Bot at 15:10, 19 December 2022

2022-12-19T15:10:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:40, 19 December 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{short description\|Indian diplomat}}		{{short description\|Indian diplomat}}
	{{EngvarB\|date=November ~~2022~~}}		{{EngvarB\|date=November 2017}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=November ~~2022~~}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2017}}
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Ralengnao Khathing		\| name = Ralengnao Khathing

Bot at 15:10, 19 December 2022

2022-12-19T15:10:07Z

New page

{{short description|Indian diplomat}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ralengnao Khathing
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_date = 28 February 1912
| birth_place = [[Ukhrul]], Manipur, India
| death_date = 12 January 1990
| death_place = Mantripukhri, [[Imphal]], Manipur, India
| restingplace = Valley View
| restingplacecoordinates = {{Coord|24|50|54|N|93|56|09|E|}}
| othername =
| occupation = Army major, civil servant, diplomat
| yearsactive =
| known for =
| spouse =
| domesticpartner =
| children = four children
| parents =
| website =
| awards = [[Padma Shri]]<br />[[Member of the Order of the British Empire]]<br />[[Military Cross]]<br />[[Commander-in-Chief, India|C-in-C]] Gallantry Certificate
}}
'''Ralengnao Khathing''' [[Military Cross|MC]], [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (1912–1990) popularly known as '''Bob Khathing''', was an Indian soldier, civil servant and diplomat<ref name="Sangai Express">{{cite news |title=Fitting tributes paid to Major Bob Khathing |publisher=Sangai Express |date=12 January 2015 |archive-date=18 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418002417/http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/page/items/47352/fitting-tributes-paid-to-major-bob-khathing |url=http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/page/items/47352/fitting-tributes-paid-to-major-bob-khathing |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Manipur Update">{{cite web |url=http://manipurupdate.com/bob-khathing-remembered-on-his-25th-death-anniversary/ |title=Manipur Update |publisher=Manipur Update |year=2015 |archive-date=17 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417210942/http://manipurupdate.com/bob-khathing-remembered-on-his-25th-death-anniversary/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Eastern Mirror">{{cite news |title=Bob Kathing remembered in Imphal |work=Eastern Mirror |year=2015 |archive-date=17 April 2015 |url=http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/2015/01/bob-kathing-remembered-in-imphal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417231046/http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/2015/01/bob-kathing-remembered-in-imphal/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Imphal Free Press">{{cite web |url=http://ifp.co.in/page/items/24901/legendary-bob-khathing-remembered-on-25th-death-anniversary |title=Imphal Free Press |publisher=Imphal Free Press |year=2015 |archive-date=17 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417225817/http://ifp.co.in/page/items/24901/legendary-bob-khathing-remembered-on-25th-death-anniversary |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the first person of tribal origin to serve as an Ambassador for India.<ref name="Assam Tribune">{{cite news |title=WW-II veteran from NE who became envoy to Myanmar |work=Assam Tribune |date=13 January 2015 |url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jan1315%2Fat057 |archive-date=17 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417204252/http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jan1315%2Fat057 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="North East India">
{{cite web |title=Major Ralengnao "Bob" Khathing - the first tribal ambassador from North-East India |publisher=North East India |year=2015 |url=http://www.india-north-east.com/2015/01/major-ralengnao-bob-khathing-manipur.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317161558/http://www.india-north-east.com/2015/01/major-ralengnao-bob-khathing-manipur.html |archive-date=17 March 2015 |url-status=dead }}
</ref><ref name="Eastern Panorama">{{cite news |title=Ralengnao Khathing: Service Unmatched |publisher=Eastern Panorama |date=April 2012 |url=http://www.easternpanorama.in/index.php/2011/89-2012/april-2012/1902-ralengnao-khathing |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923232551/http://www.easternpanorama.in/index.php/2011/89-2012/april-2012/1902-ralengnao-khathing |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Lan Pao">{{cite news |title=Major Khathing remembered |publisher=Huieyen Lan Pao |date=18 April 2015 |url=http://www.hueiyenlanpao.com/headlines/item/421-major-khathing-remembered |archive-date=17 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417231720/http://www.hueiyenlanpao.com/headlines/item/421-major-khathing-remembered |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Government of India]] honoured him in 1957, with the award of [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest Indian civilian award for his services to the nation.<ref name="Padma Shri">{{cite web |title=Padma Awards (1954–2013) |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |year=2015 |archive-date=19 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019215108/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ralengnao Khathing led the first armed forces into Tawang that established Indian control in the region,under the direct supervision of the then Assam governor [[Jairamdas Daulatram]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/when-bob-khathing-marched-in-indias-tawang-action-of-1951-may-have-been-sardar-patels-last-gift-to-nation-11824581.html|title=When Bob Khathing marched in: India’s Tawang action of 1951 may have been Sardar Patel’s last gift to nation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/army-man-major-ralengnao-bob-khathing-who-brought-tawang-under-indias-control-to-be-honoured-tomorrow-2369857|title=Army Man Who Brought Tawang Under India's Control To Be Honoured Tomorrow}}</ref>

