President Droupadi Murmu exchanges greetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during her oath ceremony in the Central Hall of Parliament, in New Delhi. (PTI)Droupadi Murmu Swearing-in Highlights: Addressing the nation after being sworn in as the 15th President of India, Droupadi Murmu Monday stated that she was honoured to take charge at a time India is completing 75 years of Independence. She added that she was the first President to be born in independent India. She also said, “My election is the greatness of India, mother of democracy.”
Calling Murmu’s swearing-in ceremony a “watershed moment for India, especially for the poor, marginalised and downtrodden,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the President luck for her tenure. PM Modi added, “In her address after taking oath, President Droupadi Murmu gave a message of hope and compassion”. Murmu, in Parliament, said, “Reaching the Presidential post is not my personal achievement, it is the achievement of every poor in India. My election is evidence that the poor in India can not just dream but also fulfil those dreams.”
Murmu is the first tribal woman to hold the highest constitutional post in the country. Chief Justice of India N V Ramana administered the oath to Murmu in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, S Jaishankar, Amit Shah, among others.
Droupadi Murmu with Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik during a meeting in Delhi. (PTI Photo)
With Droupadi Murmu being sworn in as the new President, an old debate on what should be the term to address the President is back. When Pratibha Patil became the first woman President, there was an intense discussion on the term with women activists alleging that the word “Rashtrapati” was gender-biased and patriarchal.
When there was a suggestion that a woman President could be addressed as “Rashtrapatni”, experts had outright rejected it. Incidentally, how to address a President was a point of discussion even in the Constituent Assembly. Member K T Shah had suggested that a woman President could be called “Neta” and one suggestion was “Karnadhar (captain)” but Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru rejected them all and finalised on “Rashtrapati”. During the freedom movement, Congress presidents were addressed as “rashtrapati”.
Protest Mode The Congress wanted to stage a “satyagraha” at Rajghat on Tuesday to protest against the ED summoning of party chief Sonia Gandhi but the party did not get permission from the authorities. The suspension of four Lok Sabha MPs also came unexpected. The party has now decided that its MPs will stage a protest in Parliament premises, hoping that other Opposition parties will also join in since many of them are facing the ED heat. Senior leaders and office-bearers will stage a “satyagraha” at the AICC headquarters itself instead of taking out a march, which earlier resulted in police detention. Read more.
Former president Ram Nath Kovind, who completed his term Monday, said he was overwhelmed by the heartfelt farewell accorded to him and hoped to he would continue to get people's blessings. In his first reaction after demitting the office, he said his successor Droupadi Murmu dropping him off to his new residence was a very touching personal moment as well as an example of high traditions of the Indian democracy.
"I am overwhelmed by the heartfelt farewell accorded to me today at the end of my term as President," Kovind tweeted.
"The presence of President Murmu, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, the chiefs of the three services and the dignitaries in the farewell ceremony will remain my unforgettable memory," he said in a series of tweets in Hindi. "I believe that I will continue to get blessings of the people of the country like before," Kovind said. (PTI)
Bangladesh President M Abdul Hamid on Monday congratulated Murmu and said that he is looking forward to working with her to advance mutual interests as well as making efforts for development, peace and prosperity in the region. He said Bangladesh-India ties were anchored in shared history and culture, mutual trust and respect, long standing friendship and continued cooperation.
"The invaluable support by the Government and the people of India during our Liberation War in 1971 was a watershed moment in our relations. Today, our cooperation spans a range of areas, including trade, connectivity, water resources management, energy, border management and security," Hamid said. (PTI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said President Droupadi Murmu's journey from a ward corporator to the highest post in the country will be an inspiration for the society.
After the swearing-in ceremony, the President highlighted her struggle and challenges and talked about democratic values and their strength in her address. All of which is an inspiration to people, the CM was quoted as saying in an official statement released here. "Your journey from a ward corporator to the highest post of President will inspire society and your vast experience will give it a new direction," Chouhan tweeted in Hindi as he congratulated her for becoming the first tribal woman president of the country.
In her speech, the President quoted Bhim Bhoi, a noted poet from the Jagannath area (Jagannathpuri). "Mo jeevan pache narke padi thau jagat uddhar heu (I am not worried about my life's good or bad. Public welfare and well-being of the poor is the aim of my life)," she had said. (PTI)
President Droupadi Murmu, who had worked as a teacher decades ago, on Monday said thoughts of Sri Aurobindo on education continue to inspire her. In her acceptance address at the Central Hall of Parliament soon after being sworn in as the 15th President of India, she recalled that decades ago, she had the opportunity to work as a teacher at Sri Aurobindo Integral School in Odisha's Rairangpur.
