AMES SANGMA Disruptive Thinker | Purpose Led Leader | Public Service Professional Current Position : Cabinet Minister for Forest & Environment and Power, Meghalaya Celebrated author Neil Gaman described himself as a 'feral child raised in public libraries' - and unwittingly essenced the dominant trait for James Sangma - scion of the prominent political family in Meghalaya - a tiny tribal state tucked in the North eastern part of India. James Sangma - currently serving as the Minister of Environment and Power(energy) in the state of Meghalaya - grew under the political aegis of his father- an eminent Indian political personality Shri PA Sangma - known for his exemplary public service and firebrand minority representation in the national Indian politics and ambling through the dusty annals of local public and private libraries -feeding on its contents and shaping his own belief system. Libraries taught him the ropes of 'Quiet Leadership' and his belief in resolute ordinariness - helping him park his privilege behind. He prefers ‘listening to commandeering’ and has instituted this practice during the embryonic days of his career as he charged through various leadership positions at Delhi University - most significantly as the Gen Secretary of All India Tribal Students Association. His early days allowed him to sharpen his public skills by practicing inclusive and grassroot politics with the tribal students who came from humble backgrounds. A core ideal that remains central to his brand of politics is the social inclusion of the ‘disenfranchised and marginalised’ in the mainstream socio-political fabric of the country -a political principle that has become a ‘strategic priority’ in today’s world- that is becoming increasingly balkanised with social classes hermetically sealed in their own bubbles.

SKILLS ? Purpose-led Leadership ? Entrepreneurial Mindset ? Critical Thinking ? Future Focussed ? Lean Principles Thinking ? Citizen centric ? Environmentally Inclined ? Impact Based Problem Solving

A pivotal moment in his life came when he stumbled upon the famous Ronald Reagon's quote in his 1986 public addressal - “the most terrifying words in English is that I am from the government and I am here to help” and it invoked an emotion that sealed his final decision to take up the political legacy of his father who had worked tirelessly to craft the ‘inclusive narrative’ in National Indian politics and proved the adage wrong. This lifelong mission was kickstarted by contesting the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Elections successfully in the year 2008 from 47-Rongchugiri Constituency. Followed by similar successful stints in 2013 and 2018 from 49-Dadenggre Constituency. His repertoire of 'contextual intelligence' and problem solving- a critical future skill for leaders of tomorrow - was honed as he served in various leadership and membership capacities across a spectrum of different departments such as education, PWD, Public Accounts and Petitions committees and with the scheduled caste welfare committee and developed a holistic/integrated approach for solving various socio-economic issues. He was sworn in as the cabinet minister for various portfolios - like Home (Police), Law, Power, Taxation, Food & Civil Supplies,Forest & Environment in 2018. He publicly claims his leaning towards the environment and nature and is also an ardent environmentalist at heart - who believes that natural capital should be treated at par with ‘produced and human capital and is currently working at instituting a new innovative playbook for nature positive economy in the State.