Bhubaneswar: Wishes poured in for India’s first tribal President, and only the second woman to hold the country’s highest constitutional office, Droupadi Murmu as she turned 67 on Friday.
Murmu, who was born in a small Santhal village in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on this day in 1958, was seen getting emotional as the students of the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities, Dehradun, greeted her with a song, ‘Baar Baar Din Ye Aaye – Happy Birthday To You’.
The President, who is on a three-day visit to Dehradun, also inaugurated Rashtrapati Niketan at Rajpur Road, which will be opened to the general public on June 24. She will also lay the foundation stone of a state-of-the-art public park being developed on 132 acres of land on Rajpur Road.
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and a host of leaders across the political spectrum greeted the President on her 67th birthday.
“Her life and leadership continue to inspire crores of people across the country. Her unwavering commitment to public service, social justice and inclusive development are a beacon of hope and strength for everyone,” Modi wrote on X.
Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also extended greetings to Murmu.
The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also extended birthday wishes to her , and prayed for her long and healthy life.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Naveen Patnaik also posted warm birthday wishes to the daughter of Odisha, on X.
Majhi described Murmu as the symbol of women power and pride of Odisha. “Your life is an extraordinary example of struggle, dedication and success. Your journey from a common tribal family to Rashtrapati Bhavan is an inspiration for all people of India. Your simplicity, responsibility and dedication for the country are a model for all of us,” he wrote.
May India continue to progress under her leadership, Majhi wished.