"After a few days, we will observe the 150th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo. Sri Aurobindo's thoughts on education continue to inspire me," she said. Aurobindo had proposed that education is nothing but bringing out and nurturing the latent potentialities.
The president said she has had an active association with educational institutions, serving in various positions as a public representative and then as Jharkhand governor. (PTI)
Her election is proof the poor can dream and fulfil them too, India's 15th president and its first tribal head of state Droupadi Murmu said after taking oath of office on Monday, a landmark day that melded tradition with the aspirations of a modern nation. President Murmu, who is the second woman in the top constitutional post, succeeds Ram Nath Kovind and was sworn in by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana at Parliament's Central Hall.
"My election is the greatness of India, mother of democracy," Murmu said after the swearing-in ceremony.
The tribal leader, India's youngest president at 64 and the first to be born after Independence, took oath of office in the name of god to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law".
“It is the power of India's democracy that a girl born in a poor tribal home could reach the topmost constitutional post,” she said in her address, marking her journey from Odisha's Mayurbhanj district, one of the most underdeveloped in India, to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. (PTI)
Several world leaders, including presidents of China, Russia, Sri Lanka and Nepal, have congratulated India's new president Droupadi Murmu who assumed office on Monday and expressed their desire to work with her to enhance their respective nations' multifaceted ties with India. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday congratulated Murmu, 64, on assuming office, saying he stands ready to work with her to enhance political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation and properly handle differences.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also congratulated Murmu and expressed hope that she will further promote bilateral productive cooperation. “We attach much importance to the relations of a special privileged strategic partnership with India," Putin said in the message.
"I hope your activities as the head of state will promote the further development of the Russian-Indian political dialogue and productive cooperation in different areas for the benefit of our friendly nations and in the interests of stronger international stability and security," he said in his message on Saturday.
Sri Lanka's newly-appointed President Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated Murmu, recalling the close ties between the two nations and underlining that her leadership offers "fresh impetus" to the joint endeavours to nurture and strengthen the cordial ties they enjoy.(PTI)
Hopes and aspirations are running high among tea-tribe community and several backward groups in Assam as they look up to Droupadi Murmu, who was on Monday sworn in as India's 15th President, for fulfilment of their constitutional rights and socio-economic empowerment.
All tribal groups in the northeastern state are elated by her rise to the highest Constitutional post and people belonging to the tea-tribe community are optimistic that Murmu will take steps to ensure granting of the Scheduled Tribe status to them.
The tea-tribe community, comprising Mundas, Oraons, Santhals, Bhumij and others, in Assam are descendants of labourers who were brought from Chotanagpur plateau areas by the British to work in tea gardens but they have not been granted the ST status as their brethren in the states of Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Adivasi National Convention Committee secretary Bir Singh Munda said Murmu, as the constitutional head, has the power to ensure that the long-pending demand of the Adivasis in Assam for the ST status is fulfilled. (PTI)
Sri Lanka's newly-appointed President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday congratulated India's new President Droupadi Murmu, recalling the close ties between the two nations and underlining that her leadership offers "fresh impetus" to the joint endeavours to nurture and strengthen the cordial ties it enjoys. Murmu, 64, took over as India's 15th president on Monday, the country's first tribal head of state and the second woman in the post.
“Your appointment to this chief responsibility in one of the largest democracies is testimony to the trust and confidence the government and the people have placed in your caliber and political acumen,” Wickremesinghe wrote in his message. Recalling the close ties between the two nations, Wickremesinghe said, “Your leadership offers fresh impetus to our joint endeavors to nurture and strengthen the cordial ties we enjoy and I look forward to working closely with you towards this end.” (PTI)
People in Rairangpur, Odisha on Monday celebrated after President Droupadi Murmu's swearing-in ceremony. Murmu hails from Rairangpur.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday congratulated his Indian counterpart Droupadi Murmu on assuming office, saying he stands ready to work with her to enhance political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation and properly handle differences.
In a congratulatory message, President Xi pointed out that China and India are important neighbours of each other, and that a healthy and stable China-India relationship is in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and their people, as well as conducive to peace, stability and development in the region and across the world.
