Former Nagaland Chief Minister John Bosco Jasokie died in Kohima recently after prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife, two sons, three daughters and grandchildren. He was 80. Son of late Dr. Khosa Angami from Khonoma village, J. B. Jasokie was born in 1925. He studied at Kohima High School and St. Edmund’s College, Shillong. He served the British Forces as guide and scout in the Battle of Kohima in 1944. The late Jasokie was a keen sportsman. He was the Individual Champion of the Eastern Upper Assam Tournament in 1948 as an all-round athlete.

Soon after joining the Naga Independence Movement, Mr. Jasokie went underground in 1953. He served Naga National Council (NNC) as Publicity Officer and acting Secretary. However, his association with NNC ended abruptly whe he differed with Phizo. He formed Naga People’s Convention and became the General Secretary.

Mr. Jasokie was elected as Member to the Legislative Assembly in the first General Election in 1964 from Kohima Town Constituency and appointed Minister from 1964 to 1969. He was re-elected from the same constituency in the second General Election in 1969 and appointed Minister. In 1974, he was elected leader of the Opposition and became Chief Minister for a brief period on 10th March 1975 following the fall of Vizol’s Ministry. Mr. Jasokie was appointed member of AICC soon after the NNO merged with Indian National Congress in June 1976. However, in 1980 he resigned from the Congress (I) and formed a regional party called the Naga National Party (NNP). Later it merged with a faction of UDF and formed yet another regional party under the banner of Naga National Democratic Party (NNDP). In June 1980, Mr. Jasokie took over as the Chief Minister for the second time.

Nagaland Governor Shyamal Datta, in his condolence message, said Late Jasokie was ‘an institution and played a pivotal role in the formation of Nagaland. In his death the state has lost a dedicated political leader, an able legislator, an experienced administrator and above all a fine specimen of human being.’’ He also conveyed his condolence to the bereaved family members.

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