India's Youngest President: Droupadi Murmu

On July 25, 2022 India elected Droupadi Murmu - their youngest president ever, at age 64. She is the second woman ever to hold the position, after Pratibha Patil (2007-2012). She is also the first President of India from the indigenous scheduled tribe, Santal.

Murmu was born in Odisha, India in 1958. She was born as Puti Tudu and was renamed several times, including by her school teacher who named her Droupadi. Her father and grandfather had both been head of the village council.

Murmu graduated with an arts degree from Rama Devi Women's College. In 1980 she married and had 2 sons and a daughter. She follows the Brahma Kumaris spiritual movement.

In the 1970's and 80's, Murmu worked as a junior assistant at the irrigation department of the Government of Odisha, and later as a math, geography, Hindi and Odia teacher.

Murmu later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rairangpur, and began her political aspirations.

In 1997, Murmu was elected as the councilor of the Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat. In 2000, she won the Odisha Legislative Assembly election, and served two terms from 2000-2009.

Between 2009 and 2015, Murmu suffered tremendous personal losses as her husband, both sons, mother, as well as a brother all died during that 7 year span.

In 2015, Murmu became the first woman to hold the position of Governor of Jharkhand. She served for six years and throughout her tenure, she passed major religious and land bills.

In June of 2022, the BJP nominated Murmu as the National Democratic Alliance's candidate for President of India. She ran against Yashwant Sinha, the candidate for President by the opposition parties. Murmu won with over 64% of votes in her favor.

Today, Murmu is serving as the 15th President of India. She follows the BJP party line on Hindi being the national language of India. She also ascribes to their support of Hindu nationalism.