KLF Bhava Samvad hosts session on the book- “Droupadi Murmu- From Tribal Hinterlands To Raisina Hills”
On Saturday 20th May 2023, KLF Bhava Samvad hosted an insightful online session on the book- “Droupadi Murmu- From Tribal Hinterlands To Raisina Hills” authored by Kasturi Ray, an eminent journalist. The discussion took place between the author and acclaimed translator and literary figure Prof. Jatindra Kumar Nayak.
Answering to Prof. Nayak’s question about what led her to write the book about President Droupadi Murmu, Kasturi answers, “There were a couple of reasons when I started working on it. But more reasons got added with time. Ever since she was chosen as the presidential candidate, it naturally came to me to find out more about her. Being a part of a newspaper organisation, we have have stories coming in every now then that led me to read more and more about the personality. Because previously her name was there in the presidential elections but somehow she couldn’t make it. But this time I so wanted to know what is speciality about this tribal lady who people are nominating to be the President of India- The First Citizen of the Country. My keen interest made me do my research on her. But there was no question of writing a book about her till then.”
She goes on adding, “I flipped through the chapters of her life from here and there. I was in awe of the person she is. So a sense of admiration gave way to my inquisitiveness. Then there was this news of a publishing house coming up with her biography. They had chosen the writer as well. I wished that I could be that author when suddenly one day I got a call from Rupa Publication and they wanted to know if I would be keen to write about the life of the President. I just said ‘yes’.”
Prof Nayak asks her, “As a journalist you write stories, reports, news stories and news items. Very few journalists begin by writing book. So do you think writing a book was an exciting challenge?”
Kasturi replies, “It was an exciting challenge in itself.”
Prof. Jatin Nayak further asks, “Biographies are a liner narrative of someone’s life in itself. They are much more than recounts of incidents in one’s life. Biographers place heavy emphasis on one’s childhood experiences where life takes its initial shape. So childhood is an extremely important part from a Biographer’s point of view. How much importance did you pay to the life of Droupadi Murmu”
“Yes absolutely. Infact, from her childhood she had this notion which we have mentioned as the ‘Fragrance of Tulsi Leaves in The Childhood’. As in Odia we say ‘Tulasi Dui Patra Ru Baase’. That’s what her teacher told me and the chapter was named accordingly. She has given indications from her childhood about her future course of actions. So everything about her childhood has something important for us to learn. Her childhood has a massive imprint on her career in the later half.”
“There’s an important point of a Biographer when they write about an important person or someone who has undertaken a remarkable journey in life.
They encounter this one life-changing point of the subject where something or someone changes the course of life,” said Prof. Nayak.
“There were many life-changing moments in the life of Madam President. She belongs to the family of ‘Pradhans’ the village leaders. Her father was very well to do, even her previous generations as well. But two consecutive tragedies which disturbed their lives a lot. She wanted to study more, but her only driving force was to take her family to a better financial condition. Her life motto was to be educated to get a good job. In many of her interviews, she has said that she only wanted to be an employee to sustain and support her family. But everything else happened by chance. The turning moment in her life I would consider when she met the minister to make a seat. She was the first one to go outside the village and pursue higher studies. She was the first girl from her village to go out and study in Ramadevi College (now University). There are many firsts to her credit,” Kasturi concluded.