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Saku Ao[/caption]
Dimapur, March 26 (EMN): Prominent Naga businessman and one of the pioneers of Dimapur from the Ao community, Saku Ao passed away on the night of March 25 at Eden Hospital Dimapur after a brief illness. He was 94.
A timber trader by profession, Saku Ao was among a group of few Nagas who were instrumental in laying the foundations of Dimapur as we know today. He was an uncle to the executive editor of Eastern Mirror, Wapong Longkumer.
Hailing from Aonokpu village (also known as Nokpuyimchen) in Mokokchung district, Saku Ao took active part in various civil society organisations. “He was also one of those few initial members of the Ao Baptist Church in Dimapur. He later served the church as a pastor on two different occasions,” informed a press release from his family on Monday evening.
His popularity among the non-Naga community as a businessman was characterised by the name he was known among the latter community: Saku Babu, which would later grow into a more paternal sentiment when they began to address him as Saku Baba.
He was also known for various developmental as well as charitable works among his community and also in the state of Nagaland, especially in the present district of Peren.
Ao married Vihieseno from Khonoma village in 1948 and they had 9 children— 8 daughters and 1 son. He is the father of Moameren Ao who is the founder of St. John Higher Secondary Residential School and St. John College.
He is the father-in-law of MP (Rajya Sabha) KG Kenye, former minister K Tiameren, and former MLA Limayanger.
He is survived by his wife, one son, seven daughters, one daughter-in law, six son-in-laws, 31 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren. His funeral service will be held at his residence in Khermahal on March 27 at 9 am, and then at 11 am at DABA Town Fellowship.
He will be buried in the family cemetery in his estate at Khermahal Dimapur.