GUWAHATI: University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) on Monday observed the third death anniversary of former Lok Sabha Speaker and former chief minister of Meghalaya, PA Sangma, on its Baridua (Ri Bhoi) campus on Monday.
The Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, faculty members, students and staff of the university paid floral tributes to the visionary leader and recalled his contributions.
Addressing the gathering, USTM chancellor, Mahbubul Hoque, said, “USTM is highly grateful to Late PA Sangma as he played a vital role during the enactment of the USTM Act in the Meghalaya Assembly in 2008. He was a visionary who wanted to nurture the young minds through education. He had always been a mentor and well-wisher and USTM is committed to him particularly for his support and encouragement in our initiative to establish a higher educational institution on the state of Meghalaya.”
“We are also thankful to the then chief minister of Meghalaya Dr Donkupar Roy and the then Education Minister, Manas Chaudhuri, for their positive role”, Hoque said.
“We are really grateful to the present chief minister, Conrad K Sangma and his team for the moral support and help for progress of the university”, he added.
During the past three years, USTM has remembered PA Sangma in many ways and has been engaged in various activities as mark of tribute to the visionary leader.
Currently, one eight-story building is being constructed at USTM in his memory and named PA Sangma International Block.
In September 2018, PA Sangma Chair Professor for Tribal Studies was launched at USTM by Meghalaya home minister, James K Sangma under which various research activities are being planned to be carried out.
The most ambitious project of USTM in hand currently is the proposed PA Sangma International Medical College and Hospital which will be established soon in the institution’s campus. USTM also instituted the PA Sangma Best Undergraduate Award which was first given during its fourth convocation in September 2018 and will be continued every year, a statement issued here said.