On Friday, President Droupadi Murmu broke down in tears when she sat on the bed she used to sleep on while attending Unit-II Government Girl’s High School in Bhubaneswar in the 1970s.
On the second day of her trip to Odisha, President Murmu paid a visit to her alma institution and the Kuntala Kumari Sabat Adivasi Hostel, where she formerly lodged while attending school.
She also got to know 13 of her classmates, and she showed her joy at being among them as well as other students from her school and teachers.
The President began the day by touring the city’s Khandagiri neighborhood’s Tapabana High School. She recalled her time in school by saying: “I started my schooling at my Uparbeda village. There was no school building, but a thatched house where we used to study.”
The President said that today’s children are “fortunate,” adding: “We used to sweep classrooms, clean the school premises with cow dung. The students in our time studied with a free mind. I appeal to you to work hard and concentrate on your studies.” During an interaction with girl students, President Murmu said.
“In our time there were no such facilities like internet, television and other provisions to know the world outside us. As such I do not have any role models from outside. My grandmother was my role model. I have seen how she used to help people, particularly women in our area. My grandmother was mentally very strong and I learnt a lot from her life,” the President stated.
The students at President Murmu’s former school, where she attended from class 8 to 11, welcomed her. She waved at the crowds of people waiting outside the campus for a glimpse of her since the morning as she approached the school grounds.
She also went to the Kuntala Kumari Sabat Hostel, where she had resided while pursuing her education at the government-run institution.
The President became emotional and sat on the same bed for a while after we showed her room and the cot she used to sleep on while a student, according to a female teacher.
On the grounds of the Kuntala Kumari Sabat Hostel, where she resided for four years from 1970 to 1974, the President also planted a sapling.
Later, after inviting them to the school, President Murmu met her classmates.
“The Indian President’s invitation to visit us came at a distinct time in our life. Chinmayee Mohanty, a retired college instructor and President Murmu’s classmate, stated, “We cannot convey the sensation and we are very thrilled after seeing the country’s first citizen, who was our classmate during the school years.
Where is Chuni? President Murmu inquired about her other hostel roommates. Chuni, a buddy of Murmu, was incidentally not present.
“We are quite happy to have such a wonderful friend. Even as the President drew near to us, we were unable to speak much. She took a picture of us “explained Mohanty. The Indian President posted on Twitter: “My visit to my alma mater Government Girls High School and Kuntalakumari Sabat Adivasi Girls Hostel in Bhubaneswar brought back fond memories. The visit brought back a lot of wonderful memories from my time in school “.
President Murmu also expressed her happiness at discovering a sand sculpture of herself made on the grounds of her school.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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