President Droupadi Murmu Visits Puri Beach and Talks About Climate Change
President Droupadi Murmu, who is on a four-day visit to her home state of Odisha, expressed her concerns about the recent heatwaves in India and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events worldwide. During her visit for the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, she took a walk along Puri’s Golden Beach and shared her thoughts on social media.
In a series of tweets, President Murmu wrote, “There are places that bring us in closer touch with the essence of life and remind us that we are part of nature. Mountains, forests, rivers, and seashores appeal to something deep within us. As I walked along the seashore today, I felt a communion with the surroundings – the gentle wind, the roar of the waves, and the immense expanse of water. It was a meditative experience.”
She added, “It brought to me a profound inner peace that I had also felt when I had a darshan of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannathji yesterday. And I am not alone in having such an experience; all of us can feel that way when we encounter something that is far larger than us, that sustains us and that makes our lives meaningful.”
President Murmu highlighted the disconnection between humans and nature due to daily life pressures and the exploitation of natural resources for short-term benefits. She pointed out that this summer, many parts of India experienced severe heatwaves and that extreme weather events are becoming more common globally. She warned that the situation could worsen in the future.
She also expressed concern about global warming, noting that over seventy percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans, which are rising due to global warming and threatening coastal areas. She mentioned the pollution affecting oceans and their rich biodiversity.
President Murmu emphasized the importance of learning from traditions of people living close to nature, such as coastal inhabitants who understand the sea’s language and worship it as a deity. She called for cooperation from both the government and citizens to protect and conserve the environment for future generations.
“There are two ways, I believe, to meet the challenge of protection and conservation of the environment; broader steps that can come from governments and international organizations, and smaller, local steps that we can take as citizens. The two are, of course, complementary. Let us pledge to do what we can do – individually, locally – for the sake of a better tomorrow. We owe it to our children,” Murmu said.
