New Delhi: Former Indian Speaker Purno Agitok Sangma, who won over both the ruling and opposition parties with his smile, died of heart attack on Friday in New Delhi. He was 68.

Sangma was a nine-time member of the Lok Sabha (people’s council), the lower house of parliament. He was the speaker in the 11th Lok Sabha.

Current Speaker Sumitra Mahajan announced the news of Sangma’s death in the Lok Sabha which was adjourned for the day.

While expressing grief over the death, Mahajan said she learned from Sangma the art of managing parliament with a smile.

“A man of masses, Sangma strove relentlessly for the amelioration of the marginalized sections,” she added.

Condoling the death of Sangma, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Sangma as “a self-made leader” who contributed greatly to the development of India’s northeastern region.

Sangma’s tenure as the Lok Sabha Speaker “is unforgettable.” His down-to-earth personality and affable nature endeared him to many,” the prime minister said.

Sangma had also held important portfolios in the federal government.

He was the chief minister of Meghalaya from 1988 to 1990 and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly from 1990 to 1991.

Sangma always credited a Salesian priest for his successful life.

He was born on September 1, 1947 as the sixth of seven children in a Catholic family in Chapahati, a village in West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya, bordering Bangladesh (then East Pakistan).

Sangma’s was a rags-to-riches story. From tending cattle in a remote village in exchange for a meal he rose to contest for the highest post in the country – that of the President of India.

Sangma lost his father when he was 11. He quit school as he had no support in his childhood.

A Salesian priest brought him back to school and gave him a place in the school hostel. Italian Father Giovanni Battista Busolin ran a school and a church in the Garo Hills.

Sangma had no hesitation relating how he had gone without food for several days.

After completing his graduation from St. Anthony’s College, he went to the Dibrugarh University in Assam for his Masters degree in International Relations. Subsequently, he also obtained a degree in Law.

A Congressman, who was one of the founding members of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was expelled from it in July 2012 when he refused to accept his party’s decision to quit the race for India’s President. In January 2013, he formed the National People’s Party.