Renowned Naga national worker, ‘Gen.’ A Maken, peacefully passed away early Monday morning, at his home in Penli Ward, Mokokchung, after prolonged illness. He was 82 and leaves behind his wife and three daughters.
People from all walks of life attended the funeral service, held at Mokokchung on Monday. The service chaired Mokokchung Town Baptist Church, pastor Rev. Ponen Longchar. The body was later laid to rest at his native village, Longkhum. According to family sources, his last words were– “to meet the Lord at the end of life’s journey”.
‘Gen.’ Maken was a recording asst. under Hongkin and the president, NNC Free Nagaland (1954). He was later designated as ‘General’, Naga Safe Guard, Ao Division in February 1956. He was then assigned as the GOC, Northern Command under ‘Gen.’ Thongti in March 1956. He was also the designated adjutant general, under ‘Gen.’ Kaito (Mar. 1957), assigned 2nd i/c alee-command under ‘Gen.’ Mowu (Jan. 1963) and later appointed as chief of General Staff under ‘Gen.’ Mowu (Nov. 1956).
In 1967, late Maken was nominated tatar from armed wing and entered the Tatar Hoho. He was among the nine-member team that took part in the Delhi talk in October 1967. Besides being involved in active national service, late Maken was also the secretary, Ao Students Union, Mokokchung (1953–54), vice president Ao Senden (1994- 96) and president Ao Senden from 1996-98. He later became the convenor of Naga Hoho and chairman of the Action-Committee, Naga Summit (1996 – 98). An active social activist, he was also the founding member of Mongsen Mungdang and Imchen Mungdang.
NH: Naga Hoho has expressed deep pain over the sudden demise of ‘gen.’ A Maken.
Naga Hoho president, P. Chuba Ozukum in his condolence message said ‘gen.’ Maken was a long-standing Naga nationalist who made tremendous positive and crucial contributions to the founding and development of the Naga freedom struggle, and former president Naga Summit, later renamed as Naga Hoho.
NH recalled that late Maken, who joined Naga national movement in 1954, was part of the group that signed the first ceasefire between the Government of India and the Nagas and
“General A Maken worked further for our cause under the banner of NCC in various capacities,” Ozukum stated.
Ozukum said that the “Naga Hoho salutes this great patriot of our struggle and we acknowledge his contribution towards the formation of Naga Hoho”.
As Action Committee chairman, he led the Naga Hoho and other civil societies in 1998, when Naga people resolved to call for ‘Solution not election” an effort to pave the way for Indo-Naga political settlement, NH said
“We, who shared similar values with him, will continue to drink from his deep well of wisdom and remember his immense contribution for peace and freedom,” he added.
The hoho said that his death was a great loss for the family, Nagas and for all freedom loving people at large.
NH said that though freedom fighters like ‘gen.’ Maken may not stay with us always, “but they would remain immortal through their work and ideals, inspiring the society”.