Tura, March 6: Former Speaker Purno Agitok Sangma had expressed concern over the problems that Meghalaya was facing and had assured of trying to come up with a solution, during his last meeting with his brother at their village at Chapahati.

Hemarson Agitok Sangma, whose face belied that he is 93 years old, 25 years older than Purno, had a brief chat with The Telegraph as he sat beside his brother's mortal remains at the departed leader's residence at Walbakgre here.

Hemarson had his last meeting with his youngest brother on January 1, when Purno visited Chapahati and the meeting was the longest one.

"On New Year's day this year, my brother visited the village and came to meet me. We had a long discussion on various matters, including family affairs, and that was our last meeting. We spent over an hour together and it was the longest time that we had spent as he had been too busy with the people in the past," Hemarson said.

Born to late Chimri Agitok Sangma and late Dipchon Ch. Marak, Hemarson is the third among seven siblings and Purno is the youngest.

With the demise of Purno, now only Hemarson and sister Teresa Agitok Sangma are the surviving siblings.

Hemarson had worked as an LP school teacher with a salary of Rs 60 per month since 1960. He retired in 1996.

On the achievements and fame that his brother had achieved in his career as public representative, Hemarson was proud as he narrated a prediction that a pandit had told his father, Dipchon, before he got married.

"I am so proud of my brother and we are grateful to God. My father had told me how a pandit had predicted that one of his children will be the king of the Garo people. I am so happy that he (Purno) has fulfilled the dream of my father," Hemarson said.

He termed the demise of his brother a great loss to the Mahari (Agitok Sangma clan) and to the people of Garo hills, Meghalaya, and the whole of India.

Asked to compare Purno with other leaders of Meghalaya and Garo hills in particular, Hemarson said, "It is difficult to compare him with anyone. As a follower of late Captain Williamson A. Sangma, my brother tried to fulfil the dreams of other Garo leaders, including Captain Sangma. My brother has achieved many things, especially for the people of Garo hills and the state as a whole. He is a national leader."

During the last meeting with Purno, Hemarson said, "He was worried about the various problems that Meghalaya was facing. I hope there will be someone from the upcoming generation of our family who will take the lead, maybe the children or grandchildren of my brother."

Purno's sister Teresa, 74 years old, could not come to Tura as she was not well.

Teresa and the whole village of Chapahati was expecting that the body would be taken to the village, but there were time constraints.

"We are very sorry that time did not permit to take the body to Chapahati," Purno's youngest son, Conrad, said.