Page 25 - NIS English 16-31 Aug 2022

Newly Elected President Cover Story
Before me is such a great legacy
of the Presidency of India which
has continuously strengthened the
prestige of Indian democracy in
the world. From the country's first
President Dr. Rajendra Prasad to
Shri Ram Nath Kovind ji, stalwarts
have adorned this post. Along with
this post, the country has also
entrusted me with the responsibility
of representing this great tradition.
In accordance with the Constitution,
I will carry out my responsibilities
with the utmost sincerity. For me, the
democratic-cultural ideals of India
and all the countrymen will always
be my source of energy. "
-Droupadi Murmu, President
For the first time after
independence, a woman President
from a tribal society is going to lead
the country. It is a living example of
the strength of our democracy, of
our inclusive ideas. Social justice
means that every section of society
should get equal opportunities.
No one should be deprived of the
basic necessities of life. When
Dalits, backward, Adivasis, women,
Divyang, come forward, only then
the country will go forward.
-Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
Droupadi's childhood or school days date back
to the 1970s. At the time, Mayurbhanj had a literacy
rate of only 12.22 percent, and there were no matric
pass residents. Droupadi, on the other hand, was very
interested in studies. Rajendra Narayan Singhdeo
was the state's Chief Minister at the time, and Kartik
Chandra Manjhi, who hailed from Uparbera, was a
member of his cabinet. He had a public hearing one
day, and Droupadi had gone there with her farmer
father, Biranchi Tudu. Droupadi had completed the
seventh grade, but there was no facility in the village
for her to study for the eighth. Droupadi then reached
Manjhi with her mark sheet, and her journey to the
state capital, Bhubaneshwar, began. Droupadi left
her mother and village in 1970 and travelled 280
kilometres to Bhubaneshwar. Droupadi attended a
girls' school and lived in the Kuntalkumari hostel. She
obtained a bachelor's degree in political science from
Ramadevi College.
As Droupadi Murmu reaches Raisina Hill Residents
of Odisha's Uparbeda village exclaim, "My village
is a digital village,". Everybody has a bank account.
Farming loans can be obtained while sitting at home.
Our houses are all connected by water pipelines.
Here, everyone has access to a toilet. Housing for the
poor is available to all under the PM Awas Yojana.
Everything is a gift from Droupadi.
Droupadi Murmu, who was elected President
of India on July 25, 2022, exemplifies this struggle;
intellect, punctuality, studiousness, taking a resolution
for society and making it a reality. The journey from a
remote forest area to Raisina Hill and becoming the
President of India was unexpected. The stories of
her life struggle, which first became public during the
presidential election, have now become an inspiration
to the nation. Droupadi Murmu herself (now President)
says, "I have got everything in life. I never asked for any
position. I don't know what's inside me. My work has
pulled me on. " To get an elementary education was
like a dream for Droupdi Murmu, who started her life’s
journey from a small tribal village in Odisha in eastern
India. Despite many challenges, she became the first
daughter in her village to attend college. Droupadi
Murmu's rise from ward councillor to President of
India has become a symbol of India's great heritage
of the mother of democracy.
It is the power of India's democracy that a daughter
born into a poor household in a remote tribal area has
reached the highest constitutional post in India. In her
address after being sworn in as the President, Droupdi
New India Samachar August 16-31, 2022 23