Former journalist and former chief secretary of Nagaland, P Talitemjen Ao, passed away on July 28 morning in Kohima.
Aa retired IAS officer, P Talitemjen Ao was born on February 26, 1944 at Akhoya village in Mokokchung district, the eldest son of I Pangersowa Jamir.
Before he joined the IAS, Talittemjen edited a vernacular newspaper called Ao Milen. He served as editor Ao Milen from Shillong in 1964.
As a social leader, he served in various capacities such as president, Naga Students’ Union, Shillong, 1965 – 1966; president, Langpangkong Students’ Conference (LKM), 1965-1967; president, Naga Students Union, Guwahati, 1968 -1969; president, Ao Students’ Conference (AKM), 1969 – 1971; president, IAS Association, Nagaland till 2003 and president, Nagaland Rifle Association and Kohima Rifle Club till 2012.
P Talitemjen Ao did his primary and middle schooling from Chuchuyimlang Govt ME School, Nagaland till 1957 and later went to St Anthony’s High School, Shillong, from 1958 to 1959. He then studied at Government High School, Mokokchung, 1960 – 1961 and passed his matriculation examination in 1962.
Talitemjen went on to study at St Edmund’s College, Shillong (1962 – 1967) and graduated in Bachelor of Arts. He completed his Master of Arts in English from Gauhati University (1968 – 1970).
He cleared the Nagaland Public Service Commission civil service exam in 1972 and got into the Nagaland Civil Service as an extra assistant commissioner. He was posted as extra assistant commissioner, Mokokchung, from 1972 – 1973. He then cleared the Union Public Service Commission examination and joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1973 (Nagaland cadre).
Talitemjen served in various categories in a number of departments in the state including home commissioner, Nagaland and commissioner, Nagaland. He was chief secretary of Nagaland from July 2004 till his retirement from service in February 2006. He was appointed as the first chief information commissioner, Nagaland Information Commission, in March 2006 and served till February 2011.
P Talitemjen Ao is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