Xi said that he attaches great importance to China-India relations, and stands ready to work with Murmu to enhance political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, properly handle differences and push bilateral ties forward on the right track, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Murmu, India's youngest president at 64 and the first to be born after Independence, took oath of office on Monday. Chief Justice of India N V Ramana administered her oath at a ceremony held at Parliament's Central Hall. (PTI)
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik on Monday marked the swearing-in of President Droupadi Murmu with a sand sculpture on the Puri beach.
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Addressing the nation for the first time after being sworn in as the 15th President of India, Droupadi Murmu stated that her achievement belonged to every poor in India and was a reflection of the capabilities of crores of women.
Murmu, who became the first tribal woman and the youngest President, was administered oath by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana on Monday. Former president Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others were present at the ceremony.
Here are the top quotes from Murmu’s address:
? It is 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 been handed this responsibility. I am honoured to take on this responsibility at a historic time when India is gearing up to achieve the vision of the next 25 years. (Read more)
Former president Ram Nath Kovind on Monday moved to his new residence at Janpath road, the bungalow once occupied by former Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan. Kovind was driven down to his new home from Rashtrapati Bhavan after Droupadi Murmu took over as the President of India. As part of the convention, Murmu, the new President, was also present.
Paswan had lived in 12 Janpath for three decades before his death in 2020. Following an eviction notice, his son Chirag Paswan had vacated the house in April. The bungalow was readied for Kovind as his post-retirement home. (PTI)
Chief Justice of India N V Ramana administered the oath to Droupadi Murmu in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, S Jaishankar, Amit Shah, among others.
Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda, on Monday said, "The first tribal woman took the oath of the President's office today. The tribal community is set to mark a new beginning, with a tribal woman holding the highest office of the land."
"This constitutional position is above the party lines," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
“Many congratulations to Droupadi Murmu on taking oath as the 15th President of India. I am sure that your tenure will take the pride of the country to new heights. Today's historic day is a wonderful example of empowerment and 'Antyodaya' of every section following democratic values,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted in Hindi.
The first tribal President of India's name Droupadi, based on a character of the epic ‘Mahabharata' was given by her school teacher.
In an interview with an Odia video magazine some time ago, she revealed that her Santhali name “Puti” was changed to Droupadi by a teacher in school. “Droupadi was not my original name. It was given by my teacher who hailed from another district, not from my native Mayurbhanj,” Murmu told the magazine.
Teachers in the tribal-dominated Mayurbanjh district used to travel from either Balasore or Cuttack in the 1960s, she claimed. “The teacher did not like my previous name and changed it for good,” she said when the magazine asked why she is called Droupadi, a name similar to the ‘Mahabharata' character.
She had also mentioned that her name was changed several times - from “Durpadi” to “Dorpdi”.
She stated that names do not die in Santhali culture. (PTI)
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) demonstrated its electoral dominance as Droupadi Murmu was elected the President-elect on Thursday. Though assured of a victory, Murmu received several votes from the Opposition camp, proof of the division and confusion in the ranks of the anti-BJP parties. In Tripura, however, Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha received two extra votes, setting alarm bells ringing in the ruling coalition of the BJP and the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT).
While the BJP said it was looking into the matter, it expressed confidence that none of its legislators had strayed from the official line. The ruling party hinted that IPFT, which has been dealing with internal tussles for over a year, may have failed to control its MLAs. Two of the tribal party’s MLAs have distanced themselves from the party since last year. Simna MLA Brishaketu Debbarma is now with rival TIPRA Motha while former minister Mevar Kumar Jamatia is politically inactive. Read more
With the transfer of power completed, former president Ram Nath Kovind on Monday left the Rashtrapati Bhavan and arrived at his new residence in Janpath, Delhi.
As the supreme commander of the armed forces, President Droupadi Murmu inspected her first guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
"In her address after taking oath, President Droupadi Murmu gave a message of hope and compassion", Modi added. In her acceptance speech in Parliament, Murmu said, “Reaching the Presidential post is not my personal achievement, it is the achievement of every poor in India. My election is evidence that the poor in India can not just dream but also fulfil those dreams.”
Calling Murmu’s swearing-in ceremony a “watershed moment for India, especially for the poor, marginalised and downtrodden,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the President luck for her tenure.
As the supreme commander of the armed forces, President Droupadi Murmu inspected her first guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and other ministers and dignitaries arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the Tri-Services Guard of Honour for the newly sworn-in President, Droupadi Murmu.
