil mills, bio-gas plants, mechanised carpentry shops and khadi sales counters.
After serving the state for 86 years, the remote village of Chuchuyimlang which he chose as his home now has a telephone exchange, a post office, a government hospital, water supply, a branch of the State Bank of India and a government high school.
His 62-year-old ashram at Chuchuyimlang village now draws visitors from across the country and occasionally from abroad.
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live Now you can book a stay at Janhvi Kapoor’s Chennai home
02nd May 2024Live Robbers snatch bag with Rs 45 lakh from inside PNB bank in Assam
02nd May 2024Live Mizoram: ULP stakes claim to form LADC government, submits letter to Governor
02nd May 2024Live Rs 20 lakh robbed from SBI Churachandpur branch in Manipur, 4th incident in a year
02nd May 2024WE RECOMMEND
Nagaland: Advisor Imkong L Imchen hosts Moatsu Festival in Kohima
Moatsu is a festival celeberated by Ao People of Nagaland. It was celebrated in Kohima with colourful display of dances and gaiety.
01st May 2024Nagaland: After Lok Sabha poll boycott, ENPO to ‘abstain’ from ULB elections
The ENPO has reaffirmed that people in Eastern Nagaland will not participate in any elections until their demand for creation of a Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT) becomes a reality.
30th April 2024NagaEd among 75 leading startups to join coveted STPI Leap Ahead programme
The initiative is a collaboration between Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), TiE Delhi-NCR, and a group of prominent investors. It strives to launch tech startups onto the world arena by providing mentorship, investment, and extensive networking possibilities.
29th April 2024Culprits will be booked under NSA: Nagaland Govt on extortion, illegal tax issues raised by industry bodies
The Nagaland Government has also appealed the Confederation of Nagaland Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) and the Dimapur Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) to lift the indefinite shutter down strike.
29th April 2024Nagaland: ULB polls to be held on June 26 after 2 decades
The filling of nominations will begin on June 7 and will close on June 11 at 3 PM.
28th April 2024