By Sulagna Halder
Dehradun, June 20, 2025:
During her ongoing visit to Dehradun, President Droupadi Murmu was visibly moved today as she was serenaded with a heartfelt birthday song by visually impaired students at the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD) in Uttarakhand.
The President was moved to tears when the students sang the well known Bollywood version of "Baar baar din yeh aaye, tu jiye hazaaron saal." As the singing came to an end, President Murmu was observed blotting away his emotions. Later, a visibly moved President said, "I could not contain my tears." They performed so beautifully and sang from the bottom of their hearts.
As part of President Murmu's three day tour of Uttarakhand, the event took place this afternoon. As part of her itinerary, she will engage with educational institutions and local communities to improve engagement with individuals with disabilities. The President's close relationship with India's citizens with disabilities was highlighted by the heartwarming moment.
Students had rehearsed the song in the days preceding President Murmu's visit, according to an NIEPVD spokesperson, who called the performance "a spontaneous token of gratitude." The moving performance quickly emerged as the day's high point. Across the country, this poignant scene has struck a chord. The tribute's video, which was extensively circulated on social media, received encouraging comments from both public figures and citizens, praising the students' abilities and the President's friendliness.
The President spent time earlier in the day interacting with the institute's students one on one. She urged them to stay strong and to keep going to school. President Murmu also spoke about accessibility and the prospects for visually impaired youth in the future, with a focus on inclusivity in the workplace and in education.
This occasion gives President Murmu's term an additional touch of warmth and strengthens her standing as a leader who is approachable by the Indian populace. She is the first tribal woman president of the country and is well known for her compassion and understanding of marginalized groups.
President Murmu thanked the students as the tribute came to an end, stating that their performance "filled my heart with joy" and reaffirmed her commitment to supporting initiatives for equal opportunity and empowerment.