Following her swearing-in ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu took charge of her responsibilities from former president Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Murmu has been a trailblazer from a very young age. Born into a Santhal family in 1958, she was the first girl in Uparbeda, one of the seven revenue villages in Uparbeda panchayat in Odisha’s backward Mayurbhanj district, to go to college — the Ramadevi Women’s College, now the Ramadevi Women’s University in Bhubaneswar.
Despite a successful political career, Murmu also faced some hurdles along the way. In 2009, she contested the Lok Sabha election from Mayurbhanj constituency, but lost as the BJD and BJP severed ties.
Murmu, a Santhal leader and an inspirational figure for her community and for women in general, has frequently weighed in on issues that Adivasis face. Read more
Taking to Twitter, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti hit out at Ram Nath Kovind on Monday. "The outgoing President leaves behind a legacy where the Indian Constitution was trampled upon umpteenth times. Be it scrapping of Article 370, CAA or the unabashed targeting of minorities and Dalits, he fulfilled the BJP'ss political agenda, all at the cost of the Indian Constitution," Mufti said.
? It is 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 been handed this responsibility. I am honoured to take on this responsibility at a historic time when India is gearing up to achieve the vision of the next 25 years.
? 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.
? I am the first President of the country who was born in Independent India. We will have to speed up our efforts to meet the expectations that our freedom fighters had with the citizens of Independent India. Read more
After taking oath and addressing the nation as the 15th President of India, Droupadi Murmu arrived back at the Rashtrapati Bhavan along with former president, Ram Nath Kovind.
"Satisfying to me that the people who were devoid of development for years -- the poor, Dalits, backward and the tribals -- can see me as their reflection. My nomination has blessings of the poor behind it, it's a reflection of the dreams and capabilities of crores of women," President Droupadi Murmu stated in her first address after taking oath.
In her first address to the nation after becoming President, Droupadi Murmu said, "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," she added.
Addressing the nation after being sworn in as the 15th President of India, Droupadi Murmu Monday stated that she was honoured to take charge at a time India is completing 75 years of Independence. She added that she was the first President to be born in independent India.
Droupadi Murmu on Monday took oath as the 15th President of India. She is the first tribal woman to hold the highest constitutional post in the country. Chief Justice of India N V Ramana administered the oath to Murmu in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, S Jaishankar, Amit Shah, among others.
The cavalcade escorting President-elect Droupadi Murmu and Ram Nath Kovind has reached the Parliament House, where they were welcomed by Vice President Venakaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and CJI NV Ramana.
Outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind and President-elect Droupadi Murmu made their way from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the Parliament House, where she will take oath of office of the highest Constitutional post of the country.
President-elect Droupadi Murmu reached the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday morning, where she was welcomed by outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife. She will be sworn in as President shortly.
Suraj Yengde writes: While the list of Presidents of India has been impressively diverse, it was missing an important Adivasi voice. It took the nation 75 years to find a suitable Adivasi leader for the post.
Now that Murmu is in the top spot, another form of tokenism might percolate. How the country and civil society make use of this opportunity is up to them. Expecting Murmu to be the frontrunner of Adivasi justice will be a misplaced judgment. Instead, the country should demand accountability from the party that has fielded her. Read more
Ahead of her swearing-in ceremony, Droupadi Murmu paid tribute at the Rajghat in Delhi.
Murmu will then make her way to Parliament where she will be sworn in as the 15th President of India.
Droupadi Murmu will take oath of office of the highest constitutional post of the country on Monday.
The ceremony will be held in the central hall of Parliament and will begin at 10.15 am. The President-elect will arrive in the hall with outgoing President, Ram Nath Kovind, shortly before that.
Following her swearing-in ceremony, Murmu will be honoured with a 21-gun salute. She will then address the nation.
Dr Rakesh Sinha writes: What is the significance of Droupadi Murmu becoming President of India? The answer to this question has more to do with vital issues of social democracy and republican spirit than with ideological or political divides. The spotlight during presidential polls had so far been on the individual contestants and the process was seen as a test of the political hegemony of the ruling party. The debate now has shifted from personality-centred politics to republicanism. While the former indicates elitism, the latter is fundamentally associated with political activism at the grassroots. Read more
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Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates on the oath-taking ceremony of India's first tribal woman President, Droupadi Murmu.