SHILLONG, May 14: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has contended that tribals must do innovative thinking to meet the challenges of modern society.
Conrad said this in his address during the inaugural session of the first Purno A Sangma Memorial Lecture-cum-Seminar at Bodoland University in Kokrajhar, Assam.
The inaugural programme was also attended by Assam Minister UG Brahma and CEM of Bodoland Territorial Council Pramod Boro.
Conrad, in his address, also urged the tribal community, especially the youths, to explore means to contribute towards nation-building.
Pledging his support to initiatives taken for conservation of tribal culture, Conrad also exhorted the students to work hard and lead their peers in chosen fields.
During the programme, Conrad also revealed that it was the missionaries that not only adopted Purno Agitok Sangma as a child but also taught him the lessons of life.
Dwelling at length about the ideals of his father, Conrad said, “(L) PA Sangma, as a person, has left behind a legacy for generations. For me, as a person, he was more than a father. He was a simple person but always stood for the rights of our people. He has always voiced his concerns for the people of the region. He has motivated many youngsters like me during his peak in politics,” the chief minister said.
Conrad also informed that his father, who always stood for the voiceless and the marginalised, was faced with struggles as a child.
“My late father had a hard life as a child. Nothing came easy to him. He was adopted by the missionaries where he used to clean plates, clean rooms and cook food. The missionaries taught him the lesson of life. As a person, I understand that he struggled in life and took up the challenge to march ahead,” he said.
“We have to learn to adapt to different situations. If we closely study PA Sangma’s life, we can understand that he responded differently to the situations that came his way. No matter what challenges came ahead in his life, he was ready for all of them,” he added. (With PTI inputs)
