The passing of Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare has rekindled in us, Papua New Guineans, the unity and nationhood once more.

I felt like living through September 1975 once more in these two weeks of national “hauskrai” (mourning) designated by the National Government under Prime Minister James Marape. The sense of pride, unity and focus on our nation’s future consumed the young nation in 1975. It did that in my opinion during the two weeks of mourning for Sir Michael. The two occasions are starkly different. But the one common denominator in the centre of both occasions 45 years apart is the same – it’s the one man they call Sana (peace maker) and more affectionately “Father of the Nation”. Given what has happened during the national ‘hauskrai’, we can say that Sir Michael in person and in spirit has united us a nation of so many tribes and 860 plus languages with distinct cultures. I feel privileged to have lived through both this momentous occasions, first as a kid in 1975 and now as an adult in 2021. They are once in a lifetime occasions. Much has been said about what Sir Michael did and what he means to the rest of us Papua New Guineans and our country. I will not repeat them here. What is obvious, important and needs repeating throughout the two weeks of mourning and in 1975 is the spirit of oneness and unity of the people, all anticipating a better tomorrow. Sir Michael brought us together and united us first at Self-Government in November 1973 and secondly during the actual independence in September 1975. At his passing and therefore in spirit Sir Michael has united us once more and made us to recognize and appreciate who we are as a nation in our differences and ponder upon where we are heading. Throughout the world, few leaders bring their people together when alive and in death. Sir Michael therefore is now in that exclusive club of leaders who have brought their people together when alive and in spirit upon their passing. Personally, my mentality and image of another Papua New Guinean from a different clan, tribe, cultural group, district, province and region from my own, changed during the national ‘hauskrai’ of Sir Michael. I hope this happened to each one of you Papua New Guineans reading this article. I did not see another Papua New Guinean from another part of the country from the stereotypical and therefore prejudicial lens I was accustomed to in different circumstances. I saw a fellow Papua New Guinean just like me during the ‘hauskrai’ of Sir Michael. It is just a wonderful feeling. I just hope it lasts for the rest of my lifetime and those of my children, their children and the future generations to come. We must sustain this feeling of unity and one-ness and longing for a better future of our country that Sir Michael’s passing has instilled in us. History tells us that many countries in the world rallied around one iconic figure and succeeded in whatever cause they set out to pursue and achieve. Sir Michael is that iconic figure that has brought us together. We owe him and our founding fathers and mothers their individual and collective legacies. Sir Michael is the leader and the figurehead in front of many behind him during those formative years of our country. There were equally committed people behind Sir Michael, giving him the support he needed. He was the captain of the ship, the driver of the bus steering us throughout the years since independence was first mooted in the 1960s and when we attained independence in 1975. And what an astute captain Sir Michael was. The fact that he was the glue of national cohesion and unity is something all of us must never forget and must cherish and nurture it. Sir Michael set the pace and example for all of us to follow. While each one of us may not be able to achieve the exact things he did, he showed us important values and work ethics that we can learn from him. He stood up for justice and equality in his formative years as a “native” student and public servant studying and working under two set of rules and norms – one for the natives like him, and the other for the Caucasians from the colonial establishment. This dualism and or inequality propelled a young Michael Thomas Somare to be a unionist and then entered politics at a young age. From the accounts shared during the tributes at the national ‘hauskrai’, Sir Michael was not a happy man about being a second class human being in his own Mother Land. He took it upon himself to fight injustice and unfair treatment and stood for the empowerment of his people. He stood for fairness and fair go in terms of wages and employment conditions, and socio-economic pursuits. Sir Michael believed in Papua New Guineans’ ability to run their own country at different levels and in different spheres. For him, it was better to make a start then leave it too late. In the home front, he saw all Papua New Guineans as one big family. This again was one of his character trademarks throughout his long political leadership as Prime Minister for 17 years, Opposition Leader, Minister in different portfolios, Governor of East Sepik and Regional MP for East Sepik for 49 years. The fact that he liked all Papua New Guineans as his own people came out loud and clear at the national ‘hauskrai’ in Port Moresby and throughout the different ‘hauskrais’ and gatherings nationwide at the time of the two weeks of national mourning. Sir Michael was our national rallying point and was a magnet that brought us together as one. He really was our number one uniting factor – the nationwide ‘hauskrai’ demonstrated just that. Sir Michael brought us together at independence and he united us in spirit at his death. We must remain united and stand up for all that he stood up for and wanted for his country – our country.