This refers to the report, “In PA Sangma, N-E loses its towering statesman” (March 5). Though India beats its own trumpet of democracy and diversity in every forum, the fact remains that the national polity has been dominated by Hindi-speaking leaders from north India, with their counterparts from the southern and western parts of the country coming in at the second level. While east India sent a few Rajendra Prasads, Pranab Mukherjees and Somnath Chatterjees to Delhi, leaders from the North-East mostly remained outside the national limelight.
But PA Sangma changed all that, and emerged not only as the tallest leader from the North-East, as far as national recognition was concerned, but also as an efficient administrator. Apart from his stints at important Union Ministries, he excelled as Speaker of the lok Sabha. Through his gracious smile, humility, wit, humour, respect for senior politicians and the occasional rebuke to disobedient members, Sangma brought a new dimension to the Speaker’s chair.