President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday took up the role of a teacher for students of central school in the President’s Estate, interacting with them on the issue of global warming while also suggesting ways for environment conservation. During her interactive session with Class 9 students of Dr Rajendra Prasad Kendriya Vidyalaya in Delhi, she told them many stories of her life. Murmu mentioned coming to Delhi from the village, saying that when she came to Delhi, everyone was roaming around wearing masks. This reflected the density of air pollution that was present in Delhi, she said, asking all to make collective efforts to stop things like air pollution, global warming, etc.
She also emphasised the need for water conservation and encouraged them to plant more trees in a bid to reduce the impact of climate change. “We should plant more trees. We should also take steps to reduce water wastage and conserve it through rainwater harvesting,” Murmu said.
President Murmu shared her childhood experiences with school children, recounting her early years spent in a village where she pursued education until the 7th standard. Reflecting on the rustic lifestyle of her upbringing, Murmu reminisced about cooking meals over wood fires, contrasting it with modern gas stoves. She fondly recalled how her father would gather dry wood from the nearby forest, sometimes needing to cut it to size for burning.
During these moments, Murmu observed a poignant ritual: whenever her father prepared to cut or harvest dry wood, he would first bow respectfully to the tree. Intrigued, she asked him about this gesture. Her father explained that they regarded the trees as ancestors and expressed gratitude for their service throughout their lives. He would apologise to the tree, acknowledging the necessity of cutting it for their livelihoods despite its contribution to their welfare.
She further enlightened the children about why the earth is revered as mother. Drawing a parallel to her father’s reverence for trees, she explained that he showed similar respect to the earth. Whenever he began digging or working the soil, he would bow down in acknowledgment. Murmu recounted questioning her father about this practice, to which he replied that the earth is like a mother to humanity, providing everything needed for life.
According to Murmu, her father emphasised that the earth is teeming with countless living beings whose habitats are disturbed by human actions. Therefore, he taught her to apologise to the earth for any disturbance caused, acknowledging the interconnectedness of all life. Murmu stressed the importance of such sensitivity, advocating that if humans cut down 200 trees, they should plant at least 5,000 in return. Failing to do so, she warned, would endanger wildlife and ultimately threaten human survival.
President Murmu’s sentiments towards environment conservation align with News18 Network’s ‘Project One Tree’, a movement aiming to mobilize every Indian to plant a tree as a measure against climate change. The marquee movement seeks to raise awareness about environmental conservation and foster collective action towards a greener, more sustainable future.
Murmu also talked about the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked the students to plant a tree on their birthdays.
Her interaction with the students came on the day she completed two years in office. Born on June 20, 1958, at Uparbeda village in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, Murmu was sworn in as the country’s 15th President on July 25, 2022. Before taking over the top constitutional office, she was the governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021.
An avid reader with a keen interest in spirituality, Murmu has devoted her life to empowering the downtrodden and the marginalised sections besides deepening the democratic values.
The president asked the students about their ambitions and the subjects they liked and expressed her happiness after learning that they aspired to become scientists and doctors, among others. “I really enjoyed interacting with you. I got the opportunity to learn a lot from you all. You are studying in Class 9 and you are very aware about the impact of global warming. I am sure, when you grow up, global warming will be reduced,” she said while concluding her interaction.
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