==Biography==
Ralengnao Khathing was born on 28 February 1912<ref name="Times of India">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Manipur-remembers-man-who-won-Tawang/articleshow/45859646.cms |title=Manipur remembers man who won Tawang | Guwahati News - Times of India |work=The Times of India |date=13 January 2015 |archive-date=27 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527133428/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Manipur-remembers-man-who-won-Tawang/articleshow/45859646.cms |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="E Pao">{{cite news |title=Bob Khathing remembered on his 25th Death Anniversary |newspaper=Hueiyen News Service (via E-PAO) |date=12 January 2015 |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=28..130115.jan15 |archive-date=17 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417233319/http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=28..130115.jan15 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (date of birth disputed, other reports stating it as 25 February<ref name="Telegraph India">
{{cite news |title=Bob Kathing remembered |work=The Telegraph |date=13 January 2015 |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150113/jsp/northeast/story_8171.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417231020/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150113/jsp/northeast/story_8171.jsp |archive-date=17 April 2015 |url-status=dead}}
</ref> and 8 February<ref name="North East India" /><ref name="Kangla Online">{{cite web |title=Legendry Hero Of Manipur In Peace And War: Major Ralengnao (Bob) Khathing, Padma Shri, MC, MBE |publisher=Kangla Online |date=26 February 2012 |url=http://kanglaonline.com/2012/02/legendry-hero-of-manipur-in-peace-and-war-major-ralengnao-bob-khathing-padma-shri-mc-mbe/|archive-date=24 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624175119/http://kanglaonline.com/2012/02/legendry-hero-of-manipur-in-peace-and-war-major-ralengnao-bob-khathing-padma-shri-mc-mbe/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>) at [[Ukhrul]], a suburban district near [[Imphal]], in the North East Indian state of [[Manipur]] in a [[Tangkhul Naga people|Tangkhul]] family.<ref name="North East India" /> He did his schooling at Kangpokpi Mission ME School and [[Johnstone Higher Secondary School, Imphal]] and joined Cotton College, Guwahati of Calcutta University from where he graduated, becoming first tribal graduate from the Manipur.<ref name="Assam Tribune" /><ref name="North East India" /> He started his career by joining the British Army and participated in World War II, first as the Commissioner of the 19th Hyderabad Regiment (later day [[Kumaon Regiment]]) and then as the Local Captain of the [[V Force]] Operations in Manipur.<ref name="North East India" /><ref name="Times of India" /><ref name="Kangla">{{cite news |title=Legendary Bob Khathing remembered on 25th death anniversary |newspaper=Imphal Free Press |year=12 January 2015 |url=http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/legendary-bob-khathing-remembered-on-25th-death-anniversary/|archive-date=31 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731022907/http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/legendary-bob-khathing-remembered-on-25th-death-anniversary/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Khathing, on advice from the then [[Ningthouja dynasty|Maharaja of Manipur]], retired from the Army after the war and joined the Government of Manipur as the Minister for Hills Administration.<ref name="North East India" /> After the Indian independence, he was elected to the first Manipur Assembly, in 1948,<ref name="Telegraph India" /> representing Sadar constituency and served as the Minister for Hills Administration and Manipur Rifles till the assembly was dissolved in 1949, upon assimilation into Indian Union.<ref name="North East India" /> The next year, he was selected as the Assistant Commandant of the 2nd Battalion of [[Assam Rifles]].<ref name="Assam Tribune" /> During his tenure there, he was involved with the rescue and rehabilitation operations in the wake of the 1950 earthquake in Assam.<ref name="North East India" /> The next assignment was as the Assistant Political Officer of [[North East Frontier Agency]] (NEFA).<ref name="Assam Tribune" /> Under his leadership, two platoons of Assam Rifles took possession of [[Tawang]] in 1950, establishing Indian administrative control in the [[Bum La Pass|Bum La]] area along [[McMahon Line]].<ref name="North East India" /><ref name="Times of India" />

In 1953, the [[Government of India]] constituted the [[Civil Services of India|Indian Frontier Administrative Service]] (IFAS) and Khathing was inducted as one of the two officers of the civil service.<ref name="North East India" /> His first posting as an IFAS officer was at [[Tuensang|Tuensang Frontier Division]] as the Political Officer in 1954 and his contribution is reported in the establishment of the Village Volunteer Force.<ref name="Assam Tribune" /><ref name="North East India" /> After four years at the post, he was promoted as the first Deputy Commissioner of [[Mokokchung district]].<ref name="North East India" /> In 1961, he became the first Indian citizen to study at the [[National Defence College (India)|National Defence College]], New Delhi and completed the course in its second batch.<ref name="Assam Tribune" /> The next year, he was posted as the Development Commissioner of Sikkim but the tenure was short lived as he was transferred as the Security Commissioner of NEFA when the [[Sino-Indian War]] of 1962 broke out.<ref name="Assam Tribune" /> He also worked as the Chief Civil Liaison Officer of [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]], [[Tezpur]]<ref name="North East India" /> and his contributions are reported in the formation of [[Sashastra Seema Bal]], a paramilitary force established following the 1962 war.<ref name="North East India" />

Khathing became the Chief Secretary of [[Nagaland]] in 1967. It was during his tenure, the [[Nagaland Police|Nagaland Armed Police]] and [[Naga Regiment]] were established.<ref name="Assam Tribune" /> Five years later, he became the first Indian tribal to become an Ambassador when he was selected as the Indian Ambassador to Burma, in 1972.<ref name="Assam Tribune" /> He worked in Burma for three years and retired from service in 1975.<ref name="Eastern Panorama" /> Though the post of a State Governor was offered to him, he declined it<ref name="Eastern Panorama" /> but served as the Advisor to the Governor of Manipur, as the chairman, Tribal Law Commission and Administrative Reforms Commission and the Chairman of the Administrative Commission, [[Nagaland]].<ref name="North East India" /> He also served as a member of the committee to finalise the 16-point agreement that led to the [[Shillong Accord of 1975]] and the formation of the state of [[Nagaland]].<ref name="Kangla Online" />

Ralengnao Khathing died at his home at Valley View, Mantripukhri, [[Imphal]], on 12 January 1990.<ref name="Assam Tribune" /><ref name="North East India" /> He had four children, two sons, John Somi R Khathing and [[Darlando Khathing|Darlando Thanmi Khathing]], and two daughters, Leballa Khathing Gupta and Sela N Khathing.<ref name="Lan Pao" /> John Khathing is a former chief commissioner of Customs and Central Excise<ref name="Manipur Update" /> and Darlando is the vice-chancellor of the [[Central University of Jharkhand]].<ref name="Lan Pao" /> The eldest daughter, Leballa serves as the secretary of the All India Kitchen Garden Association while the younger daughter, Sela, is a professor and Head of the Department of English at Lady Keane College, [[Shillong]].<ref name="Lan Pao" />

==Awards and recognitions==
Khating was awarded the [[Military Cross]] by the British Empire for his services to the British Army during [[World War II]].<ref name="Assam Tribune" /><ref name="North East India" /><ref name="Telegraph India" /> Later, the Queen of the United Kingdom honoured him with the title of [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE).<ref name="Assam Tribune" /><ref name="North East India" /><ref name="Eastern Panorama" /><ref name="Telegraph India" /> The [[Government of India]] awarded him the fourth highest civilian award of [[Padma Shri]] in 1957,<ref name="Eastern Panorama" /><ref name="Padma Shri" /><ref name="Telegraph India" /> the first person from the state of [[Manipur]] to receive the award.<ref name="Sangai Express" /> He was also a two time recipient of the Gallantry Certificate of the [[Commander-in-Chief, India|Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army]].<ref name="Eastern Panorama" /><ref name="Kangla Online" />

==Award gallery==
<gallery>
File:Military Cross.jpg|Military Cross
File:Mbe_medal_front_and_reverse.jpg|Order of the British Empire
File:Padma Shri India IIIe Klasse.jpg|Padma Shri
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[North East Frontier Agency]]
* [[V Force]]
* [[Sashastra Seema Bal]]
* [[Shillong Accord of 1975]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Public Affairs}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khathing, Ralengnao}}
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in public affairs]]
[[Category:People from Ukhrul district]]
[[Category:Naga people]]
[[Category:Manipur politicians]]
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian civil servants]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Cross]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Myanmar|1972]]

Ralengnao Khathing - Revision history

Bot at 15:10, 19 December 2022

Bot at 15:10, 19 December 2022