‘Work, Yoga helped to stay away from negativity’: President Murmu on how she overcame depression after deaths in family

President Murmu, who lost a son in 2009, another in 2013, and her husband in 2014, spoke about her life’s lessons as an ordinary tribal woman and her journey from a small village in Odisha to the highest constitutional office.

President Murmu is the first person from the Santhal tribal community, and the second woman after Pratibha Patil, to hold the office of President. She is also the youngest person to occupy the post.

“Growing up in that village, I never thought I would become a President. Like everyone else I spent my childhood stealing mangoes and guavas from orchards. It was my grandmother who made me realise the importance of studies and the struggle I will have to endure to achieve my goals,” said Murmu.

Talking about her stint with public offices, Murmu recalled the hardships of balancing personal and professional life.

In 1997 Murmu was elected the councillor of the Rairangpur Nagar panchayat (town council). “Back then my children were very young and there was hesitation at home about leaving them to join a public office. But I was determined to do my work. I had to balance a political life with my personal life. In this journey, my husband was a great source of help for me,” Murmu recounted.

On her recent interaction with students in Delhi Metro she said: “I wanted to experience the daily lives of people and how the Metro is so helpful in their everyday journey.”

“I also got a chance to speak to students after so long. As a former teacher, I always enjoy talking to students,” said Murmu who taught in a school in Odisha between 1994 and 1997.

Being the first woman in her village to complete a university education, Murmu said that during her visits to colleges and universities she was glad to see that 60 to 70 per cent of the students there are now women.

“It was not like this back then. I feel very proud that more women are doing well in higher education,” she told Irani

Murmu also recalled the passing of the Women’s Reservation Act that grants 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state legislative Assemblies. “I believe that someday, we will not need an Act to give representation to women in public offices. But today we need it. There are so many talented women who need to come to Parliament and contribute to nation building. That’s why I was feeling proud when I signed the Bill,” President Murmu recounted.