Droupadi Murmu
Who was Droupadi Murmu?
First tribal woman to serve as President of India, taking office in 2022 after working as a teacher and serving as Governor of Jharkhand.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Droupadi Murmu (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Droupadi Murmu, originally named Durgi Tudu, was born on June 20, 1958, in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, into a Santhal tribal family. She went to Rama Devi Women's University for higher education, where she laid the groundwork for her future in public service. After graduating, she married Shyam Charan Murmu and started her career as a clerk in the State Irrigation and Power Department from 1979 to 1983. Later, she worked as a teacher in Rairangpur from 1994 to 1997.
In 2000, Murmu entered politics by winning a seat in the Odisha Legislative Assembly from the Rairangpur constituency as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. From 2000 to 2009, she served as Minister of State with Independent Charge in the Odisha government, managing portfolios like Commerce and Transport, and later, Fisheries and Animal Resource Development. Her dedication and skills gained her respect both within her party and among her constituents.
In 2015, Murmu became the Governor of Jharkhand, the first woman to do so in the state. She served until 2021, becoming the longest-serving governor in Jharkhand. During her time as governor, she focused on education, women's empowerment, and tribal welfare while upholding the office's dignity. Her role as governor increased her national prominence and proved her as a capable leader.
Murmu's political journey peaked in 2022 when she was elected as the 15th President of India, supported strongly by the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies. Her win was historic because she became the first person from a tribal community to hold the highest constitutional office, the second woman president after Pratibha Patil, the youngest president at age 64, and the first president born in independent India. Her election marked a major step for tribal representation in Indian democracy and broke several barriers in the country's political scene.
Before Fame
Growing up in a Santhal tribal family in rural Odisha, Murmu faced the challenges indigenous communities often encounter in accessing education and opportunities. Despite these hurdles, she pursued higher education when there were few such opportunities for women from tribal backgrounds. In her early career, she switched between administrative work and education, as those were some of the few career paths available to educated women in rural India during the 1980s and 1990s.
In the late 1990s, Odisha's political scene opened up for regional leaders from various backgrounds as democratic institutions extended their influence into rural areas. The Bharatiya Janata Party's effort to promote leaders from underrepresented communities matched Murmu's qualifications and local reputation, leading her to enter electoral politics around the year 2000.
Key Achievements
- First tribal person to serve as President of India (2022-present)
- Longest-serving Governor of Jharkhand (2015-2021)
- Served as Minister in Odisha Government with multiple portfolios (2000-2004)
- Elected to Odisha Legislative Assembly for three consecutive terms (2000-2009)
- Youngest person to assume the Indian presidency at age 64
Did You Know?
- 01.She received an honorary doctorate from Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra in 2025, becoming one of the few Indian presidents to receive international academic recognition during their tenure
- 02.As a member of the Santhal tribe, she belongs to one of India's largest tribal communities, primarily concentrated in eastern India
- 03.She worked as both a government clerk and school teacher before entering politics, giving her direct experience with public administration and education systems
- 04.Her election as President required no second round of voting due to the overwhelming support she received from the electoral college
- 05.She is the first President of India to have previously served as a state governor in the 21st century
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| honorary doctor of the Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra | 2025 | — |