Droupadi Murmu-The second woman and first Adivasi female to hold the position of the President of India has defeated the opposition’s pick Yashwant Sinha who was backed by Congress, TMC, AAP and several other parties by a massive margin after receiving more than 64 per cent valid votes.
Murmu polled 6,76,803 votes against Sinha’s 3,80,177 votes.
The courageous leader is now serving as the 15th and current President of India since 25th of July 2022. She is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is also the first person from Odisha to hold this post and country’s youngest president and the first to be born after India’s independence.
Prior to her presidency she served as the ninth Governor of Jharkhand between 2015 and 2021, and held various portfolios in the cabinet of Government of Odisha between 2000 to 2004.
Droupadi Murmu was born to a Santali family on June 20,1958 in the Baidaposi area of Rairangpur, Odisha. Her father and grandfather were traditional heads of the village council. Murmu is an arts graduate of Rama Devi Women’s College.
She married a banker with whom she had two sons and a daughter. Her husband, two sons, mother, and a brother all died in a span of 7 years, from 2009 to 2015. She is a follower of the Brahma Kumaris spiritual movement. Before entering politics, Murmu worked as a junior assistant at the irrigation department of the Government of Odisha from 1979 to 1983. She then worked as a teacher at the school Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre, Rairangpur and taught Hindi, Odia, Maths and Geography.
She held the portfolios of commerce and transport from 2000 to 2002 and fisheries and animal resources development from 2002 to 2004 in Naveen’s council. She also had bagged the ‘best legislator’ award in 2007 (Nilakantha Sanman).
The indomitable spirit of Droupadi Murmu has helped her brave many hurdles. In an interview, she opened up about her political journey.
“I come from the poorest of the poor families and never expected I will take up politics. I had plans to study and get a regular job to support my family financially. However, there have been several incidents in my life that led to me quitting my job,” she said.
As a Governor of Jharkhand, in the year 2017, Smt Murmu had shown her empathy for Adivasi concerns when she returned amendments to the Chota Nagpur Tenancy Act and Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act, passed by the BJP Government of Shri Raghubar Das, to the State Legislature, to reconsider the impact upon tribal interests, thus resonating with the widespread protests in the State. Her gesture was widely appreciated by the tribal community and the government also honoured her sentiments by not pushing the bill again.
On another occasion, Murmu returned the Private Placement Agency and Domestic Workers Bill, 2017, seeking revision of penal provisions. In her note sent to the government, Murmu had specified that the penal provision for those found guilty of immoral trafficking in the name of placements must be stringent.
If we recall her political journey, it is just to say that Smt. Murmu has defied odds and cultural stigmas to serve the people, battling stereotypes generally associated with a career in politics.
It is expected that her presence as the constitutional head of the country will reassure every Indian, especially tribal women, for their peaceful and safe life.
The ascendancy of Droupadi Murmu with the new political vision, new political environment, reflective of the empowered woman of New India will give new strength to democracy of India, along with the world.
‘Droupadi of the Mahabharata’ was a fighter who sacrificed a lot for the sake of her family and the dignity of every woman. In the 21st century, we have a new Droupadi who went through many hardships but emerged victorious and a shining example for women empowerment and Politics 2.0—politics of social-gender justice.
Warmest congratulations and best wishes to ‘Madam President’ on being elected as the 15th President, upholding the best egalitarian principles of Bharat.