Syllabus: GS II & V – Internal Security, Conflict Resolution and Governance

Why in the News?

Veteran Naga peace activist and reconciliation advocate Niketu Iralu passed away in New Delhi on 18 August 2026 at the age of 91. He had spent more than six decades working for peace, dialogue and reconciliation in Nagaland and the wider Northeast.

His death has renewed attention on the role of civil society and non-state peacebuilders in addressing long-running conflicts, particularly the internal divisions among Naga political groups.

Who Was Niketu Iralu?

• Niketu Iralu was born in 1935 and came from Khonoma, an important Angami Naga village associated with the history of Naga resistance. 
• Iralu always chose a path of non-violence, dialogue and reconciliation.
• He studied at Madras Christian College, where his engagement with Moral Re-Armament, later known as Initiatives of Change, shaped his philosophy of personal transformation and peacebuilding.
• He later became associated with international peacebuilding efforts and served as Director of Asia Plateau, the Initiatives of Change centre at Panchgani.
• He subsequently devoted much of his work to Naga reconciliation, particularly when factional violence within Naga society was causing severe human suffering.

Contribution to Naga Reconciliation

The Naga conflict cannot be understood only as a confrontation between the Government of India and Naga armed groups. Over time, divisions between competing Naga political organisations, tribes and factions also produced violence within Naga society.

Iralu worked to address this internal dimension.

• He played an important role in efforts to bring divided Naga groups and political factions into dialogue.
• He became a core guiding force of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, which emerged as an important civil-society platform for dialogue among Naga groups.
• He also chaired the Naga Reconciliation Commission, established to promote reconciliation and healing within Naga society.
• His approach emphasised listening, forgiveness, trust-building and people-to-people contact, rather than imposing peace through force.

Khonoma: A Local Model of Reconciliation

One of the most important examples associated with Iralu was the reconciliation process in Khonoma, his ancestral village.

Internal violence had divided the community and resulted in deaths. A local reconciliation initiative involved visiting affected families and creating opportunities for members of opposing sides to acknowledge suffering, seek forgiveness and rebuild relationships.

The significance of Khonoma lies in its emphasis on community-level healing. It demonstrates that peacebuilding is not limited to agreements between political leaders; sustainable peace also requires reconciliation among ordinary people.

Role of Civil Society in Peacebuilding

Iralu’s work illustrates the importance of Track II and Track III diplomacy.

• Track I diplomacy involves official negotiations between governments or recognised political actors.
• Track II diplomacy involves unofficial dialogue involving former officials, experts, civil society and other influential individuals.
• Track III diplomacy operates closer to communities through grassroots dialogue, local leaders and people-to-people engagement.

Such approaches can create trust and political space where formal negotiations alone may struggle to overcome deep social mistrust.

Formal Peace Process and Civil-Society Efforts

Civil-society reconciliation did not operate in isolation. Ceasefires between the Government of India and major Naga armed groups helped create an environment in which internal reconciliation efforts could operate.

Thus, durable peace generally requires two complementary processes:

Formal political negotiations + social reconciliation and trust-building.

A political agreement may stop armed confrontation, but healing social divisions and rebuilding trust is essential for lasting peace.

Relevance to the Northeast at Present times

Iralu’s approach has relevance beyond Nagaland because the Northeast has experienced multiple forms of conflict involving ethnic identity, territorial claims, autonomy, resource competition and political aspirations.

His philosophy suggests that conflict resolution should combine:

• Constitutional and political dialogue should address legitimate political aspirations.
• Development and economic opportunities should address grievances linked to exclusion and underdevelopment.
• Community reconciliation should address historical wounds and mistrust.
• Civil society participation should ensure that peace is not limited to armed groups and governments.
• Youth engagement should prevent the transmission of conflict narratives to future generations.

Way Forward

The legacy of Niketu Iralu offers an important lesson for conflict-affected regions: peace is not simply the absence of violence; it is the presence of trust, dignity and dialogue.

For the Northeast, future peacebuilding should therefore strengthen constitutional dialogue, community reconciliation, youth participation, civil-society institutions and inclusive development. Local initiatives such as the Khonoma reconciliation experience can complement formal peace negotiations and help create a culture in which disagreements are settled without violence.

Exam Hook – Key Takeaway

Niketu Iralu demonstrated that lasting peace in conflict-affected societies requires not only political settlements but also community-level reconciliation, forgiveness, trust and sustained people-to-people dialogue.

Mains Question

“Peace agreements can stop violence, but reconciliation creates lasting peace.” Discuss with reference to the role of civil society in resolving conflicts in Northeast India.