Guwahati, March 4: "What can I say about a person who taught me when I was a student of Don Bosco High School, Dibrugarh in 1971, and who later became a mentor, a colleague in Parliament? I am deeply grieved to learn of the demise of P.A. Sangma this morning".

This was how Nagaland chief minister T.R. Zeliang recalled his association with Sangma, who passed away at his Delhi residence this morning in a message to the deceased leader's youngest son Conrad Sangma.

Zeliang said, "He was pleasantly surprised when I became a member of Parliament in 2004 and said he was proud that one of his students had joined him in Parliament. I fondly recall the days when I used to drop in at his residence on Aurangzeb Road, New Delhi and, over a cup of tea, lunch or dinner, share opinions about issues, particularly those concerning the Northeast."

Zeliang spoke of a time when his teacher-and-mentor was already an established national-level politician.

He described him as a "brilliant and sharp" man who was never at a loss for words or ideas, gave quick decisions and suggestions on various matters and was adept at making others laugh with him. Zeliang said his company was never boring and the hours flew when one was with Purno.

The "affable, simple and popular leader of the Northeast," Sangma, according to Zeliang, also used to advise him after the latter became chief minister whenever he visited his residence and shared with him ideas on how to run the government and give better service to the people of Nagaland.

Zeliang said, "His tenure as Speaker of the Lok Sabha will be remembered fondly by the nation with memories of a smiling Speaker trying to control many a shouting match between the Opposition and the Treasury bench members. In his passing away, I have lost a truly respectable person from whom I used to get advice. Moreover, the Northeast has lost one of its most towering leaders; and the nation has lost a popular political personality."?

Glowing tributes were also paid by other chief ministers of the Northeast.Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi said in a statement that "Sangma strode like a Colossus on the political firmament spanning several decades and worked relentlessly for the development of Meghalaya in particular and the northeastern region in general."

Newly elected Arunachal Pradesh chief minister minister Kalikho Pul, in his condolence message to his daughter, former Union Minister of state Agatha Sangma, said: "With profound grief, I, on behalf of the people of Arunachal, share the grief of losing a true son of the soil, a patriot, a veteran politician of all time and a man who led from the front and left behind a legacy to cherish."

Pul's predecessor Nabam Tuki tweeted: "Saddened to learn about the sudden demise of Shri PA Sangma. The void left by him will be difficult to fill for years."

Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and fellow MLAs observed a two-minute silence in the Assembly. Ibobi described Sangma as "a great leader of the country from the Northeast".

Additional reporting by Ranju Dodum in Itanagar and Khelen Thokchom in Imphal