Put nation first, remain united, discharge duties honestly & move fearlessly towards set goals!

Put nation first, remain united, discharge duties honestly & move fearlessly towards set goals and that is what Ralengnao Khathing (called by his colleagues as Bob) did!

-About the man:

-Ralengnao Khathing MC, MBE (1912–1990), also known as Bob Khathing, was an Indian soldier, civil servant and diplomat and the first person of tribal origin to serve as an Ambassador for India.

• 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.
• 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.

-Ralengnao Khathing was born at Ukhrul, a suburban district near Imphal, in the North East Indian state of Manipur in a Tangkhul family.

• He did his schooling at Kangpokpi Mission ME School and John stone Higher Secondary School, Imphal and joined Cotton College, Guwahati of Calcutta University from where he graduated, becoming the first tribal graduate from Manipur.
• 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.

-Khathing, on advice from the then Maharaja of Manipur, retired from the Army after the war and joined the Government of Manipur as the Minister for Hills Administration.

• After the Indian independence, he was elected to the first Manipur Assembly, in 1948, representing Sadar constituency and served as the Minister for Hills Administration and Manipur Rifles till the assembly was dissolved in 1949, upon assimilation into the Indian Union.
• The next year, he was selected as the Assistant Commandant of the 2nd Battalion of Assam Rifles. During his tenure there, he was involved with the rescue and rehabilitation operations in the wake of the 1950 earthquake in Assam.
• The next assignment was as the Assistant Political Officer of North East Frontier Agency (NEFA). Under his leadership, two platoons of Assam Rifles took possession of Tawang in 1950, establishing Indian administrative control in the Bum La area along the McMahon Line.

-In 1953, the Government of India constituted the Indian Frontier Administrative Service (IFAS) and Khathing was inducted as one of the two officers of the civil service.

• His first posting as an IFAS officer was at Tuensang Frontier Division as the Political Officer in 1954 and his contribution is reported in the establishment of the Village Volunteer Force.
• After four years at the post, he was promoted as the first Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung district.
• In 1961, he became the first Indian citizen to study at the National Defence College, New Delhi and completed the course in its second batch.
• 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.
• He also worked as the Chief Civil Liaison Officer of IV Corps, Tezpur and his contributions are reported in the formation of Sashastra Seema Bal, a paramilitary force established following the 1962 war.

-Khathing became the Chief Secretary of Nagaland in 1967. It was during his tenure, the Nagaland Armed Police and Naga Regiment were established.

• 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.

-He worked in Burma for three years and retired from service in 1975. Though the post of a State Governor was offered to him, he declined it 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.

• 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.

-Khathing died at his home at Valley View, Mantripukhri, Imphal, on 12 January 1990. He had four children, two sons, John Somi R Khathing and Darlando Thanmi Khathing, and two daughters, Leballa Khathing Gupta and Sela N Khathing.

• John Khathing is a former chief commissioner of Customs and Central Exciseand Darlando is the vice-chancellor of the Central University of Jharkhand.
• 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.

-Khating was awarded the Military Cross by the British Empire for his services to the British Army during World War II.

• Later, the Queen of the United Kingdom honoured him with the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
• The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri in 1957, the first person from the state of Manipur to receive the award.
• He was also a two time recipient of the Gallantry Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.

The present:

Rajnath Singh has called upon the people to always put the nation first, remain united, discharge the duties with honesty, and move fearlessly towards achieving their goals, which were the core principles of Major Bob Khathing, an extraordinary figure who made invaluable contributions to the North-East region and national security.

The Defense Minister was addressing the fifth edition of the Major Bob Khathing Memorial Event jointly organised by the Indian Army, Assam Rifles and United Services Institution of India (USI) at Delhi Cantt on March 19, 2025 to honour the life and legacy of the legendary figure.

Paying glowing tributes to Major Bob Khathing, Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that India has been fortunate that it is home to such prominent personalities for whom security, integrity and sovereignty of the nation is paramount. He termed

Major Khathing was a great son of India, who left an indelible mark in the history of the country through his bravery in the battlefield and skill in the field of diplomacy. It is the responsibility of the people to adopt the ideals and principles of such great personalities, he said.

