Senior journalist dies in tragic incident; condolences from CM, HM, media

Senior journalist and Kohima Correspondent of Nagaland Post, Shuli Daiho Mao, died Sunday afternoon at Oking Hospital Kohima after being attacked by a swarm of hornets in Mezoma Saturday evening.

He was 37 and leaves behind his wife and three minor children. Late Daiho entered the profession in 1995 and worked with The Shillong Times then later as Kohima Correspondent of the Asian Age before joining Nagaland Post in 2004. He had also worked with other local dailies for a short stint.

Late Daiho was recognized as a ‘crusader against injustice’ within the media fraternity, whose bold reportages often led to confrontation with powerful elements.

The body of late Daiho was taken to his native Shajouba under Senapati district Manipur Sunday evening, where a funeral service would be held Monday at 11 a.m.

Leading those expressing condolences, chief minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio described late Daiho as a “hardworking journalist, who dedicated his life to journalism”.

Rio said late Daiho had a bright future but cut short by his sudden demise. Expressing condolences to the bereaved family, Rio said late Daiho’s sudden demise was not only a personal loss to the family but also to the state as a whole.

Also expressing deep grief at the sudden demise of late Daiho, former Governor Maharashtra and Goa S.C. Jamir described him as a hardworking person and a successful journalist.

Meanwhile, Kohima Press Club (KPC) has informed that transportation would be provided at 9 a.m. outside NSF Office Kohima on Monday (September 17, 2012) to enable its members to attend the funeral of Late Daiho at Shajouba.

More condolence messages were pouring from the press fraternity across Nagaland, neighboring states and social networking sites.

Condolences
State home minister: Nagaland home minister Imkong L. Imchen has expressed deep shock and grief at the sudden and untimely demise of late Daiho Mao, a senior journalist.

In a condolence message Imkong said it was difficult to accept the tragic news. He said late Daiho’s contribution as a member of the fourth estate was “so immense” that the vacuum created by his sudden demise would be very difficult to fill. Imchen also described late Daiho, not only a professional journalist, but also like a family member.

The minister said he mourned late Daiho’s demise and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, on his own behalf and his family and prays his soul rest in eternal peace. He further prayed that God would shower mercy to comfort the bereaved family.

KPC: Kohima Press Club has expressed deep shock and immense grief at the sudden demise of its valued member and Advisor, S .Daiho Mao, Correspondent of Nagaland Post, who expired Sunday afternoon.

KPC said described late Daiho as “a friend, a brother and a guardian of the Kohima press club who selflessly gave his service for the welfare of the community”.

KPC expressed deep pain at the loss of a colleague whose demise has left behind a vacuum that can never be filled. KPC said it would always remember late Daiho and conveyed its heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family and prayed that God will grant them comfort in this time of grief.

FoWJoN: Federation of Working Journalists of Nagaland (FoWJoN) said it was deeply traumatized over the sudden and untimely demise of a closest colleague and dearest friend as well as Kohima Correspondent of Nagaland Post, S. Daiho Chara Mao.

In a joint condolence message, FoWJON convenor, Narain B. Sagar and general secretary Ashikho Pfuzhe said Daiho’s demise at Oking Hospital Sunday afternoon was “not only a shock but even beyond believe for working journalist in the State”.

The contribution made by late. Daiho to the media fraternity, particularly Kohima Press Club and FoWJoN was immense, FoWJON said. Further, it recalled that it was during late Daiho’s tenure as the general secretary of KPC, that the dream of a KPC building was achieved.

The federation recalled that it was through late Daiho’s initiatives that the working journalists in the State came together to form FoWJoN.

“During his life time, he has not only been working towards filing the truth but also been a true social worker helping the members of the Fourth Estate as well as the general public whenever needed,” FoWJON said.

Expressing grief at the loss of “a brother and a true friend in deed”, FoWJON said the vacuum created would be impossible to fill. It recalled that late Daiho was popularly called as ‘Maihodao’, a name that was best described in the words of Jean de La Fontaine– ‘Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer’. 

FoWJoN conveyed its deepest condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed that the Almighty God grant strength to bear this irreparable loss and eternal peace “to the departed soul of our friend late Daiho Mao”.

Morung Express: Editor and staff of The Morung Express (MEx) expressed shock at the sudden demise of senior journalist S. Daiho Mao of Nagaland Post, Sunday.

In the condolence, the Editor and staff, The Morung Express informed that late Daiho had also worked briefly with the newspaper in 2008.

The message conveyed condolences to the family members and also to the Editor and staff of Nagaland Post at the time of loss and bereavement.

MEx Editor recalled late Daiho as “a bold and fearless journalist who would not hesitate to speak his mind out on issues of public importance. He was well-informed, analytic and reported in a way to awaken the conscience of the readers”.

Further, the MEx Editor recalled that, over the contributions to the media through a long association, late Daiho would be remembered “for his ground-breaking investigative report on the NPSC issue a few years back while working with the Nagaland Post. He did not bow down to pressure and stood for what he believed was the truth.” 

The Editor Morung Express further went on to add that the issues and concerns raised by late Daiho in his report, had a wide ramification within society that led the NSF to spearhead a movement to bring reforms and changes in the important area of job recruitment through NPSC.

The Morung Express message concluded: “With the passing away of S. Daiho Mao, the media fraternity in Nagaland has indeed lost a very capable journalist while the people of the State, the readers, they have lost a voice. May his soul Rest in Peace.”

