An Introduction of the President Draupadi Murmu
If she said, “I will focus on the marginalized” or “I want to tell the youth to not just focus on their future but also lay the foundation to the country’s future”, she wasn’t just saying those words but lived them. She is our beloved President, Draupadi Murmu. She, to whom primary education was a dream, is now the 15th president of India. What more do we need today apart from knowing her story to draw inspiration from?
Opportunities Knock the Door at the Least Expected Time for Draupadi Murmu
It was 1997, a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party had little to no political say in the state of Odisha. But thanks to Rajkishore Das, who encouraged Murmu to contest for councillor in the Rairangpur Notified Area Council (NAC). Murmu was elected as the councillor and later served as the vice chairperson of the Rairangpur Corporation, thus kickstarting her political journey.
Childhood
Backpedalling to her early life, we get a glimpse of a passionate yet patient, ambitious yet down-to-earth personality. Born as Puti Tudu in a farmer’s family, she was renamed as Draupadi by her school teacher. Interestingly, her name took various forms like Durpadi and Dorpdi at several instances in her life. She belongs to the Santhals, the third largest Scheduled Tribe in India, the Gonds and Bhils being the first and second, respectively. Her native was the Uparbeda village in the Baidaposi area of Rairangpur, Odisha. Hailing from the remotest and the most underdeveloped districts, lack of facilities, poverty- several hurdles tried to block Draupadi’s road to light. But she didn’t call it quits. Who doesn’t know the plight of students from tribal lands, for they have to travel beyond the fences of their territories to get an education?
Likewise, Draupadi also had to leave her village to continue her studies beyond class 7. Thanks to her relatives, with whose help she could finish her schooling in Bhubaneswar. Later, she secured a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rama Devi Women’s College, Bhubaneswar.
Professional Life
Post attaining her bachelor’s degree in 1979, Draupadi began to work as a Junior Assistant in the irrigation and power department of the Government of Odisha. However, after marrying Shyam Charan Murmu, a banker, she moved to Rairangpur, where she worked as a teacher at Sri Aurobindo Integral Education and Research Centre. She taught students Hindi, Odia, Maths, and Geography but had never claimed a full salary from the institution. In the 1990s, she enrolled herself with a Santhal organization, and it was her work there that grabbed the attention of Rajkishore Das, who sowed seeds for Draupadi’s political pathway.
Stepping Into the Political Theatre
It was the year when the country was celebrating its 50th year of independence. With the encouragement of Rajkishore Das, Draupadi contested as an independent candidate and got elected as the councillor for the Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat in 1997. She went on to win the Odisha Legislative Assembly elections from the Rairangpur Assembly constituency and served two terms between 2000 and 2009. At that time, BJP and BJD were in coalition, forming a government in Odisha. Draupadi took charge as the Minister with Independent Charge for Commerce and Transportation and served the office from 2000 to 2002. Later, from 2002-2004, she served as the state minister for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development. However, she lost the Lok Sabha elections from the Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha constituency in 2009 but was elected to the BJP National Executive (ST Morcha) in 2013 and served as the district president until 2015.
Draupadi Murmu -The Best MLA Ever
If the Odisha Legislative Assembly has honoured Draupadi with the Nilkanta Award for being the best MLA, it’s all for her distinguished work. As a Member of the Legislative Assembly, Draupadi made some notable contributions. She has been a spokesperson of women’s rights and raised her voice to preserve the rights of marginal communities. She did a commendable job sprucing up women’s socio-economic status in her constituency. The policies and programs she initiated promoted women’s empowerment and gender equality. In many occasions, she spoke her mind out saying “Empowerment of women is key to their emancipation and that of the society as a whole.” Draupadi has also been a profound supporter of education and made sure that new schools and colleges were established to provide access to education.
Hailing from a background where primary education itself was a dream to many, she understands the importance of securing the right to education for children. She believed in the saying, “Education is the most powerful weapon that can change the world.” Alongside establishing new institutions, she also worked meticulously to improve the education quality in her constituency. Draupadi has also helped gather funding for education-related projects. She hasn’t forgotten the significant aspect of agriculture and rural development in her electorate. Her efforts in promoting agricultural infrastructure and resources, along with organising training programs for farmers, have been instrumental in the development of agriculture as a whole.
Draupadi ensured that there is transparency and accountability in her governance. Under her able mentorship, all the government programs, schemes, and projects were implemented to their best, even at the ground level. Her leadership, on the whole, promoted social justice, gender equality, right governance, and economic development. She was thus the best representative any civilian could ask for.
