Funeral service of Nagaland Governor La. Ganesan held in Chennai with full state honours

DIMAPUR — The funeral service of Governor La. Ganesan was held with full state honours in Chennai on Saturday, a day after his passing. He was 80.

According to a DIPR update, the mortal remains of the late governor were kept at Kannadasan Grounds, T Nagar, for the public to pay their last respects. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, on behalf of the state government, laid a floral tribute.

The state funeral and cremation were later held at Besant Nagar Electric Crematorium at 5 pm, attended by Rio, Deputy Chief Ministers Y Patton and TR Zeliang, Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen, Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor Thavaseelan, former Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor Rajesh Soundararajan, and Director General of Police Rupin Sharma, among others.

Memorial service in Kohima

Simultaneously, a memorial service was held at Raj Bhavan, Kohima, to honour the life, service, leadership, and dedication of the late governor.

Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer, speaking at the ceremony, described the gathering as a fellowship to honour the governor as a sign of love and remembrance. He expressed deep grief at the loss, noting that the governor’s passing had left “a huge vacuum.”

Longkumer informed that while the chief minister, deputy chief ministers, and chief secretary were in Chennai to represent the people of Nagaland at the last rites, members of the Assembly had gathered at Raj Bhavan in remembrance.

He recalled the Naga tradition that “the home of the departed is never left empty,” saying the fellowship was held in that spirit to express solidarity with the governor’s family.

He also thanked the legislators for attending the programme, which he said was a profound gesture of respect to the constitutional head of the state.

Members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly paid floral tributes during the service, which was chaired by State Chaplain Rev. Izieteilung Tering.

Read more: Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla gets additional charge of Nagaland as La. Ganesan dies

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, in a post on X, wrote: “Paid my last respects to our Governor La. Ganesan Ji, along with Dy. CMs Yanthungo Patton, TR Zeliang, the chief secretary, GoN, and DGP Nagaland. His humility, dedication, and selfless service to the people will be remembered with deep respect and gratitude.”

Meanwhile, Patton issued a press statement describing Ganesan’s passing as “a great loss for Nagaland.” Patton, along with the state delegation, also met with the bereaved family to convey condolences and prayers, it stated.

Early life and career

Born in 1945 in the temple town of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, La. Ganesan came from an orthodox Brahmin family. He lost his father, Lakshmi Raghava Iyer, a respected businessman, when he was just nine.

After completing his Secondary School Leaving Certificate, he joined the Revenue Department as a Revenue Settlement Inspector.

Guided by a deep sense of patriotism, the DIPR stated, Ganesan resigned from government service after nine years to become a Pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1970, dedicating his life to public service and remaining a bachelor throughout.

Also read: Nagaland Governor La Ganesan’s biography, timeline of his political career and more

Ganesan played a pivotal role in strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu, serving as organising secretary of the state unit, national secretary, all-India vice president, and state president. He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha from Bhopal, where he served for 18 months, and was a member of the BJP National Executive Committee since 1991.

He also edited the Tamil party mouthpiece Ore Naadu (One Nation), contributed to several journals, and founded Pottramarai (Golden Lotus), an association to foster Tamil scholarship.

Appointed Governor of Manipur in August 2021, Ganesan served until February 2023. He also briefly held additional charge as Governor of West Bengal in 2022.

On February 20, 2023, he took oath as Governor of Nagaland, serving in the post until his passing on August 15, 2025.