WHY AM I SO SHORT: P A SANGMA?

His ‘Gulliverian’ personality certainly does not match-up with his ‘Lilliputian’ stature and on Wednesday, Purno Agitok Sangma had this rather short poser for scientists: “Why is Sangma so short?”
When the NCP leader asked the question at a conference held at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Umiam, most burst out into laughter thinking it was yet another characteristic pun of Sangma.
"I am serious," Sangma insisted. "Why is that most tribal in North-East short? Is it something to do with their food habit?" The former Lok Sabha Speaker, now the chairman of the Meghalaya Planning Board, asked.
This sent most of the audience at the ICAR centre into quite introspection. "I am really curious to know," he inquired in self-reflection.
Several Asians countries like Japan, Korea and China, Sangma said, have started research work to understand if food habit and nutritional aspects had any bearing with physical growth.
These nations feel that short stature of their respective population has put them into a disadvantageous position when it comes to competition in the sporting arena.
“European and African nations with their tall stature are always at an advantageous point when in come to sporting activities,” the just over 5 feet tall Sangma said.
"I wish the agricultural scientists take up similar studies on our food habit and see if there is any link between food and the physical structure of the tribal population," he said.
The Former Lok Sabha Speaker Sangma also urged upon the scientists to investigate if there was a correlation between food habit of the people of the north east and the large number of Cancer cases in the region.
"There are a large number of cancer cases among the tribal population in the region, and I wonder if consumption of dry or smoked meat - a tribal delicacy - could be a contributory factor," he wondered.
Sangma, during his long stint as a Union Minister in New Delhi, was loved and lampooned for his short stature and jovial demeanor by friends and cartoonists alike. However, on Wednesday this “short” speech of Sangma once again unveiled his “towering” personality!