The Defense Minister commended Major Khathing’s role in integrating, developing and rebuilding not only Tawang but the entire North-East region. “Major Bob Khathing made a significant contribution in strengthening national unity. The work he carried out for the North-East is similar to what Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel did at the national level,” he said.

The Defense Minister added that Major Bob Khathing efficiently carried out the integration of Tawang into India without firing a single bullet, and the Government, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, follows the principles of such revolutionaries. “We completely merged Jammu and Kashmir into India by removing the biggest hurdle – Article 370 – without firing a single bullet. The work was carried out peacefully with full security, keeping all the stakeholders in mind,” he said.

Rajnath Singh highlighted the administrative proficiency of Major Khathing, especially his contribution in the formation of Sashastra Seema Bal & Nagaland Armed Police and other such reforms. He emphasised that, on similar lines, the Government is focussing on administrative reforms. “Through ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ and ‘Good Governance’, we have reduced the gap between the people and the government. Through ‘Digital India’ and ‘Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile (JAM) Trinity’, today administration has become more people-oriented,” he said.

The Defense Minister pointed out that the Government’s foreign policy is based on the diplomatic skills of personalities such as Major Khathing. “Today, India is maintaining a balance between its hard power and soft power amidst the prevailing uncertainties in the multipolar world. It is a matter of great pride that India has strengthened its global position. A new, strong and organised India has emerged before the world. There was a time when India was not taken seriously on international forums. But today, when we speak, the world listens. This is inspired by the ideals of Major Khathing,” he said.

Rajnath Singh expressed satisfaction over the fact that India is touching greater heights due to the organisational skills imbibed from personalities like Major Khathing. He stressed on the need to remain organised for India to transform into Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The minister had, in October 2024, virtually inaugurated Major Ralengnao ‘Bob’ Khathing ‘Museum of Valour’ in Tawang. He was scheduled to visit Tawang, but could not due to bad weather. He carried out the inauguration from 4 Corps Headquarters in Tezpur, Assam. Rajnath Singh lauded the will and courage of the residents of the North-East region who continue to contribute to nation building despite living in challenging conditions.

Rajnath Singh acknowledged the role of the North East in India’s development journey and voiced the Government’s commitment towards increasing the region’s contribution and its progress. “We have always given priority to the development of the region. Among the infrastructure projects is the Sela Tunnel built at a height of 13,000 feet connecting Tezpur in Assam to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. In addition, the opening of the Arunachal frontier highway will play a big role in enhancing the connectivity of the entire North East region, especially border areas. This approximately 2,000 km long will act as a strategic and economic asset for India,” he said.

Defense Minister further stated that it is the result of the developmental projects launched by the Government that the North East is rapidly progressing on the path of development and violent incidents have reduced significantly. He referred to the list of ‘52 Places To Visit In 2025’ released by The New York Times, which has placed Assam on the fourth place.

During the event, Rajnath Singh visited a specially curated photo gallery showcasing Major Bob Khathing’s remarkable achievements and enduring legacy. He also attended the screening of a film depicting the pivotal moments of Major Khathing’s life and service.

The event witnessed the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Pema Khandu, Member of Parliament Shri Alfred Kanngam Arthur, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Director General Assam Rifles Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera and DG, USI Maj Gen BK Sharma (Retd).

A keynote address titled ‘Deciphering Implications of Major Bob Khathing’s Expedition to Tawang’ was delivered by former DG, Assam Rifles Lt Gen PC Nair (Retd). His address provided deep insights into the strategic ramifications of Major Khathing’s expedition and its lasting impact on national security.

Shri John Khathing, son of Major Bob Khathing, shared heartfelt reminiscences about his father’s remarkable life and legacy, adding a personal dimension to the commemoration. The event also featured vibrant cultural performances by troupes showcasing the rich and diverse heritage of North-East.