NPA: Nagaland Press Association (NPA) expressed shock at the passing away of a friend, S. Daiho Mao, a senior journalist. 

NPA president K. Temjen Jamir in a condolence expressed pain at the loss of an accomplished journalist and a valued colleague. 

The president NPA said that in the death of late Daiho, the media fraternity has lost a valued journalist who proved his worth while discharging his duties and responsibilities as a “fearless reporter against the corrupt system in our society.” 

At this time of sorrow and tragic loss, NPA prayed that God would grant strength and solace to the bereaved family to overcome their saddest moment and also for peace to the departed soul.

DPC: Dimapur Press Club has expressed deep shock at the untimely demise of Daiho Mao, Kohima Correspondent of Nagaland Post.

DPC in a condolence message said: “The press fraternity of Nagaland has lost a very dedicated and sincere member. The void which has been created in his demise would be difficult to fill”.

DPC prayed that the departed soul rest in peace and that the Almighty grant strength and solace to the family members of Late Daiho at this hour of grief.

MPC: Member of the Mokokchung Press Club (MPC) has expressed “deepest sorrow and sadness” at the sudden demise of S. Daiho Mao who died Sunday at Oking Hospital, Kohima.

MPC president Limalenden Longkumer and secretary Sashimeren Jamir recalled that late S. Daiho Mao   “worked selflessly for the society, even during the most volatile situations as a true journalist, never compromised to any situation but continued to uplift the principal and ethics of a free press”.

Acknowledging late Daiho Mao’s exemplary life as a journalist and maturity displayed against all odds, MPC expressed a deep sense of regret and loss at his sudden demise adding the vacuum created would be very difficult to fill.  

MPC further conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and pray to Almighty God to grant them strength and solace at this time of grief and for peace to the departed soul.

SPC: Shillong Press Club (SPC) has expressed profound sorrow at the sudden demise of Shuli Daiho Mao, fondly known as Mao who was a member of the executive committee of SPC during stint in Shillong while he was working for Shillong Times

SPC president David Laitphlang on behalf of all its members condole the untimely death of a hard working and diligent journalist who was also a fine human being.

SPC conveyed deepest condolences to the bereaved family and prayed that God grant solace at this extreme moment of sorrow.

“May he rest in everlasting peace even as he shall be greatly missed by all who knew him well,” SPC conveyed.
Meanwhile, SPC said it would be holding a condolence meeting on Monday at the club premises to pray for the departed soul.

SP Kohima: Superintendent of police, Kohima conveyed deepest sympathy and condolences at the sudden and untimely demise of S. Daiho Mao, senior Correspondent Nagaland Post.

SP Kohima Rothihu Tetseo, in a condolence message said Daiho was a good friend and a close friend of law enforcing agency especially to Kohima Police.

Tetseo said Daiho was “very helpful and always available. His constructive contributions helped the police in many occasion”.

In his death, SP said he has a lost a good friend and a helpful journalist and pray that “his soul rest in peace”.

NSF: Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) expressed deep shock and grief at the sad demise of Shuli Daiho Mao, a renowned senior journalist of Nagaland Post on Sunday.

NSF president Kelhouneizo Yhome described late Daiho as “a talented and dedicated journalist who has a long and prominent standing in the field of journalism”.

NSF said the sudden death of Daiho is a loss of immense proportion, not only to the media fraternity but also for the Nagas.

The Federation has expressed deep sorrow and grief to the bereaved family members and prayed for peace to the departed soul and courage to the family to bear this irreparable loss.

Classic Club: Members of Classic Club, Kohima expressed shocked at the sudden and untimely demise of S. Daiho Mao, Senior Correspondent Nagaland Post. On behalf of Classic Club, president Zakiekhotuo Kiso said the Club has lost a friend and a well wisher.

“At this hour of grief and sorrow we pray to Almighty God grant strength and solace to the bereaved family members and pray that the departed to rest in peace” the Club stated.

NCSU: Nagaland Contractors’ & Suppliers’ Union (NCSU) head office, Kohima has expressed deep shocked over the sudden demise of Late Daiho Mao, senior journalist of Nagaland Post Kohima. NCSU has conveyed condolence to the bereaved family.

Condolence message for family of late Daiho Mao

Dear Family members of Lt. Daiho,
All of us in Nagaland Post are shocked and grieved to learn of the sudden and untimely demise on Sunday afternoon of our dear colleague Daiho under tragic circumstances. 

Late Daiho joined Nagaland Post and worked from 2004 to 2007 and after a brief period of working in another newspaper, returned back to Nagaland Post in 2009.

He was a very intelligent, bold and a professional journalist who was able to understand the complexities of the environment.  In his passing away, not only Nagaland Post but the entire press fraternity in Nagaland will be poorer by the void left behind after his untimely death. We shall always miss him.

We in Nagaland Post express our heartfelt condolence to the family at their hour of deep pain and sorrow. Words are indeed, insufficient to comfort the shock and deep pain of the family. We prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ that, the Holy Spirit the Comforter will grant you strength and comfort to overcome your grief at the darkest hour of your lives.

We also pray that our Almighty God will have mercy upon late Daiho for the good deeds he had done in this world and grant him eternal peace and rest.

Editor and colleagues of Nagaland Post