Droupadi Murmu is India’s 15th President, first leader from tribal community in office

Droupadi Murmu was sworn-in as the country’s 15th President in the Central Hall of Parliament by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Monday.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, members of the council of ministers, governors, chief ministers, heads of diplomatic missions, members of Parliament and civil and military officers.

In her first address as the President, Murmu said, “I am fortunate to have got this opportunity to serve during the 75th year of Independence.”

“I am the first to have been born in independent India. I come from a small village and in that village even getting primary education is tough. I am the first to get education at this level,” she added.

“My elevation as President is not just my achievement but that of everyone in the country, that they can dream of reaching this level. Every poor person, every marginalised person has blessed me in this step and I feel honoured. I want to assure women and the youth that their interests are most important to me

Before this, she paid floral tributes at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi in Raj Ghat. She was escorted by military and other officials. She also met outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

On July 22, the former Jharkhand governor registered a historic win over her rival Yashwant Sinha in the Presidential election, becoming the first tribal candidate and the second woman in the country to occupy the highest office.

The 64-year-old Santhal woman was named as the BJP-led NDA’s presidential candidate on June 21. She was officially declared as the 15th President of the country after the conclusion of the counting of votes on Thursday.