Droupadi Murmu taught at the school in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha from 1994 to 1997
Rairangpur, Odisha:
In President Droupadi Murmu’s speech to parliament after being sworn in, a school in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district — more than 1,400 km away from the swearing-in site — found special mention.
About 25 years ago, before her political career began, President Murmu was a teacher at the Sri Aurobindo Integral Education and Research Center in Rairangpur. She taught all subjects at the school from 1994 to 1997 and took no salary.
In 1997, she was elected a councilor of the Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat, embarking on a political journey that would take her into various administrative positions and pave the way to the highest office in the country.
When she was sworn in as the country’s first tribal and second female president, the school was filled with cheers and pride.
Ravindra Patnaik, chairman of the school committee, said: “Her Excellency, Madam President, Droupadi Murmu, taught here from 1994 to 1997 and her political started from here.”
Patnaik said Droupadi Murmu did not receive a salary when she taught as a teacher and added that she was heavily influenced by the philosophy of the nationalist Sri Aurobindo and Mirra Alfassa, known to her followers as The Mother. “She always says that whatever she has become is due to the philosophy of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo,” he said.
Students at the school said they want President Murmu to visit the school again. “We heard her talk on TV. She mentioned our school,” one student told DailyExpertNews.
“We are very happy that she is now president,” said another student.
Pramila Swain, the school’s principal, said sincerity and punctuality are the motto of Droupadi Murmu’s life, including her time at the school. “She was very patient with children. She would keep a box of chocolates on the table in the classroom and give it to students who answered questions correctly,” the director said.
The school will be hosting its 150th anniversary celebrations and students and faculty are hoping that Madam President will attend the event.
