The journey from Rairangpur to Raisina was far from easy. She was born into a tribal family in Uparabeda of Kusumi Block, a secluded village near Rairangpur, in Mayurbhanj, the

largest district of Odisha. Few could have imagined that this girl would one day reach Raisina Hill and reside in the President’s House in New Delhi. She herself never foresaw it, nor did the parents who brought her into the world, nor even the primary school teacher who taught her first alphabet. Who among her family, her village, her district, or her state could have known that this forest-garlanded girl would grow beyond being merely the fragrance of Similipal? One day, she would rise beyond her state, occupy the highest seat of the nation, and leave her mark on the world. It sounds like a dream, almost a fairy tale, but it is true.

The highly esteemed Droupadi Murmu has dedicated herself to a spiritual path, patiently accepting the injustices of a cruel destiny and continuing to move forward with resilience. She has understood that life is a balance of gain and loss, and that it must be accepted with grace. Saluting her inspiring life journey, I hope that her biography will motivate and empower

countless women. —-Kabita Barik