Senayangba Chubatoshi Jamir is an Indian politician and former Governor of Odisha. He was Parliamentary Secretary to Jawaharlal Nehru and Deputy Minister under Indira Gandhi. He has served as the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Governor of Maharashtra, Governor of Gujarat & Governor of Goa. He was awarded the third-highest Civilian Award in India, Padma Bhusan in 2020 for his work in public affairs.
Gaidinliu Pamei popularly known as Rani Gaidinliu was an Indian Naga spiritual and freedom fighter, political leader who led a revolt against British rule in India. At the age of 13, she joined the Heraka religious movement of her cousin Haipou Jadonang. The movement later turned into a political movement seeking to drive out the British from Manipur. Within the Heraka faith, she came to be considered an incarnation of the Goddess Cherachamdinliu. Gaidinliu was arrested in 1932 at the age of 16, and was sentenced to life imprisonment by the British rulers. Jawaharlal Nehru met her at Shillong Jail in 1937, and promised to pursue her release. Nehru gave her the title of "Rani" ("Queen"), and she gained local popularity as Rani Gaidinliu.
Temsüla Ao was an Indian poet, fiction writer, and ethnographer. She was a professor of English at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) from where she retired in 2010. She served as the director of the North East Zone Cultural Centre between 1992 and 1997 on deputation from NEHU. She was awarded the Padma Shri award for her contribution to literature and education. Her book Laburnum For My Head received the Sahitya Akademi Award for English writing in the short story category. Her works have been translated into Assamese, Bengali, French, German, Hindi, and Kannada.
M. Aram (1927–1997) was an educator and peace advocate from India.
Rewben Mashangva, also Guru Rewben Mashangva, is a folk musician and singer from Manipur, India. He is known for reviving musical tradition of the Tangkhul Naga of Manipur, and use of traditional musical instruments in his songs. Influenced by musicians such as Bob Dylan and Bob Marley, Rewben Mashangva has created many Naga tribal folk songs based on blues and ballad rhythms. He is known by different names including, 'Bob Dylan of the Nagas' and 'King of Naga folk blues', plus 'Father of Naga folk blues'. He received the National Tribal Award 2011–12, for his contribution to the development of tribal music from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. The Government of India honoured him in 2021, with the award of Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award for his rich contribution to art.
Neidonuo Angami is an Indian social worker and one of the founders of the Naga Mothers' Association, a non governmental organization working for remedying the social problems in Nagaland, India. She is reported to have been selected as one of the 1000 women shortlisted for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2005. She was honored by the Government of India, in 2000, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.
L. Kijungluba was the first Baptist missionary from Nagaland. He was born in Lirmen Village, Mokokchung District, Nagaland, India.
Mayangnokcha Ao (1901–1988) was an Indian educationist and writer from Nagaland and the founder, Vice President of the Naga National Council.
Natwar Thakkar, popularly known as Natwar Bhai, was an Indian social worker who worked in Nagaland. He came from Maharashtra but migrated to Nagaland for social work at the age of 23. He founded the Nagaland Gandhi Ashram at Chuchuyimlang village in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland. Because of his efforts to spread Gandhian philosophy in Nagaland and his social work, he was known as "Nagaland's Gandhi".
Mülhüpra Vero (1934–2020) was an Indian politician and the first member of parliament from among the Naga people. He was the recipient of the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, in 2006 for his contribution to the social work.
Vamuzo Phesao was a Naga politician. He became the Chief Minister of Nagaland in 1990. His government was dismissed and President's rule was imposed in 1992
Tokheho Sema was an Indian politician from the state of Nagaland. He served as a member of the 'Nagaland Interim Body' which oversaw the formation of the state in 1963. In 2016, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour, for his contribution to public affairs.
Rano Mese Shaiza was an Indian politician and a member of the United Democratic Party. Shaiza was the only woman Member of India's Lower House from the state of Nagaland to date.
The Naga Mothers' Association (NMA) is a civil society organisation formed by women in Nagaland. The organisation has consistently tried to address problems of conflict, peace building and substance abuse by creating a platform for dialogue that brings together disparate voices. Ever since its formation, through the 80s and 90s, NMA have consistently voiced their opinion against fratricidal killings, violence between different Naga outfits such as NSCN (I-M) and NSCN (K), and the Indian security forces.
Padma Shri Piyong Temjen Jamir was a noted Hindi scholar and littérateur from Longsa village under Mokokchung district in Nagaland state of India. He was conferred the Padma Sri honour by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, in 2018 for the promotion of Hindi language and social work.
Dr Leela Joshi is an Indian gynaecologist and social worker known for her work with tribal women and teenage girls suffering from Anemia in Ratlam district. Nicknamed as the Mother Teresa of the Malwa region, Dr Joshi was conferred Padma Shri in 2020.
Nagaland Women Commission is a statutory body constituted in the year 1993 to deal with the issues relating to crime against women in the state of Nagaland. The commission for welfare of women in the state was set up by Nagaland Government as a quasi-judicial body.
T. Senka Ao is a journalist from the Indian state of Nagaland. Senka Ao is best known for his work as the Editor-in-Chief of the "Ao Milen", the first newspaper in Nagaland established in 1933 and the first newspaper ever to be published in the local Ao language. During the period of his edittorship, Senka Ao created the "Alokba" character famous for his witty commentary on social and current issues. Senka Ao has contributed several articles to various publications and has authored nine books in the Ao language. Two of his books Kongro Lijen and Kishi Tezulen are in the process of translation into English. Senka Ao's books have been included in the syllabus of the Ao language in ICSE and ISC Board New Delhi, and up to class 10 under Nagaland Board of School Education. He is an examiner of Arrangtet Examination which is the highest Ao language degree.
Lata Desai is a medical doctor from the Indian State of Gujarat who is 1980 along with her husband Dr. Anil Desai and a few friends founded the Society for Education Welfare and Action - Rural, a voluntary organization devoted to health and development activities in the tribal area of South Gujarat.
Gamit Ramilaben Raysingbhai is a tribal social worker from Taparwada Village, Tapi district, Gujarat, India, known for her work in transforming several villages in Gujarat to open-defecation free villages. She is also known for her work for the empowerment of rural women by setting up a large number of self help groups of women. In the year 2022, the government of India honoured Gamit Ramilaben Raysingbhai by conferring the Padma Shri Award for her contribution to social work.
