Droupadi not my original name, says President after swearing-in

New Delhi: Droupadi Murmu scripted history on Monday by becoming the first woman tribal president of the country. She is also the first President to have been born in Independent India.

While the revelation was enough to leave everyone shocked, the newly elected President told an Odia magazine that her actual name in Santhali was ‘Puti’ which was changed to Droupadi by her school teacher. She told the magazine that since the teacher didn’t like her name, she changed it to Droupadi, a name similar to character from Mahabharata.

“Droupadi was not my original name. It was given by my teacher who didn’t hail from my native place and belonged to other district Mayurbhanj,” Murmu said.

In fact, she underwent many name changes before getting stuck on Droupadi. At previous instances, she was also known by the name of “Durpadi” or “Dorpdi”.

Murmu revealed that her surname was ‘Tudu’ in schools & colleges and she started using the title ‘Murmu’ only after getting married to bank officer Shyam Charan Tudu.

Murmu’s oath ceremony

Today morning, Droupadi Murmu took the oath of highest office in Hindi language. The oath ceremony was marked by pomp and grandeur. She was also given a 21-gun salute after the swearing-in.

Parliamentarians greeted the new President with a thunderous applause and also showed support for her by thumping their desks. The newly elected President also inspected the guard of honour by the tri-services at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan.