SHILLONG/GUWAHATI, March 4: The National People’s Party (NPP) on Thursday remembered its founder and former Meghalaya chief minister, Purno Agitok Sangma, on his death anniversary at the party headquarters in Shillong.
According to a statement, the programme was attended by senior office-bearers of the NPP and the members of the National People’s Youth Front (NPYF).
During the programme, various NPP members recalled Sangma’s contribution to NPP, the state and the country as a whole.
Sangma was also remembered as a great visionary “who had groomed many leaders and that he (the NPP founder) was not only a national but also an international leader”.
“Throughout his career, Sangma rarely lost his sense of equanimity and roots. He waged an untiring battle on the forgotten and neglected issues of the North East. In January 2013, he founded the NPP with an endeavour to champion the cause of the indigenous people of India, particularly the North East region, in order to voice the concerns of the indigenous communities and minorities,” a statement from the NPP said on Thursday.
Sangma’s dream was to unite all the people of the North East was also recalled during the programme.
An interfaith prayer meeting was also held during the ceremony.
Observance at USTM
The University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM), observed the fifth death anniversary of former Lok Sabha Speaker and former Meghalaya chief minister, PA Sangma, on its campus at Baridua on Thursday.
Floral tributes were paid to the leader during an event, which was attended by the vice-chancellor, adviser, academic registrar, faculty members, students and officials of the university.
Addressing the gathering, Prof GD Sharma, vice-chancellor of USTM, said, “The university is highly grateful to Late PA Sangma as he had played a vital role during the enactment of the USTM Act in the Meghalaya Assembly in 2008.”
“Late PA Sangma was a visionary leader who wanted to nurture the young minds through education,” Sharma added.
“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 in Meghalaya,” the VC said.
It may be mentioned that in the past five years, USTM has engaged in different activities to remember the former chief minister,.
In September 2018, the PA Sangma Chair Professor for Tribal Studies was launched at USTM by the then Home Minister James K Sangma under which various research activities are being carried out.
“The most ambitious project of USTM presently is the proposed PA Sangma International Medical College and Hospital, which will be established soon at the USTM campus,” a statement issued on Thursday said.
USTM has also instituted the PA Sangma Best Undergraduate Award which was first given away during its fourth convocation held in September 2018 and has been continuing every year since then.