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Grandchildren of late Yashitsungba Ao pay floral tributes during the funeral service on Wed. April 4 at the State Stadium in Dimapur.[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, April 4: Mourners and well-wishers on Wed. April 4 converged at the state stadium in Dimapur to pay tributes to the late Yashitsungba Ao, a businessman and philanthropist who passed away at the age of 90 years on April 3 at Eden Medical Centre in Dimapur.
A son of Ao, Dr. Maongwati Ao, remembered his father who displayed a talent for adaptability. “He mentored to become a government contractor and executed many projects successfully with satisfaction. In the later years he concentrated his efforts in the medical field,” Dr. Ao said of his father in a condolence message.
“As we all know our state was lacking in so many medical facilities and our people had to go outside of the state spending so much money to avail treatments and his dream and vision was to provide all those facilities at our doorsteps and made it available to all walks of people and to those who could not afford to travel outside the state. He put all his energy to execute two projects-Zion hospital and research centre and Eden Medical Centre. These institutions I am confident will live longer after our memories of him,” Ao said.
Recounting a personal experience with his father, Ao recounted: 'When I started my profession as a government doctor in the government service my father had literally told me don’t bring your salary home, use your salary to help the poor and the needy and he assured me that he will take of all my needs and wants.’
‘From that day onwards I tried to do some social service for the needy people and the patients and during my accident and injury, some of it was exaggerated-maybe-out of proportions. But today is a good day and a good opportunity for me to clarify that it was not just me but it was my father behind me encouraging me to do the little service that I was able to deliver,’ he said.
'My father faced a lot of critical circumstances and problems during his life and he had borne them with all calmness and fortitude. During his last days despite his serious illness which left him ailing in bed for about a month he never complained and he always displayed a positive outlook.'
The advisor for Information and Public Relations Toshi Wuntung, a son-in-law of Yashitsungba Ao, recalled his father-in-law as a person who respected his culture. ‘He honourably gave me the worthy hands of his daughter who is the youngest in the family. My late father-in-law or Y Ao... (was) respectfully known for his golden hands was indeed a living gem and a star beyond comparison in many ways.’
“Honestly I find no befitting words to truly describe his goodness and endurance. He will always be remembered fondly as a best friend, as a loyal friend, most trusted unfailing father, friend and a true friend beyond comparison. He was an outstanding teacher, a guide and a down to earth visionary with an utmost simplicity and sweet humility in his heart, always ever ready to extend help to the others,” Wungtung said.
“We shall always remember him as tireless who many a times knew neither night nor day or distance. Nothing stopped him or kept him away from the challenging works he had to endure. He stood firm and strong and maintained his standards and discipline in what he believed and committed till his also breathe”.
Paying tribute on behalf of Zion Hospital was Dr. Daili Athikho who said, “We have come to pay respect to an incredible individual who has not only been a role model to those around him but also an inspiration exemplifying dignity, honesty and nobility through all his works.”
‘Uncle Yashi as we all address him was the main promoter and pillar of our institution. I must confess today that without him and his contribution Zion hospital would not have been established. Our association with him stretches over last 15 years. Though he had less knowledge in the field of health care setup he was always ready to accept any suggestion from our side and always had solution to any problems.’
'We pledge today before you all that we will emulate his principle of hard work, honesty and simplicity and rededicate the single goal he had in life how to excel and serve. Zion Hospital will try our best to fulfil all his unfinished dreams to serve humanity,' Athikho added.
Speaking on behalf of Eden Medical Centre, Dr. Moatoshi remembered Yashitsungba Ao as a fatherly figure who was a genuinely kind person and a source of encouragement. “Almost every day he would come for his rounds in the hospital and although he did not know each one of us by our names, whenever he would see any of us in the corridor he would stop looks at us with a smiling face and wait for a few seconds waiting for us to ask or say something to him,” the doctor recalled.
‘I’ve worked at different hospitals under different ownership but I’ve never come across such a beautiful human being who cared so much for their employees. He encouraged me to come back to Nagaland and work for our people. I feel a sense of pride working under his ownership and I’m sure people who have worked under him or for him feel the same way,’ he said.
After a successful stint at Zion hospital he wanted to do something for cancer patients who have had to go out of the state for treatment. Therefore he came with the idea of comprehensive cancer care centre in the state. That was how Eden Medical Centre started, he recalled.
“No doubt he was a businessman—a very successful businessman. But his vision and the way he contributed for our people was immense. In Nagaland we see a lot of rich businessman but very few of his kind. He cared so much for the sick hence he has to his credit Zion Hospital and Eden Medical Centre. I believe he has taken a very bold step in setting up these two centres,” Dr. Moatoshi said.