Meditation, yoga helped me get over depression: President Droupadi Murmu

New Delhi, February 13

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said that following the death of her two sons and husband, spirituality and meditation helped her overcome depression.

“I do cry. I have lost a lot of things. In order to feel good and lively, I had started doing yoga and meditation. Somebody had recommended yoga. If your mind is idle, negativity starts to overcome you. I personally feel like spending time at work to stay away from negativity,” Murmu said this to Union Minister Smriti Irani in an interview that was aired by All-India Radio (Akashvani) on the occasion of World Radio Day.

She lost a son in 2009 and another in 2013, and her husband in 2014.

Murmu said that she was an ordinary woman and had never dreamt of becoming President.

“I was an ordinary woman in my village and used to steal guavas and mangoes or swim in ponds. I had never dreamt of becoming President or any officer. My grandmother made me realise the importance of studies and the struggle that I would endure in my journey to achieve my goals,” she said.

In 1997, she became a councillor of the Rairangpur nagar panchayat (town council).