Former Nagaland CM Vizol passes away

Kohima, Mar 3: Legendary regional politician and two-time Nagaland Chief Minister Vizol passed away at his Dak Lane residence this morning at 0710 hrs after a prolonged illness. He was 94. He is survived by his wife, five sons and two daughters.

Born on November 16, 1914 at Viswema village, about 15 km from Kohima, Mr Vizol had his education at Mission High School, Kohima, and graduated from St Edmund's College, Shillong. He served the Royal Air Force from 1941 to 1946 during the Second World War.

After the war, he served as a private teacher in John High School in Viswema village. He later served as the principal of the Naga National High School, Kohima, from 1953 to 1956. He was imprisoned twice for political reasons in 1956 and 1957. He also served as the Vice President of the Naga Peoples Convention from 1957 to 1960.

Later, he joined politics and contested in 1964 from the Western Angami Constituency and was elected as the Leader of the Opposition in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

He was re-elected to the Assembly in 1974 and served as Chief Minister from 1974 to 1975, was again chosen uncontested to the Nagaland Assembly in 1977 and became the Chief Minister for the second time from 1977 to 1980.

He was a Member of the Rajya Sabha from 1992 to 1997 and also a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Communication, Energy, Gas, Afforestation and Eco-development.

He was the co-founder of the Democratic Party of Nagaland which later became the Nagaland Peoples Council. He was elected the Chairman of the newly - formed Nagaland Peoples Front led by Neiphiu Rio, the outgoing Chief Minister.

He was the founding member of the Nagaland State Branch of the Indian Red Cross Society in 1982 and was its Chairman till he resigned in 2004 on health grounds.

His funeral will be held at Viswema village today, according to family sources.

UNI