President Droupadi Murmu: A Guiding Light With Heart For Service

Politics and social service may seem different, but both aim to improve people’s lives. Over the past 20 years, I have worked in both fields. This experience has shown me the challenges our society faces and the joy of helping to solve them. India has long been a maledominated society. However, in recent years, women have played a big role in changing this. Women leaders are breaking old stereotypes and setting new examples for everyone.

Our history is full of strong women leaders. Rani Lakshmibai, Ahilyabai Holkar, and Rajmata Jijau were not just rulers, they were symbols of courage and good leadership. Today, many women are making a difference in politics and social work. They are leading important projects, making big decisions, and helping society with their vision and care.

President Of India, Droupadi Murmu

Droupadi Murmu’s remarkable journey from a remote tribal village in Odisha to the Rashtrapati Bhavan stands as a powerful testament to the virtues of determination, resilience, and selfless service. Born on June 20, 1958, in Baidhaposi, a small village nestled in Odisha, Murmu hails from the Santhal tribal community. Despite facing severe economic and social challenges, her family, headed by her father, Biranchi Narayan Tudu, the village headman, placed immense value on education and integrity.

Defying the odds, Murmu became one of the few tribal girls of her time to graduate, earning her degree from Rama Devi Women’s College in Bhubaneswar. Murmu’s professional journey began in government service as a junior assistant in the Odisha State Irrigation and Power Department. Her political career took off in 1997 when she joined the BJP and was elected as a councillor in the Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat. In 2000, she was appointed as Minister of State (independent charge) in the Odisha government.

Her tenure was marked by numerous welfare initiatives aimed at the development of tribal communities. Murmu’s life has been shaped by profound personal loss. She endured the heartbreaking deaths of her two sons, her husband, and her mother within a short span. Rather than succumbing to grief, she transformed her sorrow into strength, deepening her commitment to public service. In 2015, Murmu made history by becoming the first tribal woman to be appointed as the Governor of Jharkhand, and the first woman Governor of the state.

During her tenure, she championed education, tribal rights, and women’s empowerment. On July 25, 2022, Droupadi Murmu was sworn in as the 15th President of India. She holds the distinction of being the first tribal person, the second woman (after Pratibha Patil), and the youngest individual (at age 64) to assume the nation’s highest constitutional office. Murmu’s life is a not just a personal triumph but a beacon for a more inclusive and equitable India.

The writer is a politician, social worker and fashion designer

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