Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended his heartfelt wishes to President Droupadi Murmu on her 67th birthday on Friday. In a post shared on X, Dhami described her as a symbol of dignity and empowerment.
“Heartiest congratulations and best wishes on the birthday of the Honourable President, Madam Smt. Draupadi Murmu ji, the epitome of spontaneity, simplicity, gentleness and women empowerment. I pray to Lord Badri Vishal for your long, good health and auspicious life,” Dhami wrote.
Droupadi Murmu, who took oath as the 15th President of India on 25 July 2022, has dedicated her life to the upliftment of the underprivileged and strengthening of democratic principles, as stated on the official website of the President of India.
Born on 20 June 1958 in Uparbeda village of Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, Murmu hails from a Santhali tribal family. Her early years were marked by struggle and determination. After completing her primary education in her village, she independently moved to Bhubaneswar to pursue higher studies. She became the first woman from her village to graduate from college, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ramadevi Women’s College.
Murmu began her professional journey as a Junior Assistant in Odisha’s Irrigation and Power Department from 1979 to 1983. She later served as an honorary teacher at Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre in Rairangpur between 1994 and 1997.
Her political career began in 2000 when she was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Rairangpur. Serving until 2009, she held key ministerial positions including Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Departments of Commerce and Transport, and later Fisheries and Animal Resources Development. In these roles, she introduced several progressive and people-centric initiatives.
Murmu also contributed significantly through her work on various House and Standing Committees in the Odisha Assembly and was recognised for her legislative service with the Pandit Nilkanth Das - Best Legislator Award in 2007.
In 2015, she was appointed as the Governor of Jharkhand, becoming the first tribal woman to hold the post in a tribal-majority state. Her tenure was marked by efforts to uphold constitutional values and protect tribal rights. She earned widespread respect for bringing in reforms, especially in the examination and recruitment systems of state universities, and was praised across political lines for her integrity and leadership.