Odisha Visit: President Droupadi Murmu Recounts How Brahma Kumaris Helped Restore Her Faith In Life

Bhubaneswar: On the concluding day of her 3-day visit to Odisha, President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday laid foundation stone for ‘Divine Light House’ of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya at Dasabatia, Tamando, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

She also launched its theme of the year “The Year of Positive Change” for conducting seminars and conferences.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya was not just an institution but also a social and spiritual movement run by women. “Materialistic changes can give us happiness, but it has no value without mental peace, which can only be attained by following the spiritual path.”

She noted that Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya is paving the way for spirituality through meditation and a disciplined lifestyle.

The President said that people fall prey to negative thinking as they do not take time out for introspection. She added that the biggest challenge before us today is to get rid of negative thoughts and move towards positivity.

Referring to her own life, she further stated that Brahma Kumaris organisation has been helping the distressed see the light at the end of the tunnel and hoped that it will continue with its efforts for making humanity aware and helping people move forward in a positive direction. “I had to go through that a very difficult and sorrowful phase in my life. I don’t want to scratch those old wounds, but would like to stress that this organisation helped restore my faith in humanity and life once again,” she stressed.

Murmu became an ardent follower of the Brahma Kumaris sect after she was forced to deal with multiple personal tragedies – one of her sons died under mysterious circumstances in 2009, another in a road accident three years later, her mother and a younger brother died within a month in 2013 and a year later, her husband passed away due to cardiac arrest.

It was in 2010 that she turned towards this organisation for solace and practising Rajyoga meditation brought a positive transformation in her life. The spiritual bent of mind not only helped her survive the losses but also stabilised her. She once told the media that the jolt during the death of her second son was little less since she was doing meditation. “My husband was not as strong as me, so he could not survive,” she added.

The ashram had prepared chapattis, puri, fried rice, plane rice, chilly paneer, dahibara, kheer, salad, amba khata, chennapoda, pudina chuntney, dhania chutney and 5 kinds of saaga, potala kurma, mushroom, chips and pampad for the President. “We have made 5 kinds of saga since Madam President loves this dish. We have been working since 2 am and hope she will like the taste of the dishes prepared,” a member said.

Earlier in the day, the President interacted with members of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups at Raj Bhavan here.