Droupadi Murmu delivers first speech as India’s President: 10 key takeaways

Murmu was the first woman governor of Jharkhand and served in the post from 2015 to 2021. She is the first tribal woman, and the youngest person to hold the position. Murmu is the second woman President of India after Pratibha Patil.

Here are the 10 key takeaways from Murmu’s first speech delivered at the Central Hall of Parliament as the President of India:

1. The country has elected me as the President at a crucial time when we are celebrating the nectar festival of our freedom. A few days from today, the country will complete 75 years of its independence.
2. It is also a coincidence that my political career started when the country was celebrating its 50th year of independence. And today in the 75th year of independence, I have got this new responsibility.
3. It is my great privilege to be given this responsibility at a historic time when India is gearing up to achieve the vision of the next 25 years.
4. Tomorrow i.e. 26th July is also Kargil Vijay Diwas. This day is a symbol of both the bravery and restraint of the Indian armies. Today, I extend my best wishes to the Armed Forces of the country and to all the citizens of the country, on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas.
5. I belong to the tribal society, and I have got the opportunity to become the President of India from the Ward Councilor. This is the greatness of India, the mother of democracy. I want all our sisters and daughters to be empowered more and more and they continue to increase their contribution in every field of the country.
6. Reaching the post of President is not my personal achievement, it is the achievement of every poor in India.
7. In this election of mine, the courage of today’s youth of India to walk on new paths out of the old ruts is also included. Today I feel proud to lead such a progressive India.
8. Today, I assure all the countrymen, especially the youth of India and the women of India, that while working in this position, their interests will be paramount for me.
9. The kind of capability that India has shown in facing the global crisis of Corona pandemic has enhanced India’s credibility all over the world. Just a few days ago, India has made a record of applying 200 crore doses of corona vaccine. The restraint, courage and cooperation shown by the people of India in this entire battle is a symbol of our growing strength and sensitivity as a society.
10. There is a line from the poem of Bhim Bhoi ji, an eminent poet of Jagannath Kshetra: “Mo life was behind hell, the world is saved”. That is, work has to be done for the welfare of the world greater than the benefit and harm of one’s life.