Draupadi Murmu – A Governor that Rajbhavan Loved
Draupadi became the first woman to take the position of Governor for the state of Jharkhand. She was sworn in as the Governor on 18th May 2015 and was in office until July 2021, a period of six years. As a governor, Draupadi encouraged policies and initiatives designed to provide better educational opportunities, especially to the marginalized. She has also supported the policies and programs to improve the socio-economic standing of women. She encouraged more women’s representation and pushed for gender equality.
Having come from a tribal community, Draupadi worked relentlessly from Raj Bhavan to strengthen the rights and socio-economic status of the tribal communities along with defending their cultural heritage and identity. “We must strive to build a society where everyone has equal opportunities and access to resources,” she said. She emphasized that the tribals are educated about their rights and welfare schemes. She was eagle-eyed in ensuring that the schemes introduced in their favour were effectively reaching them. Draupadi has been a strong supporter of sustainable development initiatives in Jharkhand. Especially, when it came to agriculture and rural development, she insisted upon policies that are reliable, sustainable, and long-standing, be it agricultural and rural infrastructure or resources. She encouraged policies that gave way to increased self-sustenance, entrepreneurship, research, and innovation.
She consistently laid the accent on transparency on the part of government officials and political leaders. By prioritizing the welfare of the people, she pushed the representatives to be accountable for their actions. Her strong belief is heard in her words when she said “Transparency and accountability are the hallmarks of good governance.” Her commendable governance made her the paragon in Jharkhand and beyond.
Draupadi Murmu- The First Citizen of India
The Bharatiya Janata party selected Draupadi as the National Democratic Alliance’s candidate for the President of India in 2022. 64-year-old Draupadi succeeded Ram Nath Kovid to become the 15th President of India with over 64% of valid votes. She thus became the first president to be born after independence and the second woman president of India. She also scripted history as the first tribal president hailing from a remote region of eastern India. “Reaching the post of President is not my personal achievement; it is the achievement of every poor in India,” she said in her initial address to the nation after becoming the president.
Draupadi – A Leader Who Stood for the Tribals
As Draupadi herself comes from a tribal community, she has a taste of the challenges and struggles that tribals face. This lived experience helped her empathize with the issues faced by tribals and marginalised communities in Jharkhand. Many a time, she raised her voice about the injustices and discrimination faced by the tribals. She coerced the officials to implement the policies and programs to upscale the lives of tribals. Her attire speaks of how much she strives to preserve her roots and cultural heritage of where she came from. This daughter who emerged from the lap of nature never gave a cold shoulder to her people and community. She carried them and their needs in her heart all through her journey that extended from the Legislative Assembly to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Her belief in the concept of ‘Teach a man to catch a fish’, thus promoting entrepreneurship among the tribals.
She laid emphasis on technology and innovation, thereby creating space for their bright future. Be it as an MLA or as the President of India, Draupadi has never said NO to participating in tribal cultural events. She used her power as an opportunity to promote tribal culture, arts, music, dance, and customs. “Tribals have a unique bond with nature, which we must protect for our future generations.” she opined. She would often travel personally to the tribal areas of Jharkhand, spend time with the people there, listen to their issues, and offer assistance. Back in her office, she would push for government policies to ensure the long-term settlement of their concerns. Her work for tribal rights and welfare gave her the top seat in the hearts of marginalised communities.
Draupadi Murmu on Womanhood
Draupadi is a woman who other women would look up to. For, the way she broke numerous barriers that came her way since her childhood. She has broken the barriers of geography to travel beyond her village and get higher education. She broke the barriers of gender, poverty, and social standing to secure a job in the irrigation and power department of the state government of Odisha. Draupadi Murmu broke the barriers to walking into the Rashtrapati Bhavan and proved that people of marginalized communities can dream and make their dreams come true.
She showed that women have the power to rise to positions of authority and influence irrespective of their humble backgrounds if they are strong in mind. Her story is a testimony of what hard work, commitment to goals, patience, resilience, and endurance can do. Despite the challenges she faced, she stood as an epitome of empowerment. With her actions, she told women that education and passion to succeed can take them to heights.
Draupadi is a symbol of women’s representation. She used her power and influence to call for the empowerment of women. “Development is not about buildings and infrastructure. It’s about empowering people,” she said. She showed women that a life dedicated to the service of society is a life well lived. Draupadi Murmu also showed how women can become powerful agents of change. Draupadi gave good life lessons to modern-day women too. She showed that switching careers and career breaks are very much fine. She switched her career from being a government official to becoming a teacher after marriage, yet stood successful and left her job for a certain period of time to care for her children. But now, she is the 15th president of India. So, women! Can we take it easy on our career breaks for a while?
Draupadi Murmu – Contributions to Education
Draupadi believed in the power of education in changing lives. She thus promoted education, particularly for girls and women from marginalised communities. She enlightened people about what education can do for them. She believed that education brings with it dignity and respect. She said that education would break the cycle of poverty and create ways to empower. She ensured that the quality of education in rural and tribal regions is improved. Draupadi encouraged girls to go for higher education without stopping at the secondary level. She constantly worked to secure funds for colleges and universities, especially in the interest of marginalized communities. She also identified the significance of skill development programs in building confidence among youth and women.
She specified the need for vocational training for youngsters to make them self-reliant and market-ready. She has also been instrumental in building schools in the underdeveloped regions of Jharkhand. She also set up scholarships for students from marginalised communities and girls to help them acquire higher education. Draupadi did not stop when her village had no provision for secondary education. She went miles to gain a degree and set an example to girls in her community that education, when attained, has the power to transform lives.
Draupadi – The Fearless Leader
Draupadi has always been fearless in advocating for women’s rights, gender equality, and tribal rights. She never showed her back when she had to address gender-based violence, discrimination based on economic and social status. Gender equality and women’s representation were her prime words of interest wherever she spoke. Draupadi Murmu disregarded corruption in every way, and as mentioned, she asked for accountability and transparency in government decision-making. She has condemned communal violence in Jharkhand and spoke sharply against hate speech. She encouraged people from different communities to come together and work in harmony.
On several occasions, she expressed, “Social harmony is essential for the progress and development of any society.” When it comes to discrimination based on gender, caste, region, religion, ethnicity or socio-economic standing, she has always taken a stand against it. According to her, “Discrimination of any kind is against the spirit of our Constitution and must be eliminated.” She laid focused on respecting diversity and promoting the inclusivity of people. “Inclusivity is the foundation of a truly democratic society,” she said. Draupadi received huge respect for her unflinching attitude in various stages of her political career.
Qualities that Made Draupadi a Great Leader
Due to her accomplishments and contributions to society and due to her personality traits, Draupadi is widely regarded as a great leader. Some qualities that made her a great leader are her empathy and compassion for people, especially for the marginalized and the tribals. Her vision and strategy as a politician not only helped to spot the key issues and challenges faced by people in her electorate but also tended to develop solutions. Her courage and mettle made her take a stand for what she believed in. Draupadi Murmu never backed off from challenging the status quo.
Her honesty and integrity as a politician let her maintain high standards of ethics. She always led by example and inspired women and girls to a greater extent. Her personal life itself is a source of inspiration. Her dedication to public service is what every representative sitting in a government office should learn from. Her values and beliefs are what she is. “We must work towards building a society where every citizen feels safe and secure”, she always said.
Powerful yet Humble
The power of a person is seen not in their position or money but in the way they carry themselves in adversity. Draupadi lost her husband, two sons, her mother and brother one after the other in a span of seven years. She lost track of herself and took the path of spirituality. Joining the Brahmakumaris healed her from the inside. She even decided to sell her properties and give up everything at one point.
However, she healed herself over a few years and got back to work. In one of her interviews, she stated, “My family has always been very supportive of my political career. My husband and my two sons have always encouraged me to pursue my dreams and have stood by me through thick and thin.” This lady of immense strength always acknowledged the support of her family and has been grounded in her roots and nativity. She has been a private person most of the time. She often embraced her nativity in her dressing style, food habits, and lifestyle.
Draupadi – The Second Kalam?
People who worked in close quarters with Draupadi speak of her similarities with the People’s President, Dr Kalam. Their life stories right from beating poverty to their love for students, is unmatched. Like Dr Kalam, Draupadi has never been behind comfort and luxury all through her political career. When Draupadi won the Legislative Assembly elections for the second time in 2009, the total deposited capital was just Rs. 9 lahks with a liability of Rs. 4 lahks. She also had no vehicle of her own back then. Just like Dr Kalam, Madam President visits educational institutions and spends time with students quite often. Aren’t they both sharing similar qualities?
Madam President is all praise for her unique personality. She sends a strong message to all the girls, women, and the downtrodden out there that weakness is in the mind, not elsewhere. She showed how the world can be a platform of opportunities for everyone alike. Her sheer dedication demonstrated that one should believe in one’s strength. When she said, “Women are not weak; they are strong and resilient. They just need the opportunity to prove it.”, she was right. But women! When opportunities knock at your door, make sure you grab them and level up your life. That’s what Madam President did.
She never ran for anything in life and has always been honest in her job, committed to her beliefs, and grounded in reality. She just did her duty with utmost dedication and grabbed the opportunities as they came in. Salutes to the woman of mettle. Salutes to the leader with vision and, above all, salutes to the humble daughter of nature.
