Shekhawat Greets President Murmu on Her Birthday
Synopsis
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on 20 June 2026 greeted President Droupadi Murmu on her birthday, calling her 'an example of women's power' and wishing her good health and long life.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat posted birthday greetings for President Droupadi Murmu on 20 June 2026 .
He described the President as 'Nari Shakti ki ek misal' — an example of women's power.
Droupadi Murmu is India's 15th President , elected in July 2022 .
She is the first woman from a tribal community — the Santhal tribe of Odisha — to hold the office.
Shekhawat tagged Rashtrapati Bhavan's official handle, following standard protocol for ministerial greetings to the constitutional head.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday, 20 June 2026, extended birthday greetings to President Droupadi Murmu, describing her as an exemplar of women's empowerment and wishing her good health and a long life.
Context
Posting on X, Shekhawat addressed the President in Hindi: 'नारी शक्ति की एक मिसाल' ('an example of women's power'), offering his respectful congratulations on her birthday. He also tagged the official handle of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the constitutional seat of India's presidency.
The message reflects the established convention among senior ministers of publicly acknowledging the birthday of the constitutional head of state, a practice that carries both institutional and symbolic weight.
Policy Backdrop
Droupadi Murmu was elected the 15th President of India in July 2022, becoming the first woman from a tribal community — the Santhal tribe of Odisha — to occupy Rashtrapati Bhavan. Her election was widely described by the ruling dispensation as a landmark moment for women's empowerment and tribal inclusion in India's highest constitutional office.
Shekhawat's characterisation of her as 'Nari Shakti' — women's power — echoes the BJP's broader rhetorical emphasis on symbolic recognition of women in positions of national leadership. As the minister holding the Culture portfolio, such institutional gestures align with themes of national heritage and respect for constitutional offices.
Stakeholders and Impact
The greeting carries significance for tribal communities and women's groups across India, for whom President Murmu's tenure has served as a point of pride and representation. Senior ministers publicly marking her birthday reinforces the political salience of her identity as a symbol of inclusion.
Rashtrapati Bhavan, as the institution managing the President's public engagements, receives such acknowledgements in its official capacity, maintaining the protocol of communication between the executive and the constitutional head.
What's Next
President Murmu's upcoming engagements in the cultural and tourism space — areas that intersect directly with Shekhawat's ministerial brief — will be closely watched. Any joint participation in heritage or tribal-culture events could further cement the symbolic link between the presidency and India's cultural policy agenda.
Point of View
But its framing as 'Nari Shakti' is deliberate political signalling consistent with the BJP's sustained effort to project women's empowerment as a core governance achievement. The Culture portfolio holder invoking this language reinforces the government's narrative that tribal and women's representation at the constitutional apex is a civilisational milestone, not merely a political appointment. Such gestures also serve to maintain visibility for the President's symbolic role at a time when her engagements in cultural and heritage events are likely to grow. Cumulatively, these posts build an institutional narrative that the ruling party is keen to sustain heading into future electoral cycles.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is President Droupadi Murmu's birthday?
President Droupadi Murmu's birthday falls on 20 June , as marked by birthday greetings from senior ministers including Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on 20 June 2026.
Who is Droupadi Murmu?
Droupadi Murmu is the 15th President of India , elected in July 2022 . She is the first woman from a tribal community — the Santhal tribe of Odisha — to hold the office.
What did Gajendra Singh Shekhawat say about President Murmu?
Shekhawat described President Murmu as 'नारी शक्ति की एक मिसाल' — 'an example of women's power' — and wished her good health, happiness, and a long life.
What is Gajendra Singh Shekhawat's current role?
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is the Union Minister of Culture and Tourism and a Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur, Rajasthan .
Why is Droupadi Murmu considered a symbol of Nari Shakti?
President Murmu is considered a symbol of women's power because she is the first woman from a tribal background to become President of India , representing both gender and tribal inclusion at the highest constitutional level.
