P. A. Sangma, Politician
Politician

P. A. Sangma

Born 1 September 1947 · Meghalaya — Died 4 March 2016

Served as the 11th Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1996 to 1998.

Purno Agitok Sangma was an Indian politician who served as the 11th Speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1996 to 1998 and 4th Chief Minister of Meghalaya from 1988 to 1990. He served as a member of the Lok Sabha from Tura in Meghalaya from 2014 to 2016, 1991 to 2008 and from 1977 to 1989 and the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Rao ministry from 1995 to 1996. He was the co-founder of Nationalist Congress Party and founder of National People's Party.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

In 2017, P. A. Sangma became the first recipient of the Padma Vibhushan from Meghalaya, awarded posthumously for his public affairs contributions.

The Story

1
At just 11 years old, P. A. Sangma lost his father in Chapahati village, Meghalaya, and quit school due to poverty before a Salesian priest, Giovanni Battista Busolin, helped him return to education in Shillong.
2
🌟 In 1977, Sangma was elected to the 6th Lok Sabha from Tura, Meghalaya, starting a parliamentary career spanning over three decades with intermittent terms until 2016.
3As Chief Minister of Meghalaya from 1988 to 1990, Sangma navigated the complex tribal politics of the Garo Hills, becoming a pivotal figure in state governance during a turbulent period.
4In 1996, he became the 11th Speaker of the Lok Sabha, where he established a committee to report on ethics and standards in public life, influencing parliamentary conduct.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

After quitting school due to poverty at age 11 in Meghalaya, Sangma was personally mentored back into education by Father Giovanni Battista Busolin, a Salesian priest at St. Anthony's College in Shillong.

🖼️

Through the Years

4 photographs from the archives
P.A. Sangma meeting Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi on January 18, 2004.
P.A. Sangma meeting Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi on January 18, 2004.
2004
P.A. Sangma's book released by Vice President Mohd. Hamid Ansari in New Delhi in 2012.
P.A. Sangma filing nomination papers for Presidential Election in New Delhi on June 28, 2012.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying homage to P.A. Sangma in New Delhi on March 4, 2016.

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Chapahati, Meghalaya
Purno Agitok Sangma was born in the Garo Hills district, shaping his tribal identity and political roots.
1947
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Career
Elected to 6th Lok Sabha from Tura
Marked the start of Sangma's long parliamentary career representing Meghalaya's Tura constituency.
1977
⚡
Career
Became Chief Minister of Meghalaya
Served as the 4th Chief Minister during a politically sensitive period from 1988 to 1990.
1988
⚡
Career
Appointed Minister of Information and Broadcasting
Initiated liberalization of airwaves and opened Indian media to private investment.
1995
⚡
Career
Elected Speaker of Lok Sabha
Served as 11th Speaker and formed the ethics committee to enhance parliamentary standards.
1996
⚡
Career
Expelled from Congress party
Alongside Sharad Pawar and Tariq Anwar, expelled for opposing Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin, leading to NCP formation.
1999
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Career
Contested Indian presidential election
Supported by BJP and AIADMK, lost narrowly to Pranab Mukherjee.
2012
🕊️
Death
Death in office as MP
Passed away while serving as Lok Sabha member from Tura, Meghalaya.
2016
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

In 1995-1996, as Information and Broadcasting Minister, Sangma initiated liberalization of airwaves that invited private investment in Indian electronic media, a major shift from government monopoly.

02 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Sangma’s daughter, Agatha, was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha in 2009 at age 29, becoming the youngest minister in the UPA ministry, highlighting a political family legacy.

03 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

In 1999, Sangma was expelled from the Congress for opposing Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin and co-founded the Nationalist Congress Party with Sharad Pawar and Tariq Anwar.

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🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Follow The Leader with Purno Sangma (Aired: April 2004)
·YouTube
More from this archive
Follow The Leader with Purno Sangma (Aired: April 2004)
01
Follow The Leader with Purno Sangma (Aired: April 2004)
YouTube
Purno Agitok Sangma, Indian politician speaks about newspaper cartoons
02
Purno Agitok Sangma, Indian politician speaks about newspaper cartoons
YouTube
P. A. Sangma on Child Labour in India: India is capable of looking after its own problems
03
P. A. Sangma on Child Labour in India: India is capable of looking after its own problems
YouTube
P A Sangma Spoke about Bangladeshi Garo People
04
P A Sangma Spoke about Bangladeshi Garo People
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

P. A. Sangma’s insistence on native-born leadership challenged the Congress party’s dominance, triggering the creation of the Nationalist Congress Party and later the National People's Party, which significantly altered political alignments in Northeast India. His reforms as Information Minister opened India’s electronic media to private players, changing the country’s communication landscape. As Speaker of the Lok Sabha, his focus on ethics influenced parliamentary standards that persist today.

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