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The Presidential Ascent

A comprehensive exploration of the life, career, and presidency of Droupadi Murmu, the 15th President of India.

Personal Journey ๐Ÿ‘‡ Presidency Highlights ๐Ÿ›๏ธ

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Personal Life

Humble Origins

Droupadi Murmu was born Durgi Biranchi Tudu on June 20, 1958, into a Santali tribal family in Uparbeda village, Rairangpur, Odisha. Her father and grandfather served as village council heads. Her early life was marked by a move to Bhubaneswar for education, where her name was changed to Droupadi by a school teacher.

Educational Foundation

She completed her secondary education at Girl's High School Unit-2 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rama Devi Women's University. This academic grounding provided a crucial foundation for her subsequent public service career.

Family and Resilience

Murmu married Shyam Charan Murmu, a banker, in 1980. They had two sons and a daughter. Tragically, she experienced profound personal loss, with her husband, two sons, mother, and brother passing away within a seven-year span (2009-2015). She finds solace and strength in her adherence to the Brahma Kumaris spiritual movement.

Early and Political Career

Public Service Beginnings

Prior to her political career, Murmu served as a junior assistant in the State Irrigation and Power Department (1979-1983). She later transitioned to education, working as a teacher at the Sri Aurobindo Integral Education and Research Centre in Rairangpur from 1994 to 1997.

Entry into Politics

Murmu's political journey began in 1997 when she was elected as a councillor for the Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat as an independent candidate. She subsequently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), marking the start of her significant public service career.

Legislative and Ministerial Roles

She was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from the Rairangpur constituency in 2000 and served two terms until 2009. During this period, she held ministerial positions in the Odisha government, including Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Transportation (2000-2002) and Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (2002-2004). In 2007, she was honored with the Nilkanth Award for Best MLA.

Governor of Jharkhand

Historic Appointment

Droupadi Murmu was sworn in as the Governor of Jharkhand on May 18, 2015, becoming the first woman to hold this esteemed position. Her tenure, spanning from 2015 to 2021, made her the longest-serving governor for the state.

Pathalgadi Movement and Tenancy Acts

During her governorship, Murmu faced a significant challenge concerning proposed amendments to the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act. These acts protected tribal land rights. The proposed amendments, which aimed to allow commercial use of tribal land, faced strong opposition and led to the Pathalgadi movement. Murmu ultimately returned the bills to the state government, leading to their withdrawal, demonstrating a commitment to upholding tribal rights.

In 2016-2017, the Jharkhand government sought to amend tenancy laws that safeguarded tribal land. The proposed changes allowed government commercial use and leasing of tribal land. Murmu received numerous memorandums from tribal communities protesting these amendments. Following widespread protests, including the Pathalgadi movement, and considering the concerns raised, she declined to assent to the bills in May 2017, returning them to the government. The bill was subsequently withdrawn in August 2017.

Religion and Land Acquisition Bills

In 2017, she approved the Freedom of Religion Bill, 2017, which criminalized forced religious conversion, and amendments to the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. The former imposed penalties for coercion into religious conversion, with stricter terms for Scheduled Castes, Tribes, minors, or women. The latter modified compensation durations and social impact assessment requirements for certain infrastructure projects.

The Presidency

Historic Inauguration

On July 26, 2022, Droupadi Murmu was sworn in as the 15th President of India. Administered by Chief Justice N. V. Ramana, this marked a significant moment as she became the first person from a tribal community and the second woman to hold the office. At 64, she is also the youngest person to occupy the post and the first President born after India's independence.

Engagements and Initiatives

Since assuming office, President Murmu has undertaken numerous domestic and international engagements. She addressed the nation on the eve of Independence Day, launched the 'Pradhanmantri TB Mukt Bharat' initiative, and participated in significant cultural events like the Mysuru Dasara. Her visits to northeastern states and her home state of Odisha underscore her commitment to national integration and regional development.

Symbol of Aspiration

President Murmu's tenure has been marked by historic moments, including her flight in a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet in April 2023, a testament to her adventurous spirit. She has also voiced strong opinions on critical national issues, such as condemning violence against women after the Kolkata incident, and has actively participated in national celebrations and cultural events, including the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony and the Nari Shakti Puraskar awards.

Electoral Journey

Legislative Assembly Contests

Murmu contested elections for the Odisha Legislative Assembly from the Rairangpur constituency. She won in 2000 and 2004, representing the BJP. Her electoral performance in these contests is detailed below.

2000 Odisha Legislative Assembly Election: Rairangpur
Party Candidate Votes % ยฑ%
BJP Droupadi Murmu 25,110 34.15
INC Laxman Majhi 20,542 27.93
JMM Braja Mohan Hansdah 10,485 14.26
Majority 4,568 6.21
Turnout 74,997 59.81
BJP gain from INC
2004 Odisha Legislative Assembly Election: Rairangpur
BJP Droupadi Murmu 29,295 32.66
JMM Ram Chandra Murmu 29,253 32.62
INC Laxman Majhi 22,551 25.14
Majority 42 0.05
Turnout 89,689 68.3
BJP hold

Presidential Election 2022

In a landmark election, Droupadi Murmu was nominated as the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) candidate for President. She secured a decisive victory, defeating opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha with 676,803 electoral votes, representing 64.03% of the total valid votes.

Results of the 2022 Indian Presidential Election
Candidate Coalition Individual
votes
Electoral
College votes
%
Droupadi Murmu National Democratic Alliance 2,824 676,803 64.03
Yashwant Sinha United Opposition 1877 380,177 35.97
Valid votes 4,701 1,056,980 98.89
Blank and invalid votes 53 15,397 1.11
Total 4,754 1,072,377 100
Registered voters / Turnout 4,809 1,086,431 98.86

Honours and Accolades

International Recognition

President Murmu's state visits have been recognized with high honors from various nations, acknowledging her diplomatic contributions and leadership.

  • Suriname: Honorary Order of the Yellow Star, Grand Order Chain (June 2023)
  • Fiji: Order of Fiji, Companion (August 2024)
  • East Timor: Order of Timor-Leste, Grand Collar (August 2024)

Academic Distinctions

Her dedication and service have been further recognized through honorary academic degrees from esteemed institutions worldwide.

  • University of Mauritius: Doctor of Civil Law (March 2024)
  • Sidi Abdellah Science and Technology Pole University, Algeria: Doctor of Political Science (October 2024)
  • Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovakia: Honorary Doctorate (April 2025)

Civic Honours

She has also received civic honours, such as Honorary Citizenship of Lisbon, Portugal (April 2025), underscoring her broad impact and recognition.

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Droupadi Murmu Wikipedia page

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This content has been meticulously crafted by an AI, drawing exclusively from the provided source material. It is intended for educational and informational purposes, aiming to present a comprehensive overview of Droupadi Murmu's life and career.

This is not official government information or political endorsement. The information presented here is based on publicly available data and should not be considered a substitute for official documentation or professional consultation. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy based on the source, the AI cannot guarantee the absolute completeness or timeliness of the information.

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