PRESS RELEASE
A LEGENDARY NAGA FREEDOM FIGHTER PASSED AWAY.
A die hard Naga freedom fighter, Mr. Khodao Yanthan died in the evening of 1st March, 2010 at his brother’s house at Lakhuti village in kyong (Lotha) Region. He was 87. From his young life he was involved in Naga Freedom movement and served the Nation (Nagalim) in different capacities and at different stages. He was in the service of the Naga Nation till his last breath. When he died he left no wife, no children and no house. He lived a very simple life. At his death his only possession was the Naga nation. He started his freedom movement from his village and died at his dear village. When he died, he was the Vice-Chairman of NSCN and the vice-president of GPRN.
In the evening of 2nd March, 2010, his dead body was taken out from his village and brought to General Headquarters of Naga Army to be guarded by his endeared Naga Army personnel throughout the night. In the morning of 3rd march, 2010, his dead body was taken down to the Central Council Head Quarters (Hebron) for according state Funeral from 10.30 am.
At the start of funeral service a 21-gun salute was given to him.
In the Funeral service many leaders of different Naga organization, including Kyong (Lotha) Hoho, Naga Hoho, Naga Mother’s Association, United Naga Council, ENPO, etc, etc, delivered condolence messages. Christian leaders of different denominations spoke and prayed. More than three thousand people representing different section of people attended the funeral service. The funeral service was ended at about 1.00 pm and his dead body was taken back to his village (Lakhuti) on 4th March, 2010, where a funeral service at village/Church level will be held after which his dead body will be interred at the grave on a hillock prepared by himself when he was alive.
The following are some of the highlights of his life:
1. Born on August 25th 1923, at his native village (Lakhuti) in farmer’s family, Mr. & Mrs. Nthio and Nthilo Yanthan.
2. He is descendant of a warriors’ family.
3. Mr. Moyuthung Yanthan, the grandfather was the last Chief of Lotha tribe till the British intrusion into Lotha country in 1874.
4. In 1932, at the age of 8, admitted at a village lower primary School.
5. In 1937, he was admitted in Class –II, in the Middle English mission School, at Vankhosang Baptist Mission Compound.
6. In 1942, his studies were interrupted by the Word war II as he joined the 10,000 Naga Labour Corps as a Quartermaster with the allied forces to combat the advancing Japanese forces.
7. In 1943, he joined in mission High School, Jorhat, Assam.
8. In 1944, as the Japanese forces besieged and occupied Kohima, he led the 14th Division of British Army from Mariani via Marachu (Merapani Wokha road) and encountered against the advancing Japanese forces at Wokha and Tseminyu to attack the enemies at Kohima.
9. After the war he resumed his studies and passed out matriculate in 1948.
10. For his active participation in WW II, he received 3 (three) gallantry awards:
a. Burma Star Medal.
b. Southeast Pacific Force Medal.
c. King George V Medal in the Second World War.
11. 1949-50, he studied Intermediate Arts at Serampore Christian College in Calcutta.
12. He served as a teacher at Wokha High School.
13. In 1951, he was elected President of Lotha Tribal Council and a member of the central executive body of NNC.
14. On May 16, 1951, he gave his thump impression with his own blood during Naga Plebiscite conducted by NNC as a symbol of Free Nagalim, redeemed by Naga ancestors.
15. Ever since, he came across trials and sufferings for the Naga Nation cause.
16. He as a Naga freedom fighter was imprisoned in Kohima, Golaghat, Jorhat, Dhaka, and Commila who providentially escaped death.
17. He served as Angh and Kilonser at federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) under NNC.
18. In 1956, he went to East Pakistan to propagate Indo-Naga political issue.
19. He stayed in Burma (Myanmar) for 4 (four) years.
20. He later landed in London, England seeking for support groups abroad for Naga Cause.
21. In 1990, he came back to Nagalim to reform the deteriorating Naga political scenario.
22. He joined NSCN and was elected the Vice President of Nagalim in 1996.
23. In 2000, he returned home from London.
24. Expired on 1st march 2010 at Lakhuti, his native village.
Dated: Hebron MIP, GPRN.
3rd March, 2010.