Rairangpur hails Droupadi Murmu's never-say-die spirit

New Delhi, July 21

Droupadi Murmu’s exceptional life journey, from personal tragedies to political triumph, on Thursday sparked celebrations in Rairangpur, the district headquarters of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj, which the newly elected President of India made her home.

Lost 5 members of family in 6 yrs

Murmu lost her husband, two sons, mother and brother between 2009 and 2015. “I was devastated and suffered from depression. It was when I visited Brahma Kumaris I realised I had to move on,” Murmu had said in an interview

As victory in the presidential election capped Murmu’s 25-year-long political career today, her admirers and supporters back home burst crackers, distributed sweets and broke into joy, playing tribal music and dancing to it.

Tarini Murmu, the younger brother of Droupadi Murmu, hailed the day as historic, citing the travails India’s 15th President endured along the way to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Droupadi Murmu lost her brother and mother in 2013, close on the heels of the tragic demise of her son Shipun in a road accident.

With her never-say-die spirit, she moved on, continuing her social work in the area.

Locals in Pahadpur, the native village of her husband, remember Murmu for her generosity and cite the memorials she built for her late family members close to a local school in the area. Not only did Pahadpur come alive with celebrations today, Droupadi Murmu’s own village Uparbeda witnessed abundant revelry, with locals describing her victory as a “milestone for Scheduled Tribe empowerment”. “The message rings loud and clear when seen in the backdrop of Droupadi Murmu’s humble Uparbeda residence, which was recently renovated,” says Jeevan Sangram Dash, who has watched Murmu’s journey for long.

Celebrations were witnessed across Odisha, especially Bhubaneswar, where BJP workers led the revelry. In Rairangpur, supporters of the ruling BJD celebrated the day, with city streets dotted with posters featuring Murmu tying a “rakhi” to Odisha CM. Murmu is the first leader from Odisha to become the President of India.