CM Sangma urges youth to become entrepreneurs, become icons
Kohima, June 28: In a candid and compelling address at the 5th Regional Catholic Youth Convention, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma opened up about a life changing moment in his political career – his unexpected loss in the 2013 MLA election. Far from being a mere setback, Sangma revealed how this significant failure became a profound teacher, instilling in him the very humility he now champions for the region’s youth.
“I don’t think I would be here if I had not lost that election (2013 MLA election),” he stated, recounting how he “cried for 2 months” because he could not digest the defeat. However, this setback fuelled his determination. “After the 2 months, I picked up the pieces, I told myself I’m not gonna accept this and I’m gonna change this. I worked for the next 2 years day and night, and I won the next election. And that is how life is,” he told in his address to the youth present at the convention in Kohima, the capital of Nagaland, on Friday evening.
His message through his story was clear – embrace failures, learn from them, and respond with renewed determination to achieve greater success but also cultivate the grounded perspective essential for true leadership.
At the same time, he urged the young members of ICYM and all Catholic youth to channel their energies into entrepreneurship while steadfastly upholding values of respect, faith, and humility – qualities he believes are the cornerstone of a meaningful life and sustainable progress in the rapidly evolving North East.
“Please my young ICYM members, all the catholic youths who are out here, we would like to see more of the catholic youths to come up with enterprises, start their own businesses, become icons in the North East and we can do it,” he affirmed.
He also assured support from the state, stating, “Meghalaya can try to support as many as possible. Many, many programmes are happening. We can try in other states also to support in whatever way possible; this is something I would like to see.”
Beyond professional achievements, CM Sangma also stressed on developing good character, especially humility. “Whatever you do in life, whatever you achieve in life, at the end of the day it is about being a good human being,” he advised.
He also expressed his thoughts on the single most important quality he wishes to see in the youth of the North East. “If people were to ask me that what is the one quality that you would always like to see in youth, especially the youth of our north east, it would be humility. Because if that is not there in your life, everything is meaningless,” he shared. Cautioning against the fleeting nature of power without a humility, he further said, “You may get all the power, you may become the Chief Minister of the state, but if you don’t have your feet and ears on the ground, you are not gonna sustain it. Things will change very fast.”
He concluded his message with an earnest appeal to the youth, “Whatever you do in life, I only hope and pray that you will always have fear in your heart, fear of the Lord, respect for elders, humility in every situation and become good human beings.”
Meanwhile, talking about the power of youth and their transformative role in the region, “(youth) are the hope of the North East, the hope of the nation; India is young, but north east is even younger.”
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