President Droupadi Murmu was moved to tears during her visit to the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD) in Dehradun on Friday, when students surprised her with an emotional birthday song tribute. “It seemed they were singing with their hearts, not voices,” she said, visibly emotional.
A Heartfelt Musical Tribute To President Murmu
During her visit, President Murmu was honoured at the institute by Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. She also inaugurated the newly constructed Rashtrapati Niketan on Rajpur Road.
The highlight of the event came when students at the institute sang a touching birthday song for the President, leaving her deeply moved.
#WATCH | Dehradun | President Droupadi Murmu gets emotional as the students of the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities extend birthday wishes to her with a song. pic.twitter.com/I8bfcJfYlq
— ANI (@ANI) June 20, 2025
Speaking about the performance, President Murmu said, “The tears did not stop from my eyes. It seemed to me that they were not singing from their necks; they were singing with their hearts — as if God himself resided in their voices.”
Praise for NIEPVD’s Efforts
Commending the institute’s contributions, she said, “I am delighted to be among all of you in this institute dedicated to visually impaired persons. I deeply appreciate all those associated with this institution for their contribution to providing education and training, employment opportunities, and raising awareness in society.”
She emphasised that a nation’s true progress can be measured by how it treats its persons with disabilities, adding that India’s civilisational ethos is rooted in compassion and inclusivity.
Highlighting Policies and Initiatives
President Murmu noted that the National Education Policy 2020 includes dedicated measures to ensure equal educational opportunities for differently-abled children. She also highlighted the Accessible India Campaign, describing it as a vital step toward making public and government spaces inclusive for all.
Sharing a glimpse of Rashtrapati Bhavan’s initiatives, she said, “In the month of March this year, the Purple Fest was organised in Amrit Udyan to celebrate the talent, achievements, and aspirations of persons with disabilities.”
She called education a “powerful medium of empowerment” and expressed pride that NIEPVD’s Adarsh Vidyalaya students excel not just in academics but also in computers, science, music, and sports.
Upcoming Engagements in Uttarakhand
According to the President’s Secretariat, President Murmu will release a postage stamp at Raj Bhavan, Nainital, marking the heritage building’s 125th anniversary.
On June 21, she is scheduled to participate in a mass yoga demonstration at the Uttarakhand State Police Line Maidan in Dehradun to celebrate International Yoga Day.
