Late Hollohon was a member of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly for seven terms. Early in his life, he joined the Naga movement after meeting with Late AZ Phizo and subsequently rose to the position of a “brigadier” in the ranks of the underground.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Special Correspondent
A seasoned politician in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, who have been active in the state’s political scenario since he contested for the first time in the Nagaland general election in 1977, and a member of the assembly for seven terms, Kihoto Hollohon (91), passed away on Friday morning at around 6 a.m.
According to a family source, late Kihoto Hollolon was admitted to a private hospital in Dimapur for the last few days due to aged ailments till he breathed his last on Friday after a “mild stroke”.
The family source also informed that the funeral service to be held, 8 am on Saturday at his residence, Grace Home, Darogapather Village, Dimapur, to be chaired by Senior Pastor, Dimapur Sumi Akukuhou, Vitoshe Swu, will be ministered by Senior Pastor, Thilixu Village Baptist Akukuhou (TVBA), Rev Dr Hevukhu Achumi.
Speeches would be offered by different organizations, unions, family members and including churches. Kihoto Hollohon, born on April 15, 1930, to Late Kiyezhe Yepthomi and Late Vikheli Yepthomi, of Khukishe Village, Aghunato, Zunheboto, he was married to Late Vitoli Zhimomi, daughter of Late Hezukhu Zhimomi, of Sheyipu Village, in 1963 but she predeceased him in 1996 after blessed with four daughters and two sons out of whom, a daughter and a son also predeceased him.
Late Hollohon is now survived by three daughters, a son, three sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law, twenty grandchildren, two great-grandsons, and his parents and wife, Hozheli Zhimomi. He did his early schooling at Sukhalu Government School as there was no school at his native village, Khukishe, at that time he also studied in Tokiye Middle English School and Satakha Government High School.
While studying in Class VIII in Shillong, Meghalaya, Late Hollohon enrolled himself as a co-member of the “Naga National Council (NNC), Naga Movement” sometime in the year 1948. He joined the NNC after coming in contact with some members in Shillong, Meghalaya. Hollohon eventually became a staunch worker for the Naga movement after meeting with Late AZ Phizo and subsequently rose to the rank of a “Brigadier” in the ranks of the underground.
On October 20, 1962, Hollohon and his comrades numbering 257 members gave up “arms” and later he was appointed as an inspector in the Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) but later resigned in 1966. Apart from contesting the general election in 1977, where he was elected to the 4th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) from 34 Aghunato Assembly Constituency, there was no turning back as he went on to be re-elected from the same constituency in 1982 and was later appointed as Minister for Excise and also was attached to the then Chief of Nagaland.
After re-electing from the same constituency in 1987 in the general Nagaland assembly elections, he later shifted from his previous constituency and contested from 3 Dimapur-III A/C in the 1989 general elections wherein he was elected for another term at the 7th Nagaland Legislative Assembly after which, he was appointed as a cabinet minister for food and civil supplies and later on also went on to win the 8th NLA 1993 general elections, thereby serving also as a cabinet minister for Industries and Commerce.
Heeding towards the call for “Solution not Election” in the year 1998 and not deciding to contest the general elections the same year, Hollohon, later on contested the 2003 general assembly elections from his previous constituency thus electing him to the 10th NLA and appointing him as cabinet minister for Social Security and Welfare, Nagaland. Post-downsizing of ministries in 2004, he was retained as “parliamentary secretary”, Social Security and Welfare and in 2008 NLA general elections, he changed his constituency and contested from 5 Ghaspani-II A/C, leading him to be in the 11th NLA.
Successfully contested and elected to the NLA for a record seven times since 2008 to 2013, he retired “honourably” from active politics. Apart from having the opportunity to build and help many churches, prayer houses and sponsoring numerous missionaries, irrespective of tribe and State, Hollohon, also served as the Head GB of his ancestral village (Khukishe Village) till 2019 and was also the Head GB of “Daniel Village” till his last breath.
It may be mentioned that late Kihoto Hollohon was also the president of NNO Party, Zunheboto Sadar, in 1967, UDF party (then UFN) Nagaland, and a representative from Satoi-Tokiye Area for Regional Council Member (RCM).