Droupadi Murmu

1. Early Life:

• Born: 20 June 1958, in Uparbeda village, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha.
• She belongs to the Santhal tribal community, one of India’s largest indigenous groups.
• Her father and grandfather were village heads under the traditional tribal governance system.
• Despite many hardships, she completed her schooling in Bhubaneswar and graduated in Arts from Rama Devi Women’s College, Bhubaneswar.

2. Early Career:

• Worked as a teacher and later served as a junior assistant in the Odisha government.
• Deeply committed to education and rural development, especially for tribal girls and marginalized communities.

3. Political Journey:

• Entered politics with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 1990s.
• Elected as Member of Odisha Legislative Assembly from Rairangpur constituency in 2000 and 2009.
• Served as Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Transport, and later for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development in Odisha.
• Became the Governor of Jharkhand (2015–2021) — the first woman tribal governor of any Indian state.

4. Presidency:

• Elected as the 15th President of India on 21 July 2022, succeeding Ram Nath Kovind.
• She is the first tribal woman and the second woman overall to hold the office of President of India.
• Her election symbolizes inclusivity, women empowerment, and representation of marginalized communities in the nation’s highest office.

5. Personal Life and Values:

• Married to Shyam Charan Murmu, who passed away in 2014.
• Faced deep personal loss — her husband and two sons passed away at different times — yet she remained spiritually strong and devoted to social causes.
• Known for her humility, simplicity, and spiritual depth (follower of Brahma Kumaris).

Famous for her quote:

“I come from a humble background. My journey from a small tribal village to the highest constitutional post is proof that in India, dreams can come true.”