Dimapur, March 26 (EMN): Former member of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Wokshing Phom, of Bura Namsang village in Longleng district passed away on Sunday, March 26, after a brief illness at a hospital in Dimapur.
Born on 1934, late Phom served as the chairman of Tamlu Area Council from 1969 to 1973. In 1974, he contested from the Tamlu Assembly Constituency with the UDF party and served till 1975 as MLA. He contested in 1977 and 1982 as an independent candidate but was defeated in both the years. Late Wokshing Phom was 82 years old. He is survived by his wife, four sons and a daughter.
Speaker and chief minister mourn
The speaker of the legislative assembly and the chief minister of Nagaland have expressed grief at the demise of Phom. Dr. Imtiwapang Aier and Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu issued separate messages of condolence on Sunday.
“I am shocked to hear the demise of Shri Wokshing Phom, Ex-MLA, S/o Late Nyapong Phom of Bura Namsang Village on 26th March, 2017 at Zion Hospital, Dimapur after a brief illness,” the message from Speaker Dr. Aier stated.
Wokshing Phom was born in January, 1937, the speaker stated. Prior to entering politics, he served as a pastor during 1957-59. He was elected Member of Legislative Assembly in 1974 from Tamlu Assembly Constituency, the speaker stated.
“In this hour of gloom and grief, I on my own behalf and on behalf of the Nagaland Legislative assembly convey our heartfelt condolences. May the departed soul rest in eternal peace,” the message stated.
Likewise, Chief Minister Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu said in his condolence message that the demised person was an “old colleague of mine.”
“I am reminded of the turbulent period during the early 1970s when the government of India carried out massive operations to flush out the Naga insurgents from their hideouts, when the over ground politics was also immensely affected with fear psychosis and uncertainty looming large in the minds of the general public,” the chief minister recalled.
“It was a time when the people could not really decide if they should participate in the Indian elections or support the Naga movement for self-determination. However, many of us were of the considered view that we should be part of the Indian electioneering process to ensure return of normalcy to the land.”
Wokshing Phom, the chief minister said, “was also one of us and when party leaders of the United Democratic Front interacted with the general public of Tamlu constituency, they found that he was quite popular with the grassroots people and the party ticket was allotted to him with which he won the elections in 1974.”
However, within a year, a National Emergency was declared and President’s Rule was imposed all over the country.
“I haven’t met him for quite some years, but heard from my party functionaries earlier this year that he was in good health and had made plan to catch up with him one of these days. However, this was not to be and I grief (sic) his demise,” Dr. Liezietsu stated.
“In his death, Nagas have lost a politician who was truly concerned for the uplift of the general mass and stood for what he believed in. On behalf of the government and people of Nagaland, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family and pray to the Almighty to grant them solace and comfort at this hour of grief,” the chief minister added.
