Indian lawmakers voted Draupadi Murmu as the 15th president of India. She is first president from one of the country’s tribal communities and also is the second woman to take over the role.
Murmu belongs to the Santhal tribe of Odisha which is spread over several states in eastern India.
She had worked as a teacher before entering the political arena. Murmu has been a legislator twice, on a BJP ticket (Bharatiya Janata Party is a main Indian political party), in 2000 and 2009.
In 2015, Murmu was appointed as the first female governor of the eastern state of Jharkhand and held the position until July 2021.
Some see Murmu’s presidential election as a triumph of tribal political aspirations and a breakthrough moment for the community, which had been continuall oppressed under several governments.
President Murmu will joining this list of female presidents around the world. She will work alongside India’s Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi.
Indira Gandhi was India’s first female prime minister (held office 1980-1984).
Pratibha Patil was India’s first female president (held office 2007-2012).
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