In June 2022, when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) announced Draupadi Murmu as its candidate for the 15th President of India, national and international attention shifted to a remote village in the country's eastern-coastal state Odisha.
As much as you should know about the 15th President of the country, you should also know about the tribal woman who made it to the top position of the country.
The first President born in independent India
Draupadi Murmu is the first President of the country who was born in an Independent India. 1958-born Draupadi Murmu was born to Biranchi Narayan Tudu, a farmer.
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She belongs to Odisha
Draupadi Murmu was born in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district. Her family hails from Baidaposi area of Rairangpur.
Country's first tribal President
President Murmu is the first tribal President of the country. Belonging to the Santhali community, she has set an example before every Indian.
Country's second woman President
President Murmu is the second woman to hold the highest position in the country after Pratibha Devisingh Patil. Pratibha Patil served as the 12th President of the country from 25 July 2007 to 25 July 2012.
She belongs to Santhal tribe
President Murmu was born into a Santhali family. Santhals are one of the largest tribes mostly settled in West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand. They also live in Bihar and Assam.
Their official language is Santhali.
Few other notable people from the Santhali community are Babulal Marandi, Hemant Soren, Shibu Soren and Raghunath Murmu.
Was considered for the position earlier too
As per reports, President Murmu was considered a strong contender during the time when the then President Pranab Mukherjee was set to leave Rashtrapati Bhavan.
An Arts graduate
President Murmu holds a graduation degree from the state’s prestigious Rama Devi University, erstwhile Rama Devi Women's College. Named after Ramadevi Choudhury, a social reformer and freedom fighter, the University is the first women's university in Odisha.
Her non-political journey
Before entering politics, President Murmu worked as a junior assistant in the Irrigation Department of Odisha. Prior to that she was a teacher at Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre, Rairangpur where she taught Hindi, Odia, Maths and Geography subjects to students.
Political career began as a councilor of nagar panchayat
In the year 1997, when the country was celebrating the 50th year of independence, Draupadi Murmu entered mainstream politics. She joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was elected as the councillor of the Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat.
Later in the year 2000 she won the Odisha Legislative Assembly election from Rairangpur Assembly constituency. When Odisha was under the BJP and BJD coalition government, Draupadi Murmu was the Minister of State with Independent Charge for Commerce and Transportation and Fisheries and Animal Resources Development.
Governor of Jharkhand
She remained the Governor of Jharkhand from May 2015 till July 2021. She was the first woman to hold that position.
A doting mother
President Murmu was married to banker Shyam Charan Murmu. She is a mother to two sons and a daughter. Unfortunately within a span of six years she lost her husband and sons.
As per reports, her daughter Itishree Murmu is a banker by profession.
