Guwahati, 18 Aug: Renowned peacebuilder, thinker and reconciliation advocate Niketu Iralu passed away on Tuesday evening at BLK Hospital in Delhi following a cardiac arrest. He was 89.

Fondly known as "Uncle Niketu", Iralu devoted more than six decades to peacebuilding, dialogue and reconciliation, particularly among the people of Nagaland and the wider Northeast.

The United Christian Forum of North East India (UCFNEI), in a statement, expressed grief over his death and remembered him as a committed advocate of forgiveness, dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Iralu was closely associated with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation and played an important role in efforts to build trust among communities affected by decades of conflict. His approach to peacebuilding emphasised patient listening, personal honesty and reconciliation.

Together with his wife Christine, he also hosted the "House of Listening", where people from different backgrounds engaged in conversations aimed at healing divisions and building understanding.

The UCFNEI offered condolences to Christine Iralu, the family and all those mourning his death, and called on churches, community leaders and people of goodwill to carry forward his commitment to dialogue, justice and peace.