ITANAGAR, Feb 19: The eldest daughter of the first Lt. Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Late KAA Raja, Mrs Vijayalakshmi, along with her youngest sibling  Mrs Maragathavalli and other relatives called on the Governor Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd.) and the First Lady of the State Smt Neelam Misra at Raj Bhavan today.

The Governor complimented the family members of Late Lt. Governor Raja for accepting the invitation of our State and coming to Arunachal Pradesh to receive the ‘Arunachal Ratna’ award conferred posthumously on Raja. The Governor told the visitors that the foundation stone of the present Raj Bhavan was laid by Late KAA Raja and showed them the well kept foundation stone plaque and also conducted the visitors around the Raj Bhavan premises.

The Governor, who hails from Madras Regiment said that Late Lt. Governor KAA Raja’s brother Late Major General KAS Raja, was one of the distinguished Generals of the Madras Regiment and the Governor had the good occasion to have personally interacted with him.

The Governor said that Late Raja distinctively and distinguishably contributed in the growth and development, in the nascent stage of the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh. Due to his visionary guidance, the State has grown on the strong foundation laid by him especially in the field of education, Mishra said.

Late Shri KAA Raja’s eldest daughter-in-law of Dr. Lalitha Raja, eldest grandson Mr. Jai Venkatesh, grand daughter-in-law Mrs. Krishna Priya and brother of Dr. Lalitha Mr. Krishna Kumar were also present on the occasion. Mrs. Vijayalaxmi  and Mrs Maragathavalli fondly and emotionally recalled their early days in the then Raj Niwas at Naharlagun and also their occasional visits to the present Raj Bhavan, then under construction as the seat of the capital of the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh. The Arunachal Pradesh government has announced the posthumous award of ‘Arunachal Ratna’, the highest State Award, for the first Lieutenant  Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Late KAA Raja for his immense and unforgettable contributions in the socio-economic and administrative development of the State. The award will be presented on the occasion of 36th Statehood Day ceremony on 20th February at Yupia.