Senior journalist Xavier Rutsa no more

Our Correspondent Kohima, June 11 (EMN): Nagaland’s media fraternity on Monday afternoon bade a tearful farewell to senior journalist and president of the Kohima Press Club (KPC), Xavier Rutsa, who passed away during the early hours of June 11. He was 41. The journalist is said to have suffered a stroke and collapsing on a set of steps when returning home from a meeting at around 12:30 am. According to Rutsa’s family, he was rushed to a hospital after the fall where he was declared dead. A moving funeral service was held at New Market in the afternoon where hundreds of people came to pay their last respects. “He (Rutsa) has been a torchbearer for journalism and for the welfare of journalists right from the time he entered the profession two decades ago,” a representative of Kohima Press Club said in an eulogy during the service. Rutsa was described as ‘a friend, brother and mentor’ to the members of the club which he co-founded with several other likeminded journalists. “We are so privileged to have worked with someone like him- a man with a strong conviction for the profession, unambiguous principles and as many would put it, a master of his trade, a leader who had such a deep care about fellow reporters, both seniors and juniors alike,” the eulogy read. “Xavier has taught us strong values and the importance of working as a team, tolerance towards one another, generosity and acceptance of one another’s weaknesses. We will always remember him as a leader, a fighter for the rights of the Fourth Estate as well as the downtrodden in the society,” it added. His demise was stated to be a great loss for the press fraternity not just in Nagaland but across the north east, and the country. Members of the group paid homage to their departed leader by laying wreaths by the coffin after the eulogy was read out. Rutsa, born on August 23, 1976, is stated to have started his journey in journalism by freelancing for the then Kohima-based daily The Northeast Herald during the 1990s. He then worked for Nagaland Post, contributed to Eastern Panorama and later became the Kohima correspondent for Times of India, a position he kept till his passing. His writings also covered the rich culture and traditions of the Nagas, their love for sports and music. Besides the press fraternity, he was also associated with various social organisations including youth and sports and was involved with philanthropic work as well particularly for orphanages. Nagaland Governor PB Acharya, Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker Vikho-o Yhoshü, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, leader of opposition TR Zeliang and different political parties in the state have also expressed grief over Rutsa’s untimely death. Eastern Mirror We are deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of Xavier Rutsa in the early hours of June 11 2018 in Kohima. Along with his other innumerable contributions to various organisation, and his mentorship as a senior journalist, he was a thorough gentleman who had an air of genuineness around him. We thank him for his authenticity during his lifetime. He was active and given to his work and activism as a journalist. A good instance of his ownership of his role as a herald was his quick online news updates in the Facebook group ‘News of the Day,’ which was always refreshing. Such was the person of Rutsa. The Eastern Mirror family conveys our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members at this hour of grief. May his soul rest in peace.