New Delhi: Amid much fanfare, Droupadi Murmu, 64, assumed the office of the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. She was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India NV Ramanna. In her address to the nation after being sworn in, Murmu stated that she is the first President to be born in independent India and was honoured to take charge at a time when the country is completing 75 years of Independence.
The first tribal and second woman to hold the country’s highest constitutional office, she said her elevation to the post is not only her own achievement but that of every poor of the country and is a reflection of the confidence of crores of Indians.
“Johar! Namaskar! I humbly greet all my fellow citizens from this sacred Parliament, a symbol of the hopes, aspirations and rights of all the citizens of India. Your affection, trust and support will be my greatest strength in discharging my functions and responsibilities,” she said.
President Murmu said, “I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the MPs and all the members of the Legislative Assembly for being elected to the highest constitutional post of India. Your vote is an expression of the faith of crores of citizens of the country,” she said, adding, “Reaching the post of President is not my personal achievement, it is the achievement of every poor in India. It is the power of our democracy that a daughter born in a poor house, a daughter born in a remote tribal area, can reach the highest constitutional post of India.”
Her address, ending by quoting famous Odia saint and poet Bhim Bhoi, was rich in the invocation of India’s tribal legacy. The over 18-minute speech at Parliament’s Central Hall highlighted the community’s glorious contribution to the country’s freedom struggle by mentioning Santhal, Paika, Kol and Bhil revolutions which happened in various regions.
“All these revolutions had strengthened the tribal contribution in the freedom struggle. We derived inspiration from the sacrifice of ‘Dharti Aaba’ Bhagwan Birsa Munda Ji for social upliftment and patriotism. I am happy that many museums are being built across the country dedicated to the role of the tribal communities in our freedom struggle,” she said. Birsa Munda is a revered figure from the tribal community who led an uprising against the British.
Wearing a handwoven Santhali saree from Jharkhand, which is equally popular in Odisha and Assam, “We have to work at a fast pace in this Amritkal to fulfil the expectations that our freedom fighters had made from us citizens of independent India. In these 25 years, the path to the accomplishment of Amritkal will proceed on two tracks – everyone’s effort and everyone’s